Nothing to sneeze at: Managing your pet allergies

One of the most common reasons pets are surrendered to the shelter is because their owners have allergies. Many people who suffer from pet allergies, however, are able to live happily alongside their pets though the help of allergy medication and some simple changes. If you are having problems with allergies because of your pets, try these tips.

Give Your Pets Baths

Your allergy could be to your pet or to something your pet is carrying on them, like pollen from being outside. In some cases, the allergen may not be obvious, and it's easy to assume you're having a reaction from your pet alone. I get hives from one of my dog all the time, and yet I'm not allergic to her. What I am allergic to is scented hand lotion, and when people wearing hand lotion pet my dog and then I pet her, I have an allergic reaction. Giving your pet regular baths and brushings will help keep their coat clean from dander and a variety of other allergens that could be causing you an allergic reaction.

Get Rid of Your Carpets

Carpets hold on to allergens like pet hair and dust. On top of that, vacuuming blows the allergens back into the air instead of cleaning them up, which will make your allergies even worse. Sticking to smaller area rugs that you can wash frequently will greatly help your allergies.

Clean Up the Air

Fans, heating systems, and air conditioners all blow allergens like pet dander around your house. An air purifier can remove many of the allergens.

Keep a Pet-Free Zone

Make certain pieces of furniture, like the sofa, or even entire rooms pet-free zones. Furniture traps allergens easily, so keeping your pets from sitting in your favorite chair will help you breathe a little easier.

Off the Bed

Above all, if you are suffering from allergies to your pets, keep your pets off your bed and, if possible, out of the bedroom entirely. Train your pets to sleep in their own beds in another part of the house to keep your bedroom as allergy free as possible. If you can't bear to keep your pets out of the bedroom, make sure you wash your bedding frequently to rid it of allergens.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, two cats, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.