Pets and Allergies

If you’re like me, springtime not only means being able to wear shorts again and enjoying the beautiful flowers in bloom, but it also means dealing with its not-so-pleasant side effects… allergies. I’ve had my fair share of sinus infections over the years, and living in Georgia with its increasingly higher pollen counts hasn’t helped. But, luckily, I’m only allergic to pollen—I’m not allergic to my pets as some people are. However, some of things we do to reduce our sinus allergies are actually the same simple things you can do to reduce allergic reactions to your pets!

One of the top reasons that animals are surrendered to shelters is a family member’s allergy to the pet’s dander. But there are several things you can try before even thinking of surrendering a pet to the shelter—that should be your very last option. Some people are highly allergic and cannot have pets in their homes no matter what, but realistically, the majority of allergy-related cases can be dealt with easily with just a little commitment on your end.

The first thing you should ask yourself, and your doctor, is whether your allergies are actually caused by the pet and not another factor. There are so many environmental and man-made causes for allergies like pollen, dust mites, molds, cigarette smoke, insecticides, etc. that may be the true cause—did you know more people are allergic to dust mites than to pet dander? Pets sometimes wrongly get the immediate blame. See your doctor for an allergy test to make sure your pet is truly the cause of your sniffles in the first place. And remember that some doctors are often too quick to suggest removing the pet from the home rather than just making some simple adjustments that will still allow you to keep the pet. Keep reading to see what you can do to make life with your pets and your allergies manageable!

The Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary has a great check list of ways to reduce pet dander in your home. Here are some of their suggestions broken down by Home Care, Pet Care, and People Care:

Home Care

• If possible, keep pets out of the bedrooms of those with allergies. You can also put plastic coverings over your bed and upholstered furniture to prevent them from getting dander where you sleep and spend most of your time. You should also wash your curtains often to lessen dust and dander built-up there, which is a place most people forget about.
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, and vacuum often! Dusting and vacuuming can make a huge difference in reducing your allergies.
• Consider using indoor air purifiers to keep allergens and odor out of the air you’re breathing. Also, change your air system’s filters often (on the early end of the filter’s suggested time frame) and put filters over vents in each room.
• Use hypoallergenic pillows and mattress covers, and wash bed and living room linens in hot water on  a regular basis.
• Consider using hardwood flooring in your home and reduce the amount of carpeting, as this will reduce the areas where dander and dust can harbor. If you have carpet and cannot replace it, there are carpet cleaning solutions that will help reduce allergens.
• Keep the humidity level in your home low, which will decrease dust mite production.

Pet Care

• Simply bathing your pets once a week (or more often than you currently do) can make a dramatic difference. You can also use special shampoos to reduce the dander even more, and rinsing dogs with plain water between baths can significantly reduce their dander. If you have cats who do not like being bathed, there are now dry shampoo products and special wipes that can help lower the amount of dander on cats without stressing them with a full bath.
• Brush your pets often if not daily, and groom them in areas away from the main living spaces if you can.
• Put litter boxes in areas away from central vents and away from areas where those affected by the allergens spend most of their time. Remember, pet allergens are present in dander but also in saliva and urine.
• Feed your pet high-quality food, which can reduce the pet’s dander production and hair loss.

People Care

• Wash your hands! It’s a good general rule anyway, but especially for those with allergies. After you pet your animal and after they lick you, go wash your hands to remove the allergens and to avoid spreading them to your clothes or other surfaces.
• As much as you may like it, try to get your pets not to lick you so that the allergens spread through their saliva don’t bother you as much. If they do lick you, wash that area very soon afterward so it doesn’t affect you. (Don’t worry, they won’t be offended.)
• There are all kinds of new allergy medications that will help reduce your allergic reactions. If one doesn’t work, don’t give up—sometimes you just have to find the brand that works best for you. Also, if your allergies are really awful, consider getting allergy shots (immunotherapy) to eliminate your reaction to the protein that makes you allergic to pet dander, saliva and urine.
• Studies have shown that children who grow up with animals in the home from a young age actually have a reduced likelihood of becoming allergic to animals, and they are 50% less likely to develop other common allergies.

I can personally attest that these precautions really do make a difference, for all types of allergens but especially pet allergies. I have family members with pet dander allergies and asthma who live comfortably with their indoor pets every day… and that’s because they follow many of the suggestions above!

--written by Amanda Newsom