Dealing With Pet Allergies
Many people suffer from pet allergies. What people are actually allergic to are the proteins from the hair, saliva or urine of household pets. Some people can also be allergic to feathers and may not be able to tolerate having a bird as a pet. An allergic reaction is triggered that attacks their eyes and airways, and they suffer a reaction much like that of hay fever sufferers. The reaction can also be like asthmatic symptoms, and take the form of atopic dermatitis or a nettle rash. Most often cats, dogs and birds are the cause of the allergies, but some people can also be allergic to rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters or other animals. Some are even allergic to some types of food that pets might eat. To deal with pet allergies you may have to consider that you may have to settle for a pet that you are not allergic to. For instance, you may be allergic to cats but be O.K. with birds. There are also animals that may be lower on the scale of allergens that can cause the allergic reaction. You may find that the allergy is to fur rather than saliva and you as the allergic person may be able to tolerate certain breeds of certain animals better than others, for example the Sphynx cat mentioned earlier is “furless” variety of cat. There are also certain breeds of dogs that tend to be more allergy friendly than others, such as the Poodle or Bichon Frise, which have soft, constantly-growing hair and short curly coats which may be less irritating to some individuals. I do not want to mislead you—there are no guarantees that any of these animals will be tolerated either. One helpful hint to help people who are allergic to pets is to bathe the pet regularly and to keep the household living quarters clean. Dogs, as well as cats, can be bathed weekly to help prevent the dander build-up that can irritate allergies. Studies have shown that even giving your cat a monthly ‘wash’ can help lower the allergen factors in your home. Ask your vet to recommend shampoos and products to help. You can also create an “allergy free” zone in your home (preferably the bedroom) where the pet will be strictly prohibited from accessing. You can also use a high-efficiency HEPA air cleaner to help clear the air of dander that may be floating in the air. Also consider using impermeable mattress and pillow covers that can help prevent allergen particles penetrating into the bed. The use of a HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner may also be helpful. There are also certain products that you may purchase that have been reported to help with pet allergies—Allerpet/C for cats and Allerpet-D for dogs. Allerpet/C cleanses the cat’s hair of saliva and dander, which are the chief causes of allergic reactions. It is non-toxic and even safe to use on kittens. Similarly, Allerpet/D does the same thing for dogs and puppies. These are liquids that you apply to a paper towel or wash cloth and rub on your pet once a week. The liquid reportedly neutralizes the allergens on the pet’s skin and fur and usually takes about three weeks for it to reach it peak effectiveness. You can find these products at most pet stores or your veterinarian’s office. If you are the person who is reportedly allergic to pets, it is wise to check with the family doctor to see if indeed the pet is the cause of the allergy. Sometimes it can be dust, or cigarette smoke or some other cause that you may have assumed to be the pet’s fault. If indeed the pet is the cause of the allergy you may be able to get immunotherapy (allergy shots) which can help the symptoms, although it does not eliminate them entirely. You are usually given one dose (or shot) per week for a set time period (a few weeks to months, depending upon the severity of the allergy) to gradually desensitize your immune system to the pet allergens. Other treatments for pet allergies can include steroidal and antihistamine nose sprays and pills. An important point is to find an allergist to treat your pet allergies that understands the commitment you may have to your pet. Using a combination of approaches (treating the medical symptoms, good housekeeping practices and immunotherapy) can help you succeed in allowing pets to live with an allergic person in your home. It can also be the case that children can outgrow their allergy to pets. If, though, the allergic person definitely cannot live with their allergy, perhaps a different type of animal may fit the need for a pet. As mentioned, a person allergic to cats may well find love and contentment from a bird. Or someone allergic to feathers may find a hamster a loving alternative. Allergies do not have to make a family be devoid of pets entirely.
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