Having A Pet Allergy Is No Fun At All!

Posted on 05. Nov, 2008 by admin in General

Having A Pet Allergy Is No Fun At All!

People with allergies should be careful in deciding what type of pet they can safely bring into their home. More than 70 percent of the U.S. households have a dog or a cat. Pets provide comfort, security, and companionship. It is no wonder everyone wants a pet. What they don’t want is the allergy that may come with owning one.

Sneezing and wheezing are oftentimes the result of exposure to a pet. Ten percent of the population may be allergic to its animals. Higher rates 20 to 30 percent have asthma and also have pet allergies.

Human Allergies to Dogs

There are thousands of people who suffer from allergies to animals. Some of the most heartbreaking cases are people who dearly love their dog and then develop a severe allergy to her and must decide between keeping her or placing the dog in a new home.

People that are allergic to animals are often allergic to the dander (dead skin that is continually shed), the saliva, or the urine. Because dogs and cats are the most common pets, they top the list of animals that people are allergic to. In addition, there may be certain animals within a given species that they are more allergic to than others.

What are the Symptoms?

People who have multiple allergies may be aware when their allergies are responding; they may suffer from runny noses, itchy eyes, asthma symptoms, red itchy skin, or a rash. Those that are not aware of their allergies may think that they simply have a cold.

Are there Hypoallergenic Dogs?

Hypoallergenic dogs do not exist. There is also no such thing as a dog that does not shed. All dogs shed! Some dogs do have a denser coat of hair that other dogs, so they would shed a great deal more than a dog with thinner hair. It is the dander and not the hair that causes the allergy. Breeds with less dander include: Poodles, Schnauzers, and Terriers. Many people can be allergic to some types of dogs and not to others.

How can a person reduce allergic symptoms to a pet?

If you or a member of your family is part of the population allergic to pets, there are things that you can do to help keep your reactions under control. You can do some of the following to make your home more comfortable for you to live: Clean and vacuum regularly, bathe your pet weekly, do not allow your pet on the furniture, do not allow your pet in your car, and brush your pet daily.

Animals and pets are a very integral part of our lives and it is impossible to avoid contact with them. By adopting some good management strategies, we can help combat our allergies and make life for our pet better as well.

By: Dorothy Medlum

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Thanks for coming by and learning about allergies. Knowledge and good information on this subject is often difficult to find, so hopefully you got some value and knowledge out of this interesting article. Of course if you would like to learn more about Down Comforters allergies then drop by our website, bestallergyinfo.com.

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