If you suspect you're allergic to the family pet, you may face the agonizing decision of whether or not you can keep the animal. This is a difficult choice if your kids are attached to the dog or cat. If the pet is considered part of the family, you may decide to put up with your allergy symptoms so he or she can stay with you for life. Even if you are allergic to pet dander, it may be possible to live in the same house with your fur baby. Here are some suggestions to try.
Get An Allergy Test
The first thing to try is testing. Visit an allergist to find out for sure what causes your symptoms. While you think it could be your dog or cat, it's possible the cause could be something else. There might be mold in the home that makes you sneeze every time you come home. Also, you might be allergic to pollen instead. If your dog or cat spends a lot of time outdoors, he or she might have pollen embedded in the fur that triggers your symptoms when you get close to your pet. Once you've been tested, you'll know for sure if your pet is the source of your problems. If so, you can discuss allergy treatments with your doctor and implement lifestyle changes that may help. …show more content…
This may be hard at first if your pet is used to sleeping at the foot of your bed. However, with allergens out of the room, you'll breathe better and sleep better too. Keep the door shut so your pet can't wander into your room during the day or night. Run an air purifier to filter out dander and pet hair that might float in under the door. Keep the room free from clutter so it is quick and easy to clean. Dust and vacuum the room frequently so any hair and dander that gets inside the room doesn't have time to build up.
Keep Pets Off Upholstery And