The hypoallergenic myth & how to alleviate your pet allergies

Say it isn’t so!

A study conducted by the Henry Ford Health System found that owning a hypoallergenic pup does not guarantee a life free of allergies. The report observed that the level of dog allergens (proteins in the pet’s dander, saliva or urine) found in homes with hypoallergenic dogs did not differ from homes with the non-hypoallergenic variety.

So what’s an allergy sufferer to do?

Well, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, some people are allergic to ALL dogs, while others are only affected by certain breeds. If you fall into the latter category, make sure you choose a breed that doesn’t set off your symptoms.

Of course, the best strategy is to avoid dogs, cats and their dander. But we know that many of you probably can’t even entertain the idea of giving away your pooch or fave feline.

If you fall into that group, try these tactics:

• Ban your four-legged friend from your bedroom, and make sure you give your room a good clean. And if you have carpeting, make sure it’s low pile and steam clean it often;
• When you vacuum, don a dust mask;
• Cover your bedroom vents with filtering material to prevent allergens from spreading;
• Install an air cleaner with a HEPA filter to central air conditioning and heating, which will help remove allergens from the air. Use the air cleaner at least four hours a day;
• Wash your pet every week. Although it may not ease your symptoms, it will reduce airborne allergens;
• Ask a non-allergic person to brush your pet outside; and
• Although this won’t clear your home of allergens, keeping your pet outside will help.

If your allergies still are too severe even after the aforementioned strategies, try this one: Buy a fish, snake or turtle.

More tips on alleviating your household allergies can be found here.

What do you do to ease your allergies? And if you have a hypoallergenic dog, does it help? Or is the study right? Comment below or visit us on Facebook.com/LiveHellaWella.

Tags: allergy, asthma, cats, dogs, hypoallergenic, pets

Comments are closed.