11 Proven Ways to Beat Pet Allergies and Breathe Easy

Allergies to pets can be a big problem for pet lovers. Time spent indoors year-round—whether in the winter to avoid the cold or in the summer to avoid the heat and sun—means more exposure to pet allergens. Allergy sufferers may have even worse symptoms in spring, with additional pollen, mold, and dust. Even if you aren’t directly allergic to your cat or dog, they can act like furry dust mops that trap and hold allergens that may set you off. But there are ways to potentially limit your symptoms.

Common Allergy Symptoms

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, nearly three in 10 people with allergies are allergic to cats and dogs, with cat allergies being more common than dog allergies. You may experience reactions to your pets with allergy symptoms year-round. Symptoms can include itchy eyes, coughing, wheezing, and/or hives.

Sensitive people don't react to the pet hair at all. Even the “hairless” animals like the Chinese crested dog or the Sphynx cat can prompt a reaction, because these reactions can be caused by proteins produced by most pets, regardless of hair. Any pet may provoke an allergic reaction; there’s no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic pet, despite marketing claims you may hear. That said, there are individual pets that an allergic person may be able to tolerate, either because they build up a resistance to that particular dog or cat or because the animal happens to produce less dander.

Understanding the Sneeze Threshold

The common knee-jerk reaction from health care professionals when addressing allergy issues is to get rid of the pet. That is not going to happen for most pet lovers. The truth is, the allergens shed by pets tend to be sticky and stay in the environment long after a pet has left the premises, so giving the puppy away won’t offer an immediate cure.

Also, since many pet-allergic people also react to other things, it may be possible to reduce the allergy threshold so that they have less reaction.

Picture an empty glass representing NO allergens and no reaction. As you add things like pollen and dust to the container, the glass fills up. Once it reaches the “sneeze threshold,” you react with allergy symptoms.

Everyone has a different threshold, though, with some folks able to tolerate one amount of exposure (3/4 of a glass full) while others are more sensitive (react at the 25 percent mark). But if you can reduce the number of allergens in your glass, that may drop the level to a tolerable level so that you react less (or not at all) to your pet.

Perhaps you react to puppy dander, grass pollen, and dust mites, and the three combined fill up your allergy glass. If you can have someone else dust the house or use other techniques to reduce pollen, that may drop the allergen level in your glass below your sneeze threshold.

Tips to Reduce Pet Allergies

Your physician can best guide you about human health concerns. Just be sure you convince the doctor of your commitment to keeping your pet. There are steps pet owners can take to feel better, without having to give up their special cat or dog.

Pet Maintenance

• Bathing your pup can help. Washing the pet weekly in plain water dramatically reduces allergic reactions by rinsing away the dander. For cats, use a wet washcloth and wipe them down, since they tend to object to dunking.
• 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.
• Products such as 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. There is a specific Allerpet product for cats, for dogs, and for other pets, such as mice.

Health Options

• 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.
• Allergy shots from your medical 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.

Environmental Fixes

• Create a "pet-free zone" such as the bedroom, and make it off-limits to the pet. That gives you eight or more hours a day of reduced exposure.
• Forced-air heating and air-conditioning can spread allergens through the house. Use a filter material like cheesecloth to cover bedroom vents.
• Remove allergen reservoirs like carpets and fuzzy throws or pet beds, and aim for easily cleaned hardwood surfaces. When you can’t get rid of your carpet or hate the thought of getting rid of the pet’s favorite nap spot, keep them clean by vacuuming frequently. Wear a mask so you don’t breath in the dust or dander stirred up by the vacuum.
• Do you also have a cat? Or maybe you have a pocket pet? People may react more to the dusty litter or animal bedding than to the cat or gerbil. This is a great excuse to have one of the kids take on pet potty cleaning duties, so the allergy sufferers avoid exposure.
• HEPA filter air cleaners added to central heating and air conditioning can help remove allergens from the air. Air cleaners with an electrostatic filter also remove particles the size of animal allergens from the air.