About Pet Allergies

Ultimate Warrior asked:


Very much want to own a cat but am very allergic. Don’t want to spend the big $ for a hypo-allergenic cat, and don’t want a hairless cat. Looking for best advice?

Janet

KEVIN H asked:


What is the polite way to convince them not to bring the pet?
Good feedback…ooh, they do know about the allergies but think their pet doesn’t cause allergies..it’s any pet’s dander unfortunately. I have also kept our pets outside for over a year now!

Teresa

Mikael Rieck asked:


There is nothing more devastating to a family than falling in love with a new dog only to soon after find out that another member of the family is allergic to the dog. Now you are faced with one of the hardest decisions that you will ever have to make.

Are you going to get rid of the dog upsetting every other family member, or are you going to make the one that is suffering with the symptoms adapt to the condition, doing everything that you can to prevent them from being miserable. Believe it or not there are a few easy steps that you can take to ensure that your family won’t have to give away their beloved pet.

When a person has dog allergies the two biggest causes are pet dander or bacteria that is carried around in the dog’s saliva. The first thing that you need to do in your attempt to lesson the dog allergies is to make sure that you dog is in perfect health. If the dog is depressed, nervous, or suffer from malnutrition they will shed their coat faster than a healthy dog. The more fur that is shed the more allergens that are released into the air. If you find out that your dog is suffering from one of the previously mentioned problems you should contact your vet as soon as possible to get the dog some relief.

If your dog is awarded a clean bill of health, frequent grooming can also greatly reduce dog allergies. Bath your dog with a shampoo that is specially formulated to help pet owners that are plagued with allergies. It is important to remember however that you should never bath your dog more than once a week.

It is ok to brush and groom you dog daily, but bathing him or her too often will dry out the dog’s skin, which will have the exact opposite effect than what you are trying to achieve. If it is you that is allergic to the pet and there is no one else in the home that can bath the dog hire someone to do it for you. Bathing a dog when you are allergic to them can be a truly horrifying experience.

Now that you have taken all the steps, bathing your dog on a weekly basis and grooming them daily to get rid of any loose hair that is just waiting to make you sneeze, now it is time for you do to what you need to to avoid the allergies and not the dog. Remember to wash you hands immediately after having any contact with your dog or their food or toys.

Try to take the time to clean your floors every day because this is where the dander will build up the fastest. Carpet is the worse flooring that you can have if you are in this situation. However if there is nothing your can do about it right now, spend the extra money and get a high-performance vacuum cleaner, with a hepa filter. Vacuum your carpet daily, run the vacuum over the non carpet floors also. It is also a good idea to have a vacuum that comes with a furniture attachment, because this will make cleaning up the pet dander a whole lot easier.

A general rule of thumb that every pet lover with allergies should live by is keep your home well ventilated. Stale air that never moves is a breeding ground for allergens. It is also a great idea to keep your bedroom strictly off limits to your dog, thus creating a relaxing dander free environment. If none of these steps are working well enough for you, check with your doctor he maybe able to give you a medication that will help you out.



Theodore

AceDeuce Yo asked:


I have always had cats, and until a few years ago, it wasn’t a problem. I had seldane, which prevented all outbreaks from pet dander and hey fever. Seldane’s been taken off the market and now I’m missing my pets and I’d like to live free from pet allergies. Suggestions?

Georgia

Lyle asked:


ies of various types make millions of people’s lives miserable everyday and the allergies control at least some aspects of the sufferer’s lives. This is unnecessary since measures can be taken to keep your allergies under control. There are different types of allergies, determined by what causes the allergy. The most well known allergies are dust mite allergy, mold allergy, hay fever or pollen allergy and pet allergy.

Each of these different types of allergies creates a different reaction within the sufferer and has different sources, but allergy control measures can be applied to all of them. There are a variety of measures that you can put into effect, but they are intended to be back up measures for the allergy control products that it is advised you buy. There is a very large selection of products available currently. These products will help to reduce the allergic reactions of the sufferer by a large margin.

