| Many people are allergic to dogs.
If you are allergic to dogs, your allergy being serious enough
to warrant emergency, you may have no choice but to give up
your dog. But if your allergy is mild, you might have other
options. While only your doctor and you can determine the
best solution to the problem, learning more about your allergy
can help you know what you can do about it.
Contrary to popular belief, dog dander and not dog hair
is what makes people allergic to dogs. Since dogs tend to
scratch themselves more than other pet animals, dog allergens
are more easily introduced into the air. You could also be
allergic to dogs due to the its saliva or even its urine although
urine is less of a problem as most dogs potty outside the
house. In some people, a dog’s lick may also trigger
an allergic reaction.
You will know you are allergic to dogs if you see any one
or more of these signs and symptoms: Coughing, itchy and watery,
swollen eyes, runny nose and/or sneezing, nasal congestion,
headaches, fatigue, rashes on the face, neck, and upper chest,
shortness of breath and wheezing.
Dog allergy symptoms can occur within 30 minutes following
exposure, or may not develop until several hours later. In
some cases, symptoms increase in severity for 8 to 12 hours.
In patients suffering from asthma, an allergic reaction can
trigger an acute asthma attack.
You can control your allergies by reducing the allergens
in your environment even if you cannot completely remove them.
Here are a few tips for those who are allergic to dogs:
- Divide your home, keeping sections that you frequently
use pet-free.
- Have bare, easy to clean floors in all the rooms, avoid
clutter in the house and refrain from using wall to wall
carpets as they easily collect dander.
- Bathe your dog at least twice a week and use mild shampoos
to prevent its skin from over drying.
- Regularly wash your dog’s bedding, and soft dog
toys using an anti-allergen detergent.
- Open the windows occasionally to let the airborne pet
dander air out.
- Use a central heating system with electrostatic air filters
to help clean the air distributed through the house or inexpensive
disposable allergen air filters that capture microscopic
allergens like dust, smoke and smog particles and large
allergens like mold spores and pet dander.
- Use HEPA room air cleaners and vacuum cleaners with HEPA
filters as these cleaners can really make a difference for
pet allergy sufferers.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after petting your dog, and
avoid touching your eyes or face when playing with them.
- Arrange for your dog to live outdoors but even limited
contact with your dog could cause serious problems if you
are severely allergic to dogs.
- For people severely allergic to dog dander, giving up
your dog may be the only way to permanently reduce the amount
of dander. However removing your dog from the house will
not make your allergies go away immediately, it may take
weeks or months.
- Many dog lovers who are allergic to dogs choose to keep
their dogs, despite their doctors’ recommendation
but if severe this could lead to other health problems and
time may make your reactions more severe. You may then have
not option but to give up your dog.
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