Tips to Handle Allergies from Pets
A pet gives us a sense of happiness and well-being. They give us unconditional love and hours of fun and company. Most households have some kind of a pet – the most popular ones being dogs and cats. Sometimes, a member of your family may become allergic to the family pet. In addition, you may have some friends or family members who start showing symptoms of allergies when they visit. If you are not about to get rid of your pet, what could you do to handle these allergies?
Most animal allergies are due to pet dander. Pet dander is produced by the animals skin and saliva in their fur, and can become a problem for people that are very sensitive to it. The allergens contained in the pet’s fur, saliva, and urine will trigger a person’s immune system to react in the form of symptoms like a rash, itchy skin, eyes, throat, sneezing or coughing, even difficulty breathing, Because pets are inside the home and they lie around, licking themselves, these allergens come in contact with fabrics, rugs, and furniture … These allergens come in contact with people and trigger an allergic response.
Sometimes, people who are not allergic to dogs are allergic to cats or other animals. Cats usually lick themselves as part of their cleaning routine, they have more allergens deposited in their fur, therefore, causing more allergic responses to some people. Bird dust – a white powder in bird’s feathers – is also cause of many allergic responses.
Keep your house clean and vacuum often. Dust your furniture and spray it with an allergen reducer product. Wash your sheets often and try to keep your bedroom door closed so pets do not go in your bed. Bathe your pets regularly or brush them. There are Dry shampoos in the market for pets like cats; but be aware that these products have chemicals in them, and you will be feeding chemicals to your cat since they lick themselves all day. You can buy air purifiers and treatments, but they can help so much, as the allergens will always be present. You can reduce them, but not eliminate them. When you are expecting visitors who are allergic to pets, give a good cleaning to your home, and keep pets in other rooms. If the weather is good, you may choose to entertain outside.
Other options are to use antihistamines and decongestants. If you have asthma, it could be intensified by the allergies that you may be experiencing. Always have your asthma medication at hand. Other choices are allergy shots, which may or may not work for you. Taking vitamins and supplements to improve your immune system, as well as following a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, will help your system to fight better. Spend time outside breathing fresh air.
When your allergies become so intense that they affect your quality of life and activities of daily living, then you should look into other options such as natural medicine or new prescription drugs, if you do not want to get rid of your beloved pet. For many, getting rid of their pets is worse than suffering the allergies.