When focusing on the bedroom, there are eight main product types which are manufactured to decrease the effects of allergies. The bedroom should be the first area to be re-equipped since it is in there that the allergy sufferer spends a large portion of their time and it should be a refuge from the effects of allergies as opposed to aggravating the suffering. The different types of products are roughly divided into two groups, bedding products and air products.

In the group of bedding products there are the categories comforters, pillows and mattress pads. Comforters come in a variety of types and a variety of fills including down and a fiber fill. Most people with an allergy problem would automatically avoid down, but it is warmer than a fiber filled comforter, but you need to ensure that the comforter is hypoallergenic. People believe they are allergic to feathers, but they are in fact allergic to the dust and protein that attaches itself to the feather so if the down has been properly cleaned then it is not a problem. Fiber filled comforters are preferred by those in warm climates or during summer.

There are is a wide range of choices for people who would like a hypoallergenic pillow , whether it is foam, natural or synthetic. This choice is dependent on what you require from your pillow and your level of allergy. Mattress pads were the greatest thing ever invented by the bedding industry for an increase in comfort and support. Some of mattresses are created for hygiene, some are created for softness and some mattress pads are for back and joint support, but for allergy sufferers the important factor is whether they are hypoallergenic. The feather beds provided by Pacific coast are created to be an allergy control product. They come in every size to suit you and they are incredibly comfortable.

In the group of air products there are Air Purifiers, Dehumidifiers, Humidifiers, Steam Cleaners and Vacuum cleaners. These products all cater for different needs and different types of allergies. A dehumidifier would be the best option for a person suffering from a mold allergy, but a humidifier would be beneficial to a person with sinus troubles as a result of their allergies.

Dehumidifiers and humidifiers perform opposite functions, but they still perform well as allergy control products. Dehumidifiers lower the humidity level of the area around it in order to inhibit the occurrence of mildew, mold and damp. They are essential for any allergy sufferer who wishes to stop mold spores from growing within their house or in the basement and also wishes to keep the level of humidity low enough to ensure that dust mites are kept at bay.

Humidifiers come in two types, warm mist or cool mist humidifiers. These will both keep the air around them hydrated to a comfortable level to ensure that your allergies are not exacerbated. Warm mist humidifiers are more useful in cooler climates while cool mist humidifiers are better used in a warmer environment. The determining factors are ease of cleaning and noise levels.

Air Purifiers are very important allergy control products. They should be used in with either a humidifier or dehumidifier in order to get the best from them. A good quality HEPA air filtration device is an indispensable element to ensuring that an allergen free and healthy home is maintained. Air filters literally filter out harmful pollen and particles that will cause an allergic reaction in you. In order to ensure that you can select a high quality product we have circumspectly chosen the finest air purifiers to present for you to select from out of the numerous products we have tested.

Steam Cleaners often look like a vacuum cleaner but that is where the similarity ends. The use of a steam cleaner ensures that you can sanitize, deep clean and deodorize in one simple procedure without using any of the chemicals that can be found in supermarket cleaning equipment. For allergy sufferers, there is the built in benefit that the heat of the steam penetrates deep down into any material being cleaned and therefore the dry steam instantaneously kills any and all dust mites, viruses, molds, and fungi that may be there.

A HEPA vacuum cleaner is a highly effective allergy control product that will suck up all the allergens and dust which have become settled onto furniture floors and carpets. These settled allergens are the ones which keep getting stirred up and therefore consequently inhaled by people due to movement within a room.

One allergy control product will help you to lower the allergen level in the area of your bedroom, but it is recommended that you utilize a combination of products in order to bring the allergen level to it’s lowest possible point and therefore bring your allergic reactions to an absolute minimum.

