Managing Dog Allergies - Man’s Best Friend

by Dorothy Medlum

Statistics show 60-70% of all American households include at least one dog or cat. That number means that up to 10 % of the population suffers from some sort of allergy due to these animals.

The next pet in line for allergies is the dog. Because dog allergies are so common, there is much information available to help the sufferer.

This information may contain segments on how to treat and manage your allergic reactions to your pet. If your reactions are not particularly severe, and you don’t have further complications such as asthma, you may successfully manage your allergic conditions and enjoy days free of symptoms.

Identifying a Dog Allergy

If you suspect that you or your family member may have an allergy to the family pet, the best way to know this for sure is to remove that person from the environment of the animal for at least a week or two.

By removing the animal an effective means is not always established. Because the pet dander can remain in the house up to six months after the animal is removed, this may not be the best test. If not ask your allergist, he can test you by doing an allergy test on you for dog allergies. This will include your family history and blood tests.

Treatment Options

Dog allergies come from allergens that are located in the dander or saliva of the animal. These allergens cling to many surfaces, and have a long life. This is what makes it difficult to determine where the allergies are located that you have the dog allergy to. Many pet owners are faced with the problem of giving up their dog, if they do test positive for the dog allergy. It is a family member and they don’t want to give it up.

First, keep your pet out of the bedroom. This is where you spend a large amount of your time, and reducing the amount of allergens in this area, greatly reduces your symptoms to the dog allergies. Getting rid of carpet is another step, in that, it harbors allergens. Bare floors are easily mopped and can be effective in keeping down allergens. An air cleaner with a HEPA filter can also be another effective means of keeping allergens down.

Dog allergies may be a common problem with many people, but they can still live a normal life. With some lifestyle changes and treatments available, you can enjoy life and your pet. Living symptom free is the best way to live!

About the Author:

Tags:

This entry was posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 6:02 am and is filed under Alternative Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.