Our lives and health, no doubt it, can benefit from having a pet in our care. And if you are among the elderly or if you live by yourself, this cannot be more true. Pets provide unconditional love that most humans cannot. They won't leave our side even when the going gets tough. But if your spouse, children or other friends and relatives, or maybe you yourself are allergic to your pet, this could sometimes cause some strain in the relationship.
If you look at the figures released by researchers, about a fifth of all Americans suffer from some dog or cat-related allergy, while a third of these people who suffer from the allergy ignore it and decide to live with a cat in their home. Sometimes, you may not even know you're allergic to your pet until a year or two after the fact.
There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up's, especially for children. And if flare-ups occur repeatedly, your kids could be at risk of lung damage, even permanent. See a pediatrician immediately and don't leave out any details of your child's allergy. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. It would help if you leave your pet outside.
You will have to be very patient and understanding if the pet allergy is mild - there is still a way for the allergy sufferer and the pet to live under one roof. Do not let the animal touch the allergy sufferer's bedroom or bed with a ten foot pole. Be careful when dealing with upholstered furniture, as animal dander is easily transferred to upholstery if you let the pet run wild and free. A room purifier can help you with this by eliminating animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.
But if all else fails, and this would include any over the counter antihistamines that may fail to do the trick, the allergy sufferer may need an allergist's help. Your best defense against allergies is immunotherapy, which is sort of like a vaccine. Eventually this could help your body increase its resistance to certain allergens, through regular doses administered as shots.
These tips can all go a long way in guaranteeing years of happiness and good health with your pet.
If you look at the figures released by researchers, about a fifth of all Americans suffer from some dog or cat-related allergy, while a third of these people who suffer from the allergy ignore it and decide to live with a cat in their home. Sometimes, you may not even know you're allergic to your pet until a year or two after the fact.
There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up's, especially for children. And if flare-ups occur repeatedly, your kids could be at risk of lung damage, even permanent. See a pediatrician immediately and don't leave out any details of your child's allergy. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. It would help if you leave your pet outside.
You will have to be very patient and understanding if the pet allergy is mild - there is still a way for the allergy sufferer and the pet to live under one roof. Do not let the animal touch the allergy sufferer's bedroom or bed with a ten foot pole. Be careful when dealing with upholstered furniture, as animal dander is easily transferred to upholstery if you let the pet run wild and free. A room purifier can help you with this by eliminating animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.
But if all else fails, and this would include any over the counter antihistamines that may fail to do the trick, the allergy sufferer may need an allergist's help. Your best defense against allergies is immunotherapy, which is sort of like a vaccine. Eventually this could help your body increase its resistance to certain allergens, through regular doses administered as shots.
These tips can all go a long way in guaranteeing years of happiness and good health with your pet.
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