Asthma - Allergy to your Dog?

Coping With Pet Related Asthma

Dog lovers with asthma occasionally develop a reaction to their beloved pet. I have personally been through this dilemma, and in my case the allergic reaction to my pet was also accompanied with hay fever like symptoms. The simple answer would have been to find another home for Bonny our Border collie. But we had had the dog for ten years so I didn't really want to get rid of her. And I am sure my wife certainly didn't. There was a clue in her reaction when I told her what the doctor had said.

“The doctor tells me that I am allergic to the dog.”

“So where are you going to live?”

Thankfully we are both still here, a bit of effort and few small changes have made life better for both of us.

I forgot all about the pet induced asthma attacks until I came across this article on the net although it was written for both cat and dog owners the principles are the same and they work.

Bear in mind that a shorthaired pet can trigger asthma just as easily as a longhaired one. The problem isn't usually the hair - the animal's saliva, sweat, urine and dander (flakes of dead skin) can all act as powerful allergens. Petting, grooming or simply vacuuming can stir the allergen into the air leaving it to float through the air for hours on end.

There are several steps you can take that can make living with a pet easier for asthma sufferers.

Designate exclusion zones in your home, rooms were your pet is not allowed. I recommend that you never allow your pet into at least two rooms, the bedroom and lounge. You may want to add other rooms to the list.
If your pet has once slept in those rooms, wash as much of the bedding or upholstery as possible. Consider buying a new mattress and duvet and keep the animal's bed in another room, perhaps a utility room or lobby. For a cat, make the area seem more attractive by sprinkling some catnip.
Anyone who handles the cat or dog should wash their hands well before touching the asthmatic or entering the pet-free rooms.
Keep the pet outdoors as much as you can. You can build or buy a kennel or shelter for it and make it as warm and comfortable as you can. The pet will feel more at home if you feed it there occasionally.
If you prefer to allow your pet to come into your home, consider replacing all surfaces that are friendly to allergens. Your furniture should be made of wood or be covered with leather or vinyl. Instead of carpets, cover your floors with vinyl flooring or linoleum or use cork tiles. Another effective option is to simply polish the floorboards!
Air the house out on a regular basis and keep some windows open when the pet or allergic person is in the house. You could purchase a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrester) air filter this will purify the air throughout your home, but it will only remove allergens from the air, not those on furniture or carpets.
If your home uses a forced-air heating system, close off the air ducts and opt for individual room heaters instead, this will help prevent allergens entering the pet-free rooms.
Avoid using fans or fan-equipped heaters; they blow any allergens that have settled on floors and furniture up into the air. Research suggests that some pet allergens can remain in the air up to six hours once they are disturbed.
When cleaning your home, use an anti-allergy vacuum cleaner, these have filters that trap the allergens.
Wash your dog often with shampoo and lukewarm water. If possible, try to get a non-asthmatic person to do t for you. Cat owners can gently wipe their fur with a damp cloth or give them a shower.
If your cat will allow you to bathe it, do so. Research has shown that totally immersing your cat in water will remove most allergens.
Get someone who doesn't have the allergy to brush your pet outside the home on a regular basis.
Clean out all litter boxes and pet cages outdoors. Whenever possible, get a non-asthmatic person to do it!
Male cats produce the most allergens and it has been shown that the amount declines after neutering. Cats can vary greatly in the amount of allergen they produce. If you have more than one of them, keep each one in the house for a time to determine which of them is the least allergenic.

Conclusion

If you have severe asthma that is triggered by pet allergens, the “best advice” is to simply find a new home for your animals. But if your asthma is fairly mild and you can’t bear to part with your pet, the measures listed above might help you avoid the asthma and allow you to keep pet.

About the Author:

David Kane is the author of "101 Top Tips for Asthma Relief". He has produced an asthma resource that can help asthma sufferers control it.