Ways To Help You Handle Pet Allergy

PowerPoint PresentationAllergy
Overview
You may have to think twice before giving your furry pet a smooch or a cuddle if you always end up with
watery eyes, a runny nose and an itchy rash.
These are common symptoms of pet allergies, triggered by the proteins secreted through the pet’s skin,
which are shed as pet dander or tiny dead skin flakes. Invisible to the human eye, these proteins can also
be found in your pet’s saliva and urine.
When these pet allergens are inhaled or come in direct contact with your skin, a mild to severe allergy
may result. Some of the common medical conditions triggered by pet allergies include allergic asthma,
allergic rhinitis (hay fever), atopic eczema and atopic dermatitis (nettle rash).
Symptoms of pet allergies
Pet ownership is on the rise in Singapore and furry pets are especially favoured. The number of dog
licenses rose from an estimated 47,000 in 2006 to 62,000 in 2015, representing an increase of 32
percent in just under a decade.
Common allergy symptoms include:
• Red, watery, itchy eyes
• Stuffy, runny nose
• Sneezing
Minimize Contact
allergies should also avoid petting or touching
animals. If they do come into contact with a pet, they
should wash their hands thoroughly.
Restricting pets to rooms with wood floors may also
help. Wood flooring traps less dander than carpet
and is easier to clean; keeping pets off carpet may
help cut down on allergens.
Keep Fluffy Off the Couch
Keeping pets off carpets, upholstered furniture, and
beds can reduce exposure to dander. (Using
allergen-resistant bedding will help fend off any
dander that does find its way into bedrooms.)
Keeping pets out of cars—or restricting them to a
non-upholstered tailgate area, if possible—is also a
good idea.
vacuumed or washed frequently. This includes throw
rugs, pet beds, cushions, pillows, and blankets.
Clean, Clean, Clean
minimum. Vacuuming, however, may not get all the
allergens from the lower levels of a rug and may
stir up a bit of dander as you clean. It may help to
use vacuums equipped with a high-efficiency
particulate air (HEPA) filter or double bags.
However, it's still a good idea to dust or vacuum
when the person with allergies or asthma is not at
home.
will make it easier to remove dander.
Close Registers
closing air registers may reduce the amount of
animal dander that circulates through your home. If
closing all of the registers isn’t practical, try closing
those in the rooms where asthmatic or allergic
individuals spend the most time (especially
bedrooms).
room air cleaner may also help. Studies on the
effectiveness of these methods have been
inconclusive, however. (See the Health.com air
cleaner buying guide for more information.)
Bathe your Pet
A 1999 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology compared the levels of allergens in dog
dander before and after a five-minute bath with an
unnamed “proprietary shampoo.” The researchers
found that the bath reduced the dogs’ allergen
levels by about 85%. But the allergen levels returned
to normal in about three days, which suggests that
dogs need to be washed at least twice a week—
although that's generally more often than most pets
need a bath.
but generally less encouraging results.
Brush and/or comb your pets
Brush and/or comb your pets thoroughly to get
rid of hair otherwise shed in the house. Have a
non-allergic family member take care of this duty.
We love the Furminator grooming tool. It pulls
off 90 percent or more loose fur and it works on
cats, too. Different sizes are available at pet
products stores.
Clean Cages
other pets typically confined to cages tend to be
less problematic for allergy and asthma sufferers,
dander and urine produced by these pets can still
provoke allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
Birdcages and rodent cages should be cleaned at
least once a week. Likewise, litter boxes should be
cleaned frequently and moved as far as practical
from main living areas.
congested air in a room has higher chances of
holding diseases-causing and allergy-causing
bacteria in it. Hence, open the windows and let
the stale air out and the fresh air in. You can even
plant some small potted plants near your balcony
door. Also, install a high-efficiency particulate air
filter (HEPA) in your air-conditioner mac
Avoid Sharing Bed With Your Pet
It does sound heart-wrenching, but yes, if you are a
pet-allergic you must stop sharing your bed with
your pets right away. It is said that during sleep, we
tend to breathe deeply, which means having pets in
the same bed as you will increase the chances of
making your even sicker. You can make a more
comfortable bed for your pet just outside your
room or, if you both cannot stay apart, in your own
room.
not really necessary – carpets, layered curtains,
sofa drapes, fabric partitions, etc. Fabrics, if not
washed and cleaned time-to-time, contains a lot of
disease-causing and allergy-causing micro-
organisms. Therefore, remove them and keep them
aside. In case of the festive season, if you feel like
going extravagant with the decorations, make sure
you daily run a vacuum cleaner on the furniture.
