Tips for Living with Pet Allergies

Thirty-nine percent of American homes have one or more dogs and thirty-three percent have one or more cat according to WebMd . Of those homes that house pets, 100% of them have detectable pet dander – the culprit for itchy eyes, runny noses, scratchy throats, and in severe cases, respiratory issues, in those pet owners unfortunate enough to suffer from pet allergies. Many people who become officially diagnosed with pet allergies (an allergic reaction to their pet), feel there are few options left to them except to try to find a loving home for their companion and seek out hairless or hypo-allergenic breeds in the future. With so many other health benefits linked to having a pet in the home, it’s worth exploring your options to maintain your pet ownership – minus the suffering.

Don’t let pet allergies lead you to banish your furry companions!First off, let us begin by prefacing, with the knowledge that some pet allergies are life threatening and you should always undergo an allergy test and speak with your doctor about the seriousness of your allergy before attempting to remedy your home situation. Most people with pet allergies do not suffer life threatening consequences, just discomforts – these tips are for you!

We cannot stress enough the importance of attaching HEPA filters to everything in your home that will take one – your heating/cooling system, vacuum cleaner, air purifiers, etc. HEPA stands for ‘high efficiency particulate air’ and filters that measure up to these standards catch the highest amount of air particles that many other filters allow back into the air. Additionally, try to limit the amount of fabric surfaces within your home. If you can, avoid wall to wall carpeting, cloth furniture, and curtains. All cloth surfaces will hold onto pet hair and dander more than smooth surfaces like wood/tile flooring, window blinds, or leather/faux leather furniture. The more surfaces in your home that can be wiped down regularly, the better!

While you’re busy keeping your home wiped down, down forget to bath and brush your pet regularly. The more you (or a non-allergic household member) take control for removing their excess dander and hair in a controlled environment, the less likely it is to find itself settling about your home. Furthermore, create pet-free zones. One of the most important pet-free zones should be your bedroom. Lots of people like to sleep, or at least snuggle up with their pets in their bed, but for those with allergies, nixing this habit is a small price to pay for keeping a loved family member. This will allow you to avoid irritants while sleeping, thus limiting your overall exposure to them on a daily basis.

As a final effort to free yourself from the symptoms, allergy medications can be sought. This is not suggested as a long-term solution though, and should never be sought out without medical approval and direction.

Feel free to share your tips and tricks with us for an allergy free home! Good luck and happy petting!