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4 Ways to Manage Your Allergies When You Live With Pets

Some people only suffer from allergies in spring. For others, especially those who live with pets despite being allergic to them, it’s a year-round struggle.

While you may think you only have two options: suffer or sacrifice your beloved fur baby, there are plenty of ways you can manage your allergies and control or eliminate symptoms so you can live harmoniously with your pet, without itching, scratching and sneezing non-stop.

From cleaning tips to new technology, here are four ways to manage allergies when you live with pets.

Choose a suitable breed.

Whether you’re allergic to dogs or cats or both, you’ll be pleased to know that there are certain breeds that are known to cause significantly less allergic reactions in humans when compared with others.

“While there’s no such pet that can be classified as 100 percent hypoallergenic, there are many breeds that are considered more hypoallergenic; meaning their fur causes fewer allergic reactions to humans that suffer from animal-related allergies,” says PETstock veterinarian, Dr. Sasha Nefedova.

“Dog breed types include Poodle, Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise and Schnauzers. Hypoallergenic cat breeds include Balinese, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex, Siberian, and Russian Blue.”

Practice regular washing and brushing.

On top of shedding their fur, dogs also shed dead skins cells which contain allergens. When it comes to cats, allergens can be found in their saliva and can be transferred to their fur when they lick or groom themselves. 

“Given the skin in the largest organ in your pet’s body, grooming them regularly is not only a great way to reduce shedding, but also a way to check for any unwanted lumps and bumps that may require veterinary attention,” says Dr. Nefedova.

Keep your home clean.

The more you clean the less likely you are to have dirt, dust, pet hair, and dander lying around. If your pet is indoors a lot, it’s a good idea to invest in a vacuum designed for removing pet hair. They will usually come with special brushes that are more effective at removing sticky pet hair than your typical vacuum. 

Owning a pet may mean you have to vacuum and mop more often than usual, but that’s the price you pay for unconditional love.

Invest in an air purifier.

As well as keeping your home clean, ensuring your indoor air quality is as good as possible should also be a priority if you suffer from allergies. Not only will an air purifier improve your indoor air quality by removing dust particles, pollution, smoke and other airborne toxins, it will also eliminate odors and dander – very helpful when you have pets indoors. 

“Air purifiers are designed to make air in the home as pure and healthy as possible,” says Jeremy Senior, Head of Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics Australia.

More Tips for Managing Pet Allergies

If you’re allergic to animals, but still want to introduce one into the family, consider the following tips from Dr. Nefedova to reduce your allergy symptoms: 

  • Choose an animal type which will shed less dander than larger pets. Dander is material shed from the body of humans and other animals that have fur, hair, or feathers. 
  • Weekly baths will help to remove the build-up of dander from your pets’ coat.
  • Keep your pet out of living spaces and bedrooms in which you spend a lot of time in.
  • If weather permits, let your pet spend more time outdoors in the backyard when the weather is warmer.
  • Choose carpet-free flooring, or mop and vacuum your floor surfaces regularly to remove excess build up of fur and dander.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.

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