Tips for Owners with Allergies

After reading several posts about owners with allergies, my mom thought she would post some tips. She found out that she was allergic to animals when she was 5 years old and received a rabbit (George) for her birthday. Her family kept George the rabbit and Bentley, the Basset Hound, until both passed away...they just modified their lifestyle. Here's a few suggestions

*See an allergy/asthma doctor, don't assume it's just the pet you are allergic to. The doctor can test you to find out exactly what you are allergic to. Chances are you are probably allergic to more than your pet (dust mites, pollen, grass, etc.) and your pet may be a very weak allergy trigger. The doctor can suggest medicines and lifestyle changes to lower your reactions to your allergens.

*NO PETS IN THE BEDROOM. Your body will not completely rest (even if you are dead asleep) if you are having an allergic reaction. Keep allergy triggers out of your bedroom and invest in allergy covers for your pillows and mattress and an air purifier.

*Wash your pets. Clean pets carry less dander, dust mites, oil and other allergy triggers. Hannah and I are bathed once a month so we smell better, look better and are squeaky clean. Cats can be okay with baths, especially if they begin having them as kittens. My mom used to even give her guinea pig a bath.

*Keep a tidy house. Be diligent in cleanly your house, especially the floors. Carpet holds more allergens, so vacuum frequently and have them professionally cleaned. Hard wood floors are great for people with allergies, they look nice and don't hold allergens. Wash blankets and other fabrics frequently too. Buy washable pet beds so allergens can't accumulate over time.

*If you have concerns that someone in your house may be allergic to animals before you purchase a pet, spend time petting and loving other pets and watch for reactions. You probably have a friend with a pet similar to the one you want to bring home, ask to spend the afternoon playing with their pet and see what happens.

*Finally, while some pets are advertised as "hypoallergenic," it's just not true. Even hairless pets may trigger an allergy because you may be allergic to their skin oil or dander. My mom had worse reactions to hypoallergenic breeds than others.

*Allergies change. Mom began "outgrowing" her allergies as she got older. She keeps some Claritin around, but generally she's fine. It is possible to develop allergies as you get older or things change, but again an allergy/asthma doctor is a huge help and can give solutions on how to manage your allergies.