Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

Is man’s best friend becoming your worst enemy? People who suffer from dog allergies can feel pretty conflicted. On one hand they love their canine friend but on the other they suffer with a variety of symptoms that can make their lives miserable. If you aren’t sure whether you are allergic to dogs or want to figure out strategies for managing your symptoms so that you can keep your Lassie, then this article is for you.

Pets are pretty common in American households 6 out of 10 homes have one. Unfortunately the numbers also show that 1 out of every 10 people suffers from some sort of animal allergy. When it comes to pets cats tend to be the worst culprit in causing allergies but dogs are right behind them. Since dog allergies are a common problem, the good news is that there is a lot of information available on how to treat and manage an allergic reaction to your pet. If your reaction is not severe, and if you do not have other serious complications such as asthma, you should be able to successfully manage your allergic condition so that you can experience many symptom-free days.

How to Identify Your Dog Allergy

The most recommended strategy for identifying dog allergies is to remove the person you suspect is allergic from the environment. This can be done for a week or two to see whether the person experiences any of the symptoms they were complaining about. You might think it would be easier to remove the dog but pet dander can remain in the environment that the animal lives in for up to six months after the pet is removed. If moving the person away for a couple of weeks is too difficult, you can also ask your doctor to perform an allergy test in his office to see if the person indeed has a dog allergy.

What Treatment Options Do You Have?

Dog allergies are usually associated with dander or saliva of the animal. These allergens tend to cling to many surfaces. They also can hang around for a long time. This quality makes it difficult to completely rid a home of the allergens responsible for dog allergies, even if the animal is removed. It generally will take up to six months for the home to become free of allergens once the pet is removed.

The drastic treatment is to give the dog to another good home. This can be a big problem because family members are usually attached to the dog and consider him a part of the family. This option can be the last resort unless you have someone that just can not live with their symptoms. An example of this would be someone with asthma.

If the symptoms are mild there are other options. First, keep your pet out of the bedroom. This is an area where you spend a significant amount of your time, particularly sleeping. Get rid of old carpet that can harbor the allergens. Go for bare floors, in our house we always start out with hardwood floors and use throw rugs that can be washed in hot water. An air cleaner with a HEPA filter can also be an effective way to keep allergens at bay in certain areas of your house, Oreck has a great line of air purifiers that can help.

Dog allergies may be a common problem but you can learn to manage them. If all else fails and you do have to get rid of your beloved pet you might be able to replace them with a dog breed that is known to cause less dog allergies.

Our feline friends can sometimes be closer to us than many people yet if you suffer from cat allergies this relationship can be challenging. How do you cope? Pets have become such a great part of our lives. They provide comfort in times of loneliness and a hobby that helps to pass the time. Though the typical household pets are cats and dogs, pets can be any animal like rabbits, fish, and birds. Some people even like snakes and lizards. All that said cats are one of the most popular which can cause problems for household members that suffer from cat allergies.

Allergic reactions to cats can range from mild to severe so before you buy one you should definitely assess whether you might have any cat allergies. Unfortunately many people find out about their allergies after the fact. Asthma has been found to be a determining factor in how allergic you may be. 4 out of 10 asthma sufferers have cat allergies. On top of that they experience more symptoms when exposed to cats than to dogs.

What causes such an allergic reaction? A protein that is found in the cat skin and saliva seems to be the driver. When cleaning themselves cat lick their fur, depositing the protein on their fur. This allergen will produce a reaction to those that are sensitive similar to reactions to other allergens like pollen, dust or dander. When the protein becomes airborne and the allergy sufferer comes into contact with it the symptoms begin.

While there appear to be dog breads that are somewhat hypo allergenic (produce fewer allergic reactions), male cats cause more allergic reactions than female because of the testosterone level in the male cat’s glands. This testosterone in turn increases the protein. The cat allergen is found mainly in homes where cats live but due to the nature of it can be found wherever a cat owner may go. The protein allergen is quite sticky and can be carried on people’s clothing from place to place. The protein particles which cause the cat allergies can remain in the air for long periods of time.

If you are allergic you will more than likely have a rapid reaction as soon as you enter the room. If there is a cat or multiple cats in a room the reaction can be severe. The most common symptom of cat allergies is wheezing and can begin by just entering a room with cats. However, there are more subtle, delayed reactions as well that may last longer. If you are continually exposed you may experience chronic asthma. Eczema or hives are other possible symptoms.

The safest bet for coping with cat allergies is to avoid these animals as much as you can. Sometimes that is not a practical option and you may want to try to manage your symptoms for the sake of others in your household. In this case it is recommended that you try to confine your cat to certain areas of the house. Keep them out of your bed and bedroom for sure. Also purchasing a hepa air purifier and cleaning regularly will help in managing your cat allergies.