It’s the worst thing that can happen to a dog lover. Someone in your family is diagnosed as allergic to dogs. Even worse, maybe you yourself have suddenly developed an allergy to dogs, as has been known to happen.
How do you reconcile your love for dogs, and your medical condition, or those of your family? Is it possible to live with allergies and dogs? Well, the truth is, allergies and dogs can coexist in the same home, with a little work. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible, and if you follow these hints, you should be able to share a home with dogs, even as an allergy sufferer, without too much trouble.
* Ideally, if there is someone with allergies, and dogs in your family, the dogs should live outside. However, that may not be possible, or you may rather want them to live indoors. If that’s the case, try to restrict them to certain areas, and certainly not in the allergic person’s room!
* Air-conditioning systems, allergies and dogs are a bad idea – if the whole house is air-conditioned, all the dander in the air is circulating throughout your house – meaning there are no allergen free areas. If you must have air-conditioning, invest in an air filtration or purification system too.
* Make sure if you have both allergies and dogs in your home that you vacuum regularly, particularly where there are carpets. In fact, removing the carpets, and opting for wooden or tiled floors, that can be washed clean, will be a big improvement!
* Dogs that live in homes with both allergies and dogs should be bathed regularly, and brushed, preferably well away from the house, or at a grooming parlor, to remove loose hair, dander and other potential allergens.
* Allergic people should avoid contact with the dog. While you may love dogs, allergies and dogs can be a highly combustible combination, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
* Immunotherapy, medications or other treatments may help make living with allergies and dogs an easier prospect, however, be warned that in some cases, not even these will work, and eventually, either the person with allergies, or the dog, will be forced to find a new home!
Depending on the severity of the allergies, and the family in questions commitment to meeting both the requirements of the sufferer of allergies, and dogs needs, this is a situation that could potentially work, however, it will not be easy, and will require planning, possibly a financial investment, and regular bathing, brushing and washing of the dog in question.
Since allergies can appear at any time of life, even when you have never been allergic before, and since you may have had Fido for years, since he was a tiny puppy, it’s perfectly reasonable to want allergies and dogs to coexist in your life. If it comes to a situation where someone’s quality of life is affected however, you may be forced to make a tough decision, and rehome your faithful pooch. Whatever does happen, good luck!
Your dog's health means a lot to you, as well as your own. Keep yourself informed and learn more about
dog allergies at
CureDogAllergies.com, where you'll find everything you need to know to keep your dog, your home and of course yourself free of allergies, and in tip top shape!
