By Debbie Foster
Are you allergic to your pet? Studies show that approximately 15% of us are allergic to dogs or cats. In fact, there's an estimated 1/3 of us who live with a pet that we are allergic to. So strong are our ties to our loving furry family members that we'd prefer to suffer than be without them.

So what can we do to ease our suffering and keep our pet's companionship? Well, there are steps we can take to reduce these allergy symptoms. One is to use a HEPA air filtration system in our home. We should also be cleaning frequently to remove dust and dander. This goes for our pets' things as well including their pet beds, dog carriers, cat carriers, any bolsters in dog crates, their toys if they are washable, etc. Having tile or wood floors helps in not holding onto dust and dander like carpet does.

Using a "microfilter" bag in your vacuum cleaner so you actually catch the dust and dander when you vacuum helps.

Now that you've got the house and fixtures clean, don't forget to bathe your pet weekly. Yes, even cats can get used to being bathed if you start early. Bathing your pet weekly can reduce the level of allergens in