Jason

Colleen F Finnegan asked:


In Part 1:  Understanding the Allergy Basics of the Allergy Control Products series on “The Secret to Living with Allergies,” the differences between seasonal allergies and indoor allergies were covered as well as diagnosing allergy triggers, the causes of allergy symptoms and important steps to take to find allergy relief.  In indoor allergies, the top three allergen sources include dust mite allergens, molds and pet dander.  Although some allergy sources are harder to identify, pet allergies may often be self-evident as contact with the animal or pet can cause obvious allergy symptoms.  What may not be as well known is what causes pet allergies, as it is not actually the pet hair that is at the root of the problem.  In Part 2 of the Allergy Control Products “The Secret to Living with Allergies” series, what causes pet allergies and steps to reduce allergy symptoms related to pet allergies will be covered.

Step 1:  Learn the Facts About Pet Allergies that Cause Your Allergy Symptoms

Many people believe that what causes pet allergies is the pet hair, but the allergy-causing material is instead a protein found in the animal’s dander (made up of flaky skin cells and dried saliva), saliva or urine that triggers allergic reactions.  These pet allergy particles are particularly small and your allergy symptoms begin as they are inhaled into the nose and lungs or come in contact with your eyes.  In some cases, your allergic reaction may build up and occur hours after you come in contact with an animal.  However, most often, an allergic reaction and the resulting allergy symptoms happen very quickly (within minutes).  

Since all dogs or cats produce animal dander, unfortunately, none are hypoallergenic.  Some animals may produce less dander and people with pet allergies may be more sensitive to some breeds than others.  Symptoms of pet allergies can include sneezing, itchy eyes or nose, runny nose or nasal congestion and contact-induced rash or itching.  For asthma sufferers, allergic reactions such as wheezing, shortness of breath and lung congestion can bring about even severe asthma symptoms.

Pet allergens (pet dander) are the highest in homes with pets, however, pet allergens can be found even in places where pets are not allowed.  Pet dander is very sticky and can travel on clothing to public places.  Pet dander can remain allergenic and cause allergy symptoms for long periods of time and important steps, covered in Step 3, should be taken to reduce contact with pet allergens. 

Step 2:  Millions Suffer from Pet Allergies, with Cat Allergies Being the Most Common Pet Allergy

Although many animals (from birds to horse to dogs) can cause pet allergies, the most common pet allergy is to cats.  Cat allergy may be more predominant due to a higher potency of cat dander as an allergen or the fact that cats are not bathed as frequently as dogs and do more self-grooming, further increasing the presence of saliva and pet dander that leads to allergy symptoms.  According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), approximately 10 percent of Americans may be allergic to animals.   Of these allergy sufferers, many may have asthma and 20 to 30 percent of asthma sufferers have pet allergies.  These asthma sufferers include kids with childhood asthma.  The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) explains that allergic asthma (caused by allergens such as dust mites, cat and dog dander and other environmental allergens) is the most common form of asthma in children.

Taking important steps to control pet allergies can lead to a healthier life for you and your children and potentially avoid instances in which severe asthma or allergy reactions may take place.

Step 3:  What to Do for Pet Allergy Relief

If you have pet allergies and there is a pet in the home, it may be necessary to find a new home for the pet.  This step can be difficult to do and the necessity may be dependent on the severity of your allergic reaction.  If your pet stays at home, the pet must be kept out of the allergy sufferer’s bedroom and you should wash hands or clothing after any contact.  In either instance, cleaning steps throughout the home should be undertaken as it is important to get rid of pet allergens or keep levels as low as possible. 

For effective pet allergy relief, begin with cleaning steps in your bedroom.  Create a barrier between yourself and pet allergens that have accumulated in your bed by covering pillows, mattress and other bedding in allergy-proof bed encasings.  Wash your linens and any other bedding frequently, and even consider replacing bedding items.  The carpet can be the second largest allergy-causing source after the bed, and removing or treating the carpet will reduce your continued exposure to allergens that have built up in the soft carpet surface.  Vacuum any remaining carpet regularly, and it is particularly important to use a HEPA filtration vacuum, as these vacuums are designed to contain small allergy particles such as pet dander.  Air filters in your vents will keep pet allergy particles from circulating in the home, and special filters over an air vent in the bedroom provides an extra level of filtration in the allergy sufferer’s bedroom.

Using HEPA air cleaners or HEPA air purifiers can be particularly good for people with pet allergies, as the tiny pet allergy particle stays in the air for longer periods of time.  The HEPA air filter has a better chance to capture these particles before they settle to the ground, for improved air cleaning.  Give your pet frequent baths to help remove dander on the surface of skin or fur and reduce your pet’s need to groom itself.



Marc

arabian_horse_gurl_111 asked:


my father has had allergies to animals for years, but we’ve had pets for years( right now, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and a rat that are always kept cleaned out, and are today)… and since they are kept in another room, where he does not go, it’s never been much of a problem. though, today he woke up with his eyes glued shut, apparently because of his alleriges (though he is allergic to many other things than animals) and is telling me I have to get rid of my animals. if the problem was the animals, wouldn’t he of had a reaction to them a long time ago? would getting rid of my pets even help his allergies?

Debbie

Kelly W asked:


Hey this is very weird, but I started a medication called BuSpar two days ago, and ever since, the past two times that I have been around my boyfriend’s cat I haven’t had the itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and hives that I usually get. I always take benadryl around the cat, but they never really worked this well before. Can there be any connection? I tried to look this up on the internet but to no avail…thanks!

Clarence

JStrat asked:


I would like a pet I can actually pet. I love dogs and cats, but have found my allergies and asthma act up around them - are there certain breeds I should look for? I’ve tried fish and lizards, but they just aren’t very pet-like, though I enjoy having them around. Are there dogs and cats that are better for people with allergies? Maybe certain short-hair breeds? Or other pets that are great? Thank you for any help!

Lawrence

Ronny Sikes asked:


Food allergies are the third most common type of allergy manifest in dogs. Unfortunately, food allergies in dogs are not breed-specific, and thus there are no “safe breeds.” They can develop anywhere between 5 months to 12 years of age, though most often they appear between the ages of 2 and 6. An important thing to understand about a potential food allergy is that it develops over time, and a dog can slowly develop an allergic reaction to a food it has safely eaten for months or years beforehand.

It is also important to understand the difference between allergies and intolerances. A food intolerance, for example, might result in diarrhea or vomiting in a dog, much the same way a human might react poorly to spicy or foreign foods. An allergy may not result in overt symptoms such as these, but might be more subtle such as itchy or sensitive skin. Other common symptoms include hot spots, excessive scratching, hair loss, and ear sensitivity/infections. Year-round symptoms are a good tip-off, because seasonal allergies will naturally only appear at certain times. Also, a number of studies have shown that an increase in a dog’s bowel movements to three times a day or more could be an indicator of a food allergy, as a healthy dog should typically only move its bowels about 1.5 times a day. Blood tests can also be performed by a vet to help identify potential allergies, though there are some that doubt the validity of the results.

Allergic reactions to food are unfortunately often difficult to diagnose. Because many owners feed their dogs dry or canned dog food with many different ingredients, often the best way to reliably test for food allergies is to put the dog on a strict diet of a new source of protein and a new source of carbohydrates for 12 weeks., such as venison and rice, for example. Assuming the dog’s symptoms clear up, the original food or ingredients can be introduced one at a time to the dog’s diet to see if the symptoms return. If an offending ingredient is identified, treatment is rather straightforward: simply refrain from feeding it to the pup. It’s important to afterwards check the ingredients of any store-bought dog food, since many contain a wide variety of ingredients. Many veterinarians will be able to recommend a special food, and some will sell owners the food directly, though be aware that the specially prepared foods are typically more expensive than common store-bought dog foods.

For particularly sensitive allergies, or for allergies for common ingredients, home-cooked food is always an option. Remember to always consult your vet before putting your pet on a new diet, as the meals need to be properly balanced so that your pet gets healthy amounts of the nutrients he or she needs. However, preparing the dog’s meals yourself could alleviate the cost of custom diets.

Although diagnosis can be a long and arduous process, the result is a happier and healthier pet, and a worry-free owner.



Luis