Allergic to Your Pet?
No matter how many times you bathe your pet, realize that you’re never going to wash away all of the allergens, many of which are found in the pet’s saliva and skin.
On about the thousandth morning waking up with two Schnauzer faces next to mine on my pillow, I finally decided to go to the allergist to find out once and for all if my best furry friends were the cause of my morning sinus headaches. I didn’t want to admit that the dogs might be the problem, but after trying every allergy medication on the market, rotating foods in and out of my diet, and buying special allergen-fighting bedding, I thought that I’d better at least rule them out.
The allergist injected various common allergens beneath my skin, and a few minutes later it became clear that I couldn’t deny the problem anymore – I was allergic to dogs. The allergist said that I shouldn’t sleep with them anymore (yeah, right, that’s going to happen) and that beyond getting rid of my “boys,” there wasn’t much I could do to eliminate my allergies. She explained that the allergens weren’t just in the fur and skin, but in the protein that makes up the entire animal. No dog bath was going to help that.
About 15% of Americans are allergic to pets, but being allergic doesn’t seem to stop pet lovers from having animals in the house. Here are ten steps that you can take to relieve your pet allergies if the itchy eyes and runny nose are getting the best of you.
- Are you sure that your pet is causing your allergies? Don’t blame fluffy unless you’re sure that she’s the cause of your hives. There are a lot of allergens found in the average home, most of which have nothing do to with your cat or dog.
- Wash your hands after you touch your pet. Do not touch your face before you wash your hands!
- Regularly bathe your pet. Bathing seems to help relieve some allergies, especially baths that remove most of the pet’s dead hair. Your local groomer will likely have a “no shed” bath. Sure, Fluffy the cat isn’t going to appreciate the bathing, but a little water is better than a trip to the shelter. If Fluffy is really opposed to bath time, you can get by in-between baths by rubbing the cat down with a damp cloth or by applying a commercially available allergy fighting liquid to her coat. No matter how many times you bathe your pet, realize that you’re never going to wash away all of the allergens, many of which are found in the pet’s saliva and skin.
- Consider allergy shots. Your doctor can recommend whether or not you’re a candidate for allergy shots, which may help reduce allergy symptoms.
- Don’t sleep with your pet. If you do (like me) wash all bedding at least twice a month in the hottest water possible and use a no-scent detergent.
- Invest in air filters. HEPA filters trap small particles of pet dander and will clear the air for an allergy sufferer.
- Vacuum regularly. Use a HEPA vacuum to trap those tiny dander particles. Cat allergen is much smaller than a dust particle, and can even be found in homes that don’t have cats!
- Steam clean your carpet and furniture. Steam cleaning removes more dead hair and dander than vacuuming and will also kill dust mites and other allergens.
- Create a “pet free” space. Choose one room in your home that isn’t accessible to your pet. Ideally, the pet free space will be the bedroom, but if you’re intent on bedding down with Fido, then choose another room where you can make an escape when your allergies flare. The room should have a door that you can close, should contain a HEPA filter, and any fabric in the room should be washed regularly in hot water.
- If your pet allergies are really bothering you, speak with your doctor or pharmacist about using the appropriate prescription or over-the-counter allergy remedies.
Nikki Moustaki, MA, MFA, is a dog trainer and pet writer and lives in New York City with two Schnauzers and four parrots. She is the author of six books on the care and training of dogs, and writes regularly for national dog magazines.