Article Title: Coping With A Dog Allergy
Author: Ramone Stevenson
Recent studies show that 15% to 20% of the population is
allergies to either their dog or cat. But for 25% of those
people they choose to continue to keep pets and suffer through
the allergies. In fact studies show even when told by their
doctor to give up their dog only one out of five choose to do so
while the rest live with their dog allergy.
When surveyed many of those suffering from a dog allergy felt
that their companionship their pet provided far outweighed the
allergy itself. For those that choose this route learning to
manage their allergy is very important.
The biggest mistake made is to blame the fur when actually the
allergy is caused by the protein that is secreted by the oil
glands and then shed with their dander which is microscopic
particles of skin, hair, and fur. Since animals continuously
shed this dander is always present and a person can develop a
dog allergy when the immune system mistakes this allergen as the
enemy.
These allergens can be transmitted through the air or they can
be transmitted through touch. When the allergens land on your
nose, eyes, or are inhaled into the lungs the allergy symptoms
begin. Contact with your skin can cause hives. For most a dog
allergy is an annoyance but for some it can life threatening
causing severe asthma attacks that block the air ways. The
severity will vary from one person to another.
Just as severity can vary from person to person so can how long
it takes for the symptoms to occur. They can develop instantly
upon exposure or they can take hours to develop.
Another big misconception is that there is such a thing as a
non-allergenic dog breed. For example many believe that dogs
with fur that is tightly woven such as poodles have no shedding
so therefore there is no allergen dander but this is not true.
You can still have a dog allergy
What is true when it comes to a dog allergy there are some dog
breeds that seem to both some people less. Size often has a lot
to do with because the smaller the dog the less dander that is
likely to be released. For example a large breed such as a
Shepherd would have a lot more dander than a toy breed like the
poodle.
Sensitive people are actually more likely to have a cat allergy
than a dog allergy. When a person is allergic to animals they
can even suffer when the animal is not present because the
allergens or dander still reside in the house. And it does take
more than a vacuum to clear a house of the dander.
For pet lovers who discover suddenly they have developed a dog
allergy it can be devastating and giving up a beloved pet is
simply not an option.
One method of reducing allergens and then perhaps the dog
allergy is to groom your pets often. It's bet if you can do
this outside or in a room that has no carpeting, and a hepa air
purifier. Wear a dust mask while your grooming. You need to
wash your hands after handling
Placing hepa air purifiers throughout your house can reduce the
amount of dander. Bathing your pet once a week will reduce
allergens by more than 80% and if you suffer from a dog allergy
this can be the difference between suffering and not suffering.
That said some breeds don't do well with bathing that often so
watch for symptoms of dry skin and reduce bathing accordingly.
A dog allergy doesn't have to be the end of the road for you
and your dog. It may take you a while to determine the best way
to manage your allergy but when you do both you and your best
friend will be very happy.
About The Author: Get all the latest information about
allergies, from the only true source at
http://www.1allergy
Allergy pages.
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