7 Tips to Combat Pet Allergies
Living with allergies and pets can be challenging, but it is possible. Here are a few strategies that may help:
- Keep pets out of certain rooms in your home, such as your bedroom, to reduce your exposure to pet dander.
- Regularly groom your pet and vacuum or dust your home to remove pet dander.
- Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to remove pet dander from the air.
- Take an antihistamine before spending time with your pet, especially if you know you will be exposed to them for an extended period of time.
- If you are severely allergic, consider consulting an allergist or immunologist for treatment options such as allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots) or sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops)
- Choose a hypoallergenic breed: Some breeds, such as poodles, schnauzers, and bichon frises, produce less dander and are considered hypoallergenic.
- Wash up : Ideally, you’d wash your pets once or twice a week. If that’s too frequent, at least wash your own hands and face regularly, especially right after cuddling your pet. And when you do bathe him or her, you may want to try a dander-reducing shampoo, which some people swear by. Ask your vet for recommendations.
It’s important to remember that no single strategy will completely eliminate your symptoms, so it may take a combination of these measures to effectively manage your allergies. It’s also important to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment.