How to Deal With Dog Allergies?

It is so nice to have a dog as a pet; they can make your life filled with a lot of fun and happiness. Dogs are considered the best partners because of their loving nature and loyalty to their owners. But do you ever think they can also be harmful to your health as they can cause allergies to you? But do not worry; many people have allergies from their pets but still live with them happily. You just have to be cautious and make some changes in your lifestyle.

There was a myth that dogs can cause allergies in the newborn child, but in reality, it is the opposite as they help newborns to create antibodies, which help them to fight the allergic reactions in their whole life. This article will discuss all the related information about dog allergies.

Symptoms of Dog Allergy

There are a few symptoms that can be seen because of dog allergies. Most of the symptoms are similar to the other nasal allergies, including –

• Sneezing
• Itchy and runny nose
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath or chest tightness
• Red or itchy eyes
• Trouble in sleeping

You can also feel some kind of pressure, redness, hives and pain on your facial skin in some cases. In addition, small kids can suffer from the painful inflammation of the skin called Eczema.

Why Do You Get Allergic to Dogs?

There are several reasons you might get an allergy to dogs, and sometimes it is difficult to determine what caused the allergic reaction from your loving pets. Some people think that the fur of dogs is the main reason for allergic reactions; hence it is not true.

There are other reasons behind the dog’s allergies, such as the dog’s urine, saliva, and dander (dead skin). It is not about the breeds of dogs, even the same breed’s dog can cause different kinds of allergic reactions, or maybe they do not cause any allergy.

Our immune system helps us to fight any virus and bacteria. Its main job is to make antibodies according to the newly found bacteria and save us from falling ill and getting any reaction from these bacteria. But some people have a sensitive or weak immune system, creating unwanted antibodies against the proteins secreted from dogs and producing an inflammatory response. As a result, they get allergic reactions from their pets. The proteins that are responsible for allergies are called allergens.

Best Possible Ways to Reduce the Effects of Dog Allergies

If you love your pets and don’t want to affect your relationship with them because of your allergies, then you can do several things to coexist with them. First, you have to be sure that you really have allergies from your pets because sometimes you may experience similar symptoms from the other allergies. So go for allergy tests and be sure about it. And you can do the following things to reduce the allergic reaction, including –

• Regular Care of Your Dog

You must groom your dog more often if you have allergic reactions to them. Brushing is most important because it can prevent the dander from spreading in the air. Use a mask while brushing your pet or can take help from the other members of your family who are not allergic to your dog. And you must do this on a regular basis if your dog’s hair falls more. And make sure to do it outdoors to reduce the chances of getting allergic reactions. And your dogs should be bathed once or twice a week or more often and use dander-free shampoo.

• Be More Cautious

Allergens become very sticky if they remain in the room for a long time. Thus clean the walls, rugs, and carpets more often to move them away. Avoid touching your face or eyes after the interaction with your dog, and wash your hands and face after every interaction.

Try to avoid kisses and hugs if you have a strong allergic reaction or wear a mask. And keep your dog away from your bedroom because you spend plenty of time in your bedroom. And by restricting your dog, there can decrease the chances of dander developing there.

You can use an underground dog fence to teach your dog to stay within the boundary and not to enter restricted areas. You can also use an air purifier to stop the allergens from building up. Change your clothes if you spend more time with your pet.

• Take Medical Assistance

In case of a strong allergic reaction, take medical assistance from the allergists, as they can give you the best treatment according to the level of symptoms. And take anti-allergic medicines prescribed by them. You can also consider immunotherapy, in which you get allergy shots to improve the functions of your immune system.