Allergy specialists near me – Learn more with Healthier Pets Today! You can have a pleasant, healthy life with your pets, even if you are allergic to them!
Billions of people enjoy sharing their homes and lives with pets, even those allergic to animals.Â
Thankfully, many solutions can be explored by allergy specialists near me that would allow allergy sufferers to keep their beloved pets while effectively managing their allergies.
You’d be amazed to know how many people with allergies that aren’t life-threatening can live happily with their pets.
An allergist (allergist/immunologist) is a doctor who diagnoses and treats allergies, asthma, and immunologic conditions. Allergists can help you manage your allergies or asthma and avoid severe reactions.
Table of Contents
1. Use a HEPA filter
A HEPA filter is highly recommended for pet owners who are allergic to their pets.
These filters effectively remove 99.97% of particles from the air, including:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Mold
- Pollen
- Pet dander
You can find HEPA filters in free-standing machines, furnaces, and vacuum cleaners.
To further control allergens, it’s recommended to use HEPA air cleaners throughout the home and avoid furnishings that catch dust and dander, such as cloth curtains, blinds, and carpeted floors.Â
Frequent and thorough cleaning is also essential to remove dust and dander, including washing couch covers, pillows, curtains, and pet beds.
HEPA filtration is the ultimate solution for controlling allergens, as these filters can remove nearly 100% of microscopic allergens that cause discomfort and misery to allergy sufferers.
2. Create a Pet-Free Zone
To reduce your allergy symptoms, choose a pet-free area of your home. Ideally, this would be your bedroom since comforters, mattresses, and pillows can harbor pet allergens that are difficult to terminate.Â
You spend approximately one-third of your day sleeping, so keeping your bedroom free of pets can provide you with an extended period during which you are not exposed to allergens.
Keeping your dog or cat out of certain sections of the house creates safe havens for allergy sufferers. Keep the door closed, and do not allow the pet inside these areas under any circumstances.Â
3. Bathe your Pet Frequently
If your pet is easily washable, it’s an excellent plan to bathe at least once a week to remove excess dander, fur, and other allergens from their coat.
If you bring a young dog home, start bathing them early and reward them during bath time so they learn to enjoy it.
Allergy specialists near me recommend bathing your pet weekly to reduce dander. While cats can get accustomed to being cleaned, it is essential to use products labeled explicitly for them.
You can refer to a reliable guide on pet care or check with your veterinarian’s staff for instructions on safe bathing.
4. Wash your Hands & Clothes
Washing your hands and clothes after handling your pet is a good idea. Also, only touch your face once you’ve washed your hands since you can transmit allergens to your eyes, nose, and mouth.
It is common for people to have allergies to pets. It is more likely to develop a pet allergy if the family has a history of allergies or asthma, as allergy specialists near me confirmed.
Research has shown that exposure to pets at a young age may help prevent pet allergies.
In their first year of life, children who live with a dog may be less likely to develop upper respiratory infections during childhood compared to those who don’t have a dog.
5. Clean Baby, Clean!
Vacuuming regularly can keep allergens from piling up. The most crucial key to vacuuming often is using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, eliminating 99.98% of all tiny particles.
A vacuum cleaner that can trap allergens instead of redistributing them through the air is even more critical.
The vacuum must be adequately sealed, or dirty air can bypass the filter, sending allergens back into the home.
Machine-washable rugs are the best floor-covering choice if you live with pets you’re allergic to since you can wash them regularly to eliminate allergens they may have absorbed.
If you have a carpet allergy specialist near me, we recommend vacuuming frequently with a vacuum containing a HEPA filter – and wearing an N95 mask.Â
In contrast, you vacuum, and when you empty the vacuum. Ensure you bring the trash outside immediately after emptying the vacuum into it.
Allergens are sticky and require a surface to attach to. They tend to stick more readily to cloth surfaces and are more challenging to clean from them.
To make your home more resistant to allergens, consider the following steps:
- – Replace carpets with laminate flooring.
- – Replace curtains and drapes with shutters or blinds.
6. Wash Pet Beds
Pet bedding is another source of allergens, so wash it frequently. Consider replacing pet beds every few months.
You can always donate lightly used beds to your local animal shelter, where homeless dogs will appreciate the plush bedding.Â
If you’re worried about cost, discount retailers all have pet beds—toys, poop bags, and treats—at a fraction of the cost.
Wash your pet’s bedding, including blankets, clothing, and plush toys, at least once a week to reduce allergens in your home.
You can also wash any household items they have come into contact with, including rugs, towels, furniture coverings, and sheets.
Create an allergy-free room for the allergic person and strictly prohibit pet acces as per allergy specialists near me.
7. Consult a healthcare provider
If you are experiencing persistent allergy symptoms and are unsure of the cause, you should consult allergy specialists near you.Â
Allergy shots, steroid nasal sprays, antihistamine eye drops, and oral antihistamines are commonly used to relieve pet allergy symptoms.
8. Allergy Testing and Therapy
Allergy testing at allergy specialists near me can identify specific allergens and immunotherapy can reduce or eliminate symptoms, including those related to pets.
To determine what you are allergic to, the doctor will inject small amounts of allergens into your body, usually on your back.
Based on your reaction to each allergen, they will prepare a custom allergy shot that contains the ones you react to.
You will receive the allergy shot in gradually increasing doses over time, which will help reduce your body’s sensitivity to those allergens.
Remember that this process can be costly, and there is no guarantee that it will work, but it can make a difference.
9. Take medication
Medication can help manage symptoms, but cannot cure. Bulk stores offer affordable medicine.
Decongestants and antihistamines are the initial medications prescribed for allergy symptoms from allergy specialists near me, and they are available over the counter.
These medications are usually enough to manage most allergy symptoms. However, if they fail to alleviate the symptoms, your doctor may recommend an antihistamine/steroid combination or corticosteroids.
10. Try Treatments
Immunotherapy, steroid and antihistamine nose sprays, and pills can help treat pet allergies.
Finding an allergist who understands your commitment to living with your pet is essential.
A combination of medical symptom control, proper cleaning, and immunotherapy can help allergic individuals live with pets.
Why it is Important to Look into Allergy Specialists Near Me Before Adopting a New Pet…
You can still enjoy the pleasures of pet parenthood despite your dog allergy. Don’t let it hold you back from experiencing the love and warmth that come with having a furry companion.
With proper management, you can coexist with your four-legged friend without any worries.