Keep Your Pet’s Bed Clean
Your pet’s/pets’ bed must be washed and clean
every now and then. Go for minimal bedding – thin
mattress/cushion, minimal fabrics, etc. Sprinkle
antibacterial powder on the bed every now and
then.
You may have developed a severe dust allergy in
reality but you fear it might be pet-allergy.
Determine before you fall for any conclusions. If
you do have developed pet-allergy, you must
consult a doctor and go for immunotherapy route
– allergy shots. This will not only make you
immune to pet allergy but also to various other
allergies.
Have Pet-Free Zones
Always keep a pet-zone in your home – it can be a
mere part of a large room or a different room
altogether. Do this by installing detachable room
fences that are tall enough for the dogs to not jump
over them. This pet-free zone is very much
important for the time when you are recovering
from allergy, and this will also help your pets
understand that they are not allowed across the
fencing.
doctor may also help
It’s important to get a medical diagnosis and not
just assume it’s the pet. Once you identify the
culprits it may be easier to get a handle on how to
manage your allergies—while keeping the furry
love of your life in your heart and home.
Salt lamps
to salt lamps that can be useful for reducing allergy
symptoms. The idea is that the light bulb heats the
salt so that negative ions are released into the air.
The negative ions knock particulate matter like
dust and other airborne substances to the floor so
only clean air is at nose-level. Potential benefits
include positively impacting allergy symptoms and
reducing snoring.
and cuddle with your pet
Wear an old shirt or smock to play and cuddle
with your pet, and then change clothes and wash
your hands and face. That rinses off allergens that
otherwise you carry with you.
Allerpet
Allerpet can help by cleaning a pet's coat of dander and other allergens such as dried urine and saliva,
common irritants that trigger human reactions. After a thorough brushing to extract dead hair, Allerpet is
applied to the animal's coat and does not harm the pet or leave a residue on furniture or clothing. The
product is a gentle emollient that is non-toxic and safe for use around small children, plants, and animals.
Allerpet/D is designed for dogs and Allerpet/C is designed for cats, but can also be used on ferrets,
rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, and other furry critters. Both products are available over the
counter at pet products stores.
Clean Your Home Regularly
Make it a habit to wipe walls and surfaces with damp
microfiber cloths to reduce dander indoors. Use a
vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean every room
thoroughly twice a week, especially your pet’s
favorite play areas and resting spots. Wash pet
bedding, rugs, sheets, throw pillows and other
washable things that your pet comes in contact with.
If cleaning triggers your allergy symptoms, you may
want to ask someone without allergies to do it for
you.
Try to minimize physical contact with your pet,
and be sure not to allow your pet to lick your
face. When you touch your face, wash your hands
immediately afterward. Take a quick shower or
simply wash your face and arms before heading to
sleep to get rid of dander.
Update Your Decor
upholstered furniture. To reduce allergen buildup,
consider switching to hardwood, tile or vinyl
flooring if your floors are covered with carpets. Add
wood, metal and plastic chairs to your decor
instead of having plush seats and upholstered sofa
sets in all of your conversation spaces. It also helps
to put plastic covers over seats and mattresses,
replace curtains with roll-up shades, and use
allergen-resistant bedding to fend off dander.
Conclusion
If you develop a very strong pet allergy, the best solution is to avoid keeping a furry pet. Instead, you
could consider exotic fish or a turtle. But if you really want a dog or a cat for companionship, choose
smaller or hypoallergenic breeds that shed less dander.
If you suspect you may have a pet allergy, go for an allergy skin test or blood test.