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Allergy Sufferers: Keep Your Pets

By Jacob Maslow of Allergy Be Gone, Guest Blogger

Whether he or she is named Fido or Fluffy, pet owners love their pets. Pets prove to be loyal and loving companions to many. But, uh oh, what happens when you or a family member becomes allergic to this cherished family member?

Allergies, including allergies to pets, are on the rise. There are a number of factors contributing to this unwanted occurrence; the primary factor being pollution. However, when you or a family member becomes allergic to your pet, it becomes personal and much more problematic.

If you suffer from dust mites, you can remove your carpets and draperies. Simply replace them with products that do not create a breeding ground for the little varmints. And, you can easily use allergen protective covers for you bedding. You take whatever means you can to get rid of the allergic trigger. When it’s your pet, what do you do? Pet allergy sufferers not only suffer with their allergy symptoms, they have the added concern of possibly having to give their pet away. Hold on though, don’t panic. There’s plenty you can do to reduce symptoms from pet allergy triggers, otherwise called pet dander.

10 Steps to Reduce Your Exposure to Pet Dander
1. Keep your pet out of the bedroom.

2. Use air purifiers in the bedrooms and other rooms you spend time in, such as the living room and/or playroom.

3. Use a HEPA filter in each air purifier and a high quality filter for each air conditioner in your home. HEPA filters are specially designed to trap and eliminate 99.7% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. The more allergens trapped, including pet dander, the less allergens in your home.

4. Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture regularly, and make sure you use a HEPA vacuum cleaner filter. Again, these filters drastically reduce the allergens in your home.

5. Dust regularly, a least once a week, using a microfiber cloth/duster, or a damp cloth.

6. Do not run your ceiling fans. Dust, including pet dander, collects on the blades. If you turn it on, the allergens in the dust become airborne causing allergy symptoms in the allergy sufferer.

7. If possible remove carpets and heavy draperies and replace with products such as wood or tile flooring and blinds.

8. Wear an allergy mask when dusting and vacuuming.

9. Use HEPA filters on your heating system.

10. Place filters over your air vents.

While there are even more strategies you can use to keep your home allergen-free and reduce your allergy symptoms, these 10 steps will get you headed in the right direction and certainly help reduce exposure to your pet’s dander.

One last note, consulting with an allergist and possibly getting allergy shots is also another avenue you can look into. The shots help your body to tolerate the allergy triggers that are bothering you, including pet dander.

Allergy Be Gone is a family company owned and managed by an allergy sufferer. The founders, Marc and Allen Barsano, have always been concerned with helping people who suffer from allergies. For this reason, Marc and Allen are dedicated to providing useful and regularly updated allergy avoidance information. Their blog is updated daily, and their Allergist Directory is quite popular.

June 4th, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: Guest Posts

11 comments to Allergy Sufferers: Keep Your Pets

  • Rod@GoPetFriendly
    June 4, 2010 at 10:20 AM

    I believe Amy and I are both mildly allergic to our dogs’ dander. Mostly a stuffy nose kind of thing. Like you point out, we just try and keep things clean (you have to in an RV!).

  • Angela
    June 4, 2010 at 3:09 PM

    A good way to reduce pet dander is to regularly bath your pets. Once a week, or every two weeks goes a long way to reducing loose dander, as well as making your pets smell and feel better. Just make sure you use a good pet shampoo to prevent excessive skin and coat dryness!

  • Veterinary Tech
    June 4, 2010 at 3:44 PM

    Great list here. Now I just need one that my poor American Bulldog can read re: her allergies. She’s allergic to EVERYTHING, including grass! What kind of poor dog doesn’t like to play on grass?

  • Jacob Maslow
    June 4, 2010 at 6:34 PM

    @rod best not to take a pet in a RV if you are allergic. If it’s only mild and you are already doing it without causing severe reactions, you are likely fine (I don’t have a medical degree).

    Keeping it clean and ventilated is especially important,

    @angela bathing the pets is also a good idea.

    We try to do a lot of research to help make dealing with allergies easier.

  • Karen Friesecke
    June 4, 2010 at 6:50 PM

    You can also buy shampoos to control dog dander. Petsmart has one called Top Paw Shed Control & Anti-Allergen Waterless Shampoo.

  • The Saturday Bytes June 5, 2010
    June 5, 2010 at 7:09 PM

    [...] ate enough dirt as a kid. :/ If you suffer from pet allergies, there’s a guest post over at PetNewsandViews.com that you may want to check [...]

  • Mary Eardman
    June 7, 2010 at 5:48 PM

    Great tips. My husband was allergic to my cat, but now he can be in the same room with him. We removed rugs and we don’t allow the cat in the bedroom.

  • Animals Away
    June 8, 2010 at 8:34 AM

    There are so many things you can do to eliminate pet dander like removing carpets and drapes, keeping your pet clean more often, and the like. Giving your pet away doesn’t always have to be the solution. If it can be helped in other ways, why not try.

  • Monique
    June 16, 2010 at 10:21 AM

    I used to be allergic to cats. I’ve always loved cats (and any animal, really) and this was a pretty sad thing for me, but I put up with it and kept being around cats anyway, and eventually I built up a tolerance to the point that I’m not allergic at all anymore. My cat Artisan sleeps on my bed with me (sometimes on my face-he’s weird), along with my dog Jack, and I don’t get the slightest sniffle. Mold is pretty much the only thing that sets me off anymore!

    It’s so sad when someone thinks they have to give their pet up because of an allergy, because there are alternative solutions!

  • allergy mom
    December 15, 2010 at 12:21 PM

    Thanks so much for writing this,I found this very useful and truly appreciate it. By the way this is really a great looking site, you did such a wonderful job with the style and design.

  • Cletus Nalbandian
    March 23, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    Your sniffles could one day become asthma Many think that the symptoms they have are not very serious. But if you have symptoms of an allergy, you should consult a physician diagnosis for proper treatment.