Pet Allergies
Suffering from pet allergies can be quite difficult, especially if you are an animal lover. Most households these days own at least one family pet and some of those households have family members allergic to that beloved pets dander. So do you just suffer from your pet dander allergies and keep your pet? Or do you hold strong rules of no pet ownership whatsoever? The health section of CNN.com published a great article that brought up all the pros and cons of pet allergies and owning pets, along with what treatment options are available to meet everyone’s wants and needs in a household.
After his educated review of this CNN article, Dr. Daniel Soteres had a couple thoughts about the points brought up in this piece. “One great point is that ‘hypoallergenic’ dogs do not guarantee less dander or less allergy symptoms. As well, the article points to what a personal part of life choosing pets can be. The article is a great review of major issues surrounding pet allergy and the therapies that are available.”
As Elizabeth Landau, CNN writer, put it, “those of us with pet allergies — that’s about 10% of the population, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology — entering a relationship with someone who already has a furry roommate can present a lot of challenges.” Some story highlights and helpful tips brought up include:
- Allergy shots are a long term solution when appropriate
- Antihistamines and other medications can help
- Air filters and cleaning can also eliminate some allergens
Pet Allergy Treatments
Dr. Soteres feels that every client that walks into the AACOS doors should be screened and asked specific questions regarding household pets and possible pet dander allergy symptoms. “When people come to Asthma & Allergy Associates with questions about pets we first talk with them about their goals. Are they current pet owners? Or, are they looking into getting their first pet? What are their concerns? What have their past experiences been? Do they have recurrent infections, asthma, or itchy eyes and sneezing spells? After taking a good history we focus on identifying the allergens with the skin test. Depending on the allergens we can help them make the best decisions for natural therapies and indoor precautions like replacing carpet and HEPA filters. We will work together to choose the best medications and discuss other therapies like allergy shots.”
If you just got your first family pet and notice a little sniffle or random sneezes when around that beloved animal, give the pet allergy experts here at Asthma & Allergy Associates a call today. We are here to help diagnose and treat your pet dander symptoms to get you back to a normal life enjoying that new cat or new dog who just joined your family. Contact us today!
To view the full CNN story, please click the following link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/15/health/pet-allergies-relationships/index.html