Buddy & Porky’s Pet Health: I’m Allergic To My Pet

by Contributor | June 19, 2008 3:55 pm

Dear Porky and Buddy,

I truly love my cat and dog but when I’m around them my eyes water, my nose runs, and I am constantly sneezing. What can I do to make life easier? I really don’t want to give them up.

Charlene

Dear Charlene,

Thanks for your willingness to try to find a solution to this common problem. Studies show that approximately 15 percent of the population is allergic to dogs or cats. But an estimated one-third of Americans who are allergic to cats (about two million people) live with at least one cat in their household anyway. Obviously, the benefits of living with a pet outweigh the drawbacks of pet allergies for many owners. Living comfortably with a pet despite being allergic to him is much easier if you follow a few simple rules.

If your or a family member’s allergies are annoying, (but not life-threatening, that’s a whole different issue) take these steps to reduce the symptoms:

· Sleeping with pets is nice, but if you have allergies you need to create an “allergy free” zone in your house and it should probably be the bedroom. Don’t let you pets in there for any reason. Use a high-efficiency HEPA air cleaner (available at almost any home and garden store or discount department store) in your bedroom and consider using special impermeable covers for the mattress and pillows that will prevent allergens from accumulating in them.

· Use HEPA air cleaners throughout the rest of the house, and try to limit your use of dust-and-dander-catching furnishings such as cloth curtains and blinds and carpeted floors. Clean frequently and thoroughly to remove dust and dander, washing articles such as couch covers and pillows, curtains, and pet beds. Use a “microfilter” bag in the vacuum cleaner to effectively catch all the allergens.

· Bathing your pet on a weekly basis can reduce the level of allergens on fur by as much as 84 percent. Even cats can become accustomed to being bathed; check with your veterinarian’s staff or a good book on pet care for directions about how to do this properly, and use whatever shampoo your veterinarian recommends.

· Don’t be quick to blame the family pet for allergies. Ask your allergist to specifically test for allergies to pet dander, rather than making an assumption. And understand that allergies are cumulative. Many allergy sufferers are sensitive to more than one allergen. So if you’re allergic to dust, insecticides, pollen, cigarette smoke, and cat dander, you’ll need to reduce the overall allergen level in your environment by concentrating on all of the causes, not just the pet allergy.

· Allergy shots can improve symptoms but cannot eliminate them entirely. They work by gradually desensitizing a person’s immune system to the pet allergens.

· Other treatments for allergies to pets are symptomatic, including steroidal and antihistamine nose sprays and antihistamine pills. It is important to find an allergist who accepts your commitment to living with your pet. A combination of approaches—medical control of symptoms, good housecleaning methods, and immunotherapy—is most likely to succeed in allowing you to live with your pets.
The Oswego County Humane Society provides spay/neuter services and assistance, fostering and adoption of animals in urgent need, humane education programs, and information and referrals to animal lovers throughout Oswego County. Our office is located at 265 West First Street, Oswego, New York. Phone (315) 207-1070. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.oswegohumane.org.

And here’s a way to enjoy summer even if you can’t bring your dog. It’s the 8th Annual Chasing & Fetching Balls (a/k/a Golf) Tournament, on Friday July 18th starting at 9 am at Emerald Crest Golf Course in Palermo. Check our website for a sign up form or go to www.ochsgolf.eventbrite.com to sign up online.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/fulton/buddy-porkys-pet-health-im-allergic-to-my-pet/

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