People often think that pet allergies are caused by the hair on their pets.  However, it is generally caused by a protein found in the animal’s dander, which is made up of flaky skin cells and dried saliva.  All pets produce dander, although some breeds may produce less dander than others.  Pet dander is found in the homes of pet owners, but can also find its way into schools, offices and other areas since dander may stick to clothes and other personal belongings. 

Before blaming your pet for a family member’s itchy, watery eyes and sneezing, make sure it is truly a pet allergy.  One way to tell if an allergy is present is by removing the allergic person from the pet’s environment for a week or two, then see if their allergies improve.  Another option is to consult a physician for allergy testing.  (There are several options for testing which can be explained by your doctor.)

If a pet allergy is confirmed, the best method of treatment is avoidance.  If avoidance is not feasible, below are several tips that may help reduce pet allergen exposure:

• Keep the pet out of the allergy sufferer’s bedroom.
• Keep pets off of furniture, especially upholstered furniture where animal dander can be transferred.
• Change clothing after playing with pets.  Keep the clothing out of the bedroom.
• Wash your hands, face, and arms after grooming or playing with pets.
• Keep litter boxes in an area unconnected to the air supply for the rest of the home.
• Use HEPA vacuum cleaners, and vacuum often.  This can reduce the amount of allergens pumped back into the air by the vacuum cleaner. 

If you have any other tips, please leave a comment.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Although winter brings relief for many allergy sufferers, it is just the beginning of misery for others.  Winter is “indoor allergy season”, with dust mites, pets, and mold being the culprits.  According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, one out of five Americans will experience an allergy-related illness at some point during their lives, and indoor allergens will be responsible for a significant share of these cases.

Indoor allergies may often be undiagnosed or untreated, thus putting people at a higher risk for chronic sinus infections, ear infections, and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. People with ongoing indoor allergies also have a diminished immune response, which is why people with untreated allergies generally get sick more often during the winter months.

Below are ten tips to share with your patients that may help alleviate their indoor allergies:

             I.        Keep indoor moisture level low.

            II.        Use hardwood, linoleum, or tile instead of carpeting.

          III.        Vacuum rugs and carpeting frequently.

          IV.        Use special allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers under regular sheets and pillowcases.

           V.        Wash all bedding weekly in hot (130˚ F) water.

          VI.        Keep pets out of the bedroom.

         VII.        Rid the house of cockroaches.

       VIII.        Eliminate visible mold by cleaning with a diluted bleach solution.

          IX.        Consider using an indoor HEPA air cleaner.

           X.        Use wood, vinyl, or leather furniture instead of upholstered furniture.