The U.S is a pet-friendly country and most people own a pet. It also proven that about 15 to 30 % of Americans are allergic to pets. Dogs are said to be man’s best friend and it is not a realistic solution to ask them to stay away from dogs as they are allergic. Out of 5, only 1 person abandons their dog when their doctors ask them to do so.

It is hard for pet owners to leave their pets. This is because of the human emotional attachment towards the pets. For such pet lovers who are allergic to dogs, there are some treatment methods to make your life easy with a dog around.

Symptoms and treatment methods
When a person is allergic to a dog, it is not because of their hair as many think. The allergens are present in the dander, saliva, and urine of dogs. These allergens get released into the air when your dog moves around and can also enter areas where the dog never goes. Most people with canine allergies are allergic to dog dander. Dander is the dead skin which falls off from the dog’s body. Dog allergy can be identified based on the following symptoms:

Coughing and sneezing
Itching, redness of eyes
Skin allergy
Runny, itchy nose
Wheezing
These allergies create a lot of irritation and discomfort.

Dog free zones: Make sure you have dog-free zones in your house. Install High-Efficiency Particulate Filters in that area. They can clean the allergens that are present in the air. Take care that your dog never enters that area. Usually, bedrooms are best places for such a zone. Bathe your dog every week; Make sure to bathe your dog on regular basis i.e. at least once in a week. This will reduce the chances of dog dander fall. This also reduces the allergens present in dog’s fur up to 80%.

Allergy test: Before assuming that you are allergic to dog dander, make a visit to your allergist and take a test to confirm it. There are many other substances present in the air which can trigger allergies. It is important to know the actual reason for the allergy.

Avoid dusty furniture: Avoid all those dust attractive furniture like rugs, carpets etc…. They make cleaning harder and can catch allergens. It is better to avoid such dusty things around you to control frequent attacks of allergies.

Antihistamines: These can be taken in the form of tablets or inhalers. They block the effects of the chemical that triggers an allergy. Some antihistamines are available as nasal sprays.They give you an immediate relief from runny, itchy nose.

Allergy shots: This is the other option to reduce allergies. These shots slowly desensitize the allergic person’s immune system to pet allergens. They inject known allergy-causing agents inside the skin which triggers the body to produce antibodies. This treatment can last for years together.