Having a Pet Allergy Is For The Dogs

November 18, 2008 | By matthew lewis In Fitness |

by Dorothy Medlum

People with allergies should be careful in deciding what type of pet they can safely bring into their home. More than 70 percent of the U.S. households have a dog or a cat. Pets provide comfort, security, and companionship. It is no wonder everyone wants a pet. What they don’t want is the allergy that may come with owning one.

Being exposed to a pet can leave you sneezing and wheezing. Ten percent of the population is probably allergic to animals. Higher rates of 20-30 percent of people with pet allergies are also suffering with asthma.

Human Allergies to Dogs

Thousands of people who suffer do so to allergies to dogs. Some of the saddest cases are where the owner develops an allergy and is faced with giving the dog up or keeping the dog and living with the constant allergy symptoms.

The dander, saliva, and the urine are the areas of the dog that people are allergic to. Because dogs and cats are the most common pets, they top the list of animals that people are allergic to. Certain species of animals may contribute to allergies more than other species.

What are the Symptoms?

People who have multiple allergies may be aware when their allergies are responding; they may suffer from runny noses, itchy eyes, asthma symptoms, red itchy skin, or a rash. Those that are not aware of their allergies may think that they simply have a cold.

Are there any hypoallergenic dogs?

No, there are no hypoallergenic dogs. All dogs shed, but some do more than others. That is primarily because some have a denser coat of hair than do other breeds. It is not the hair that people are allergic to anyway, it is the dander. Some breeds of dogs do seem to have less dander and these include: Terriers, Poodles, and Schnauzers. Many people can be allergic to one type of dogs and not another.

How can a person reduce symptoms to a pet?

There are some things that you can do to help keep your reactions at bay, if you or a family member is part of the population allergic to dogs. You can do some of the following to make your home more comfortable: Bathe your pet weekly, do not allow the pet on the furniture, do not allow your pet in the house, or do not allow the pet in the car.

It is impossible to avoid animals; they are an integral part of our lives. But, by adopting some good management skills, we can help make our allergies and life with our dog much better for both.

About the Author:

Thanks for dropping by and learning about allergy information. Knowledge and info on this subject is often difficult to come across, so hopefully you got some good information out of this article. Of course if you would like to learn even more about decongestants for allergies then browse our website, bestallergyinfo.com.