Past Tense

Statistics show 60-70% of all American households include at least one dog or cat. That number means that up to 10 % of the population suffers from some sort of allergy due to these animals.

The next pet in line for allergies is the dog. Because dog allergies are so common, there is much information available to help the sufferer.

If your reaction is not severe and if you don’t have any other complications, such as asthma, you can successfully manage your allergic condition and enjoy days without any symptoms.

Identifying a Dog Allergy

If you think that you or a member in your family may be allergic to the family pet, the best way to know for certain is to remove that person from the environment with the animal for a week or two.

If this process is too difficult or you can’t do it; ask your doctor to test you for dog allergies. He will take a family history and some blood tests to determine this for you.

Treatment Options

Dog allergies usually come from allergens that are located within the dander and the saliva of the animal. These have the ability to cling to many surfaces, and live a long time. This makes it most difficult to rid a home of the allergens causing the dog allergies. Long after the animal is removed from the home, the dander is still present. It takes about six months to clean the environment.

First, keep your pet out of the bedroom. This is where you spend a large amount of your time, and reducing the amount of allergens in this area, greatly reduces your symptoms to the dog allergies. Getting rid of carpet is another step, in that, it harbors allergens. Bare floors are easily mopped and can be effective in keeping down allergens. An air cleaner with a HEPA filter can also be another effective means of keeping allergens down.

An air filter with a HEPA filter can also be an effective means of keeping allergens at bay in particular areas of your home. As long as it is ran at least four hours every day, is the recommendation. Dog allergies are common for many people, but they don’t have to control your life. With lifestyle changes and treatment options, you can enjoy life once again.