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Tips for Dealing with Pet Allergies
It will seem horribly unfair to any
child who suffers with allergies that they cannot have
a pet or must loose one whom they have grown attached
to. Is there a way to deal with pet allergies which
may lessen or even eliminate the suffering for adults
and children with allergies?
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?
By establishing whether the animal is
actually the cause of an allergy is certainly the best
starting point. However, that can be a difficult task
if you already have an animal since the allergens are
extremely difficult to remove entirely.
If an existing pet can be removed and
the home thoroughly cleaned (carpets, walls, furniture
etc.) you MAY be able to verify the allergy in several
months. Obviously that is not the easiest solution.
Having the child stay with a friend
or relative for a week (as long as there are no pets
in the home) may show an improvement that might indicate
an allergy to the family pet.
A visit to the doctor can confirm an
allergy with a simple test. The tests vary, but some
can be mildly uncomfortable and would probably not be
considered if the allergy symptoms were mild.
Some allergy symptoms are compounded
by exposure to several allergens. By identifying other
sources and removing them you may find the reaction
to pets is lessened and not a barrier to enjoying their
presence.
CREATING AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY HOME
There are several steps you can take
to reduce the build up of allergens and bring relief
to allergy sufferers.
The first recommendation is to have
hardwood or other smooth surface for your flooring.
Carpets hold far more of the particles that cause allergies
and hard flooring makes it easy to clean.
Leather furniture is also ideal for
homes with pet allergies. For the same reason as hard
flooring is more suitable than carpet, leather holds
far less allergens than fabric.
Keep a seat for the allergy sufferer
that pets are not allowed to sit on. Also be certain
that animals do not sleep on the beds or enter the bedrooms
of allergy sufferers. Consider keeping the sleeping
area of the home as a pet-free zone.
MAKING YOUR PET AS HYPO-ALLERGENIC
AS POSSIBLE
There are even things you can do with
your pet to reduce the allergic effects of having them
in your home.
Frequent grooming and bathing with a
mild soap to prevent over drying will reduce the dander
that is one of the main causes of pet allergies. It
would be recommended that someone without allergies
take on this task.
Washing hands after playing with a pet
and avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands
will also help. Since some individuals are also allergic
to the saliva of pets it would be sensible to not allow
your pet to lick you.
In the case of more serious allergies
or asthma it may be best that no pet share the home.
For older children or adults it may be possible to find
a medication or treatment which makes the situation
tolerable if they prefer to keep the pet despite the
allergy.
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