How to Live With an Allergy to Animal Hair

Allergies to animal hair are not caused by the hair itself, but by a protein present in the pet's saliva and dander. Fortunately, you have options for dealing with the allergy other than getting rid of the pet.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Air Filters
• Flitered Vacuums
• Power Brush Vacuum Attachments
• Distilled Waters
• Bromelain
• Quercetin
• Vitamin C
• Allergen Remover
• Vitamin C

1. Wash your pet weekly. This will reduce the allergen levels. Use a very mild dog or cat shampoo to prevent your pet's skin from getting too dry.

2. Rub pet down with distilled water daily. It helps reduce allergen levels significantly.

3. Use one of the allergen reduction products on the market. They are sold in pet supply stores; you can use them instead of distilled water.

4. Vacuum daily. Use a vacuum with a good HEPA filter. Vacuum furniture and drapes as well as the floor.

5. Consider removing carpeting. Smooth floors such as tile or wood are much easier to clean, and animal hair doesn't cling to these surfaces.

6. Use an air filtration system in your house.

7. Minimize upholstered furniture and soft fleecy surfaces, which can harbor allergens.

8. Damp-dust at least once a week. The allergens are airborne and can stick to objects around the house, such as lamp shades or picture frames.

9. Keep pets out of bedroom.

10. Select a sofa or chair that will be the pet's spot and cover it with a sheet. It will be easier to keep your pet off furniture if the pet has a designated piece of furniture to sit on.

11. Wash the sheets once a week.

12. Wash or wipe down pet toys frequently. They carry allergens.

13. Confine pets to certain rooms if you have a large house.

14. Wash your hands after playing with your pet.

15. Keep pets outside if you have a safe place for them. For dogs, this means a fenced yard and a doghouse for shelter. Cats should not be kept outside unless you live in an area far away from traffic and natural predators.

16. Consider taking allergy shots to help desensitize you to the allergens.

Tips & Warnings

• Pet allergens can exist in a house long after the pet is gone. If you have allergies to animal hair and are moving to a new residence, check whether the former occupant had pets. If so, you should take extra steps to clean the house, especially the carpeting, before moving in. You may want to consider hiring a specialist if your allergies are severe.

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on 11/22/2005 Consult with your doctor to see if they are even necessary. Not all allergies can be treated with injections. However it is a proven effective treatment. During the scratch test, i had just as bad of a reaction to the cat sample as I did to pure histamine (protien that causes allergic reactions). Now, 6 months later and just starting my maintenance dose, I can live happily without other medication with my long haired cat.

on 11/22/2005 My allergies only got worse after taking allergy shots regularly over the course of 3 years, and I also became dependent on the shots. Every week, a day or two before I got my next shot, my allergies would go into full blast because I was experiencing withdrawl from the shot. But it is a possible solution, try it out and if it's not working, don't stay with it. Also, I wouldn't recommend taking allergy medication (pills, etc.) regularly, as they can dry you out. I ruptured my septum (the wall between your nostrils) because of too much allergy medication.

on 11/22/2005 There are allergy shots available which will immunize you to various allergens. I personally had this treatment and can attest to its effectiveness against my animal allergies/asthma. Incredible!