According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), pet allergies affect up to 20% of the world’s population1, with the most common pet allergies being cats and dogs.
Whilst some people steer well clear of these animals, many persist, with medicines in place to keep the symptoms at bay so they can still enjoy their furry friends.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a pet’s fur that causes allergy symptoms, but the pet dander found on the loose fur. This means that even when there’s no fur to be found in your house, the pet’s dead skin cells may still be lurking.
And it’s not just dead skin that causes allergies to flare up – saliva from pet ‘kisses’ and remnants of their urine can be problematic too.
For those who are keen to keep their pets, the experts at Allergy Insider have collated seven tips for managing pet allergies. The following tips have been medically reviewed by Gary Falcetano, U.S. Clinical Affairs Manager for Allergy in ImmunoDiagnostics at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
How can I manage my allergies to pets?
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Managing your pet allergies starts with gaining a better understanding of them, which means the first step is to get tested for sensitisation to pet allergens and their components to know more about your health and to develop a plan.
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Try to keep pets out of your bedroom or highly frequented areas, such as the home office or kitchen, helping to reduce allergen levels.
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Clean/wipe down furniture or surfaces that your pet likes to lounge on.
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Consider vacuums or air cleaners that contain HEPA filters, which help control airborne allergens originating from pet dander.
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Bathe your pet regularly. The Humane Society recommends that people with allergies should wash their cats or dogs about once a week.
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For cats, move the litter box to a room with polished floors so it’s easier to clean up dander.
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For dogs, be sure to wash your hands after playing fetch or after a round of tug-a-war since allergens can also be found in dog saliva.
Alongside these management techniques, treatment and medicines are often needed, and it is important to understand what allergen component you are sensitised to get the best help with alleviating symptoms.
For a long time, doctors were only able to test whether someone was allergic to the whole allergen, but now they can use a convenient allergen blood test to determine if someone has a potential allergy to one or multiple of the allergen components.
Knowing which allergen components you are allergic to is crucial in ensuring you get the best types of allergy medication, and also determining how at risk you may be for asthma, which can happen as a result.
For more information on pet allergies, head to this blog post where you will find information on the specific allergen components found in cats and dogs.