Your pet gives you so much: company, love, unconditional acceptance – and don’t forget, Allergies! If you are one of up to 30% of allergy sufferers whose allergies are caused by companion animals, you may be thinking there are some sacrifices you just can’t make for Fluffy.
Sure, you would let them ravage everything from your roses to your slippers, but put up with sneezing, hives and a plugged nose? No way.
The good news is, there is an alternative to telling your kids they can never have that puppy. Read on.
How many times have you said, “I’m allergic to cat hair”? In reality, it’s not your pet’s hair, but their flaking skin (dander), saliva, urine and oil glands that are the most common allergens.
Touching or breathing in these substances can cause allergy symptoms that range from mild (itchy, watery eyes, coughing) to severe (hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing).
While cats are the most common culprits, any animal that can be kept as a pet, including birds and mice, can cause allergies. And it has nothing to do with long hair/short hair.
So, remove the pet, remove the problem, right? It’s not that simple. Most allergic people suffer from multiple allergies and intolerances, often to commonly found household substances like house dust, dust mites, pollen and mold.
It’s not so much about eliminating one vector as it is about reducing the total allergen load.
Since your pet probably isn’t the only source of your allergy, the first thing to do is find an ENT who can find the root cause(s) of your allergies and help you manage them. He or she will likely recommend the following steps for improving your immediate environment:
Even if you reduce the factors that can cause allergies, you may still be suffering. At Houston Sinus & Allergy, we treat patients with every kind of allergy, and pet allergies are common, and completely treatable.
Dr. Nguyen has over ten years experience specializing in Allergy treatments, and can assess your situation to provide you with the relief you seek. Contact us for an assessment, so we can begin gradually desensitizing you to your pet allergies, making it possible to love your pet and keep him, too.