How to Cope with Allergies

So you've done it! You've adopted the perfect, cutest, spunkiest little ball of fluff. He's gotten all of his vaccinations, he's been dewormed, neutered, licensed and everything is set. You bring him home and he settles in right away. However, as the first week goes by, you begin to realize that now that's he happily romping on your bed and leaving fur all over your furniture and clothes, you're starting to sneeze and your eyes are starting to water. A trip to the doctor's office confirms your worst fears: you, my unfortunate friend, are among the 15% of Americans that are allergic to cats and dogs. Your doctor tells you to immediately get rid of the offending animal.

Wait! Before you throw your pet out the window or send him back to the shelter, there's something you should do. Look at his adorable face and ask yourself whether or not you can really live without him now. Statistics side with you! In a well-documented study, when 314 adults found themselves allergic to their pets and were advised by doctors to get rid of them, only 1 out of 5 did. What's more, over 120 of them obtained another pet when their pet died. So there is hope for you! It is possible to live with animals even if you're allergic to them.

The Scoop: Allergens & Dander

Contrary to popular belief, people aren't actually allergic to fur, although it can tickle your nose and make you sneeze. So getting a hairless kitten or puppy won't solve any of your allergy problems. There are glands in the skin of pets that secrete allergy-triggering proteins called "allergens", and the specific allergen your pet has is called "dander".

How To Reduce Allergic Reactions

1. Baths

Just giving your pet a bath once a week reduces dander by as much as 84%. I know it's hard to get a squirmy puppy or especially a kitten into the bathtub, but they can get used to it fairly quickly if you start bathing them at an early age. Ask your veterinarian for the most effective dander removing cat or dog shampoo.
2. No Pets Allowed In Here!

Create a room in the house where the pet is not allowed. Keep it constantly vacuumed, just in case, and keep a high efficiency HEPA air cleaner in the room.
3. Allergy Proofing Your Home

Get high efficiency HEPA air cleaners and place them in every room in your house. Also, avoid carpets and other dust gathering things such as cloth drapes and blinds. Dust and vacuum frequently, using a microfilter vacuum bag to make sure none of the allergens escape.
4. Medical Treatments

Ask your doctor whether you should consider getting allergy shots. These shots work to slowly desensitize your immune systems to allergens. There are also inhalers available to asthma sufferers, and antihistamine sprays and pills.

A combination of these methods will allow most allergic people to be able to live with their pets. However, it is important to note that if you know that you're allergic to animals and are considering getting a pet, you need to consult your doctor to assess the severity of your allergies, and to assess how expensive and time-consuming it will be to make living with them bearable. People too often underestimate the commitment they're willing to give to the issue, and animals end up getting returned or abandoned.

For more information on coping with pet allergies, please visit PetAllergies.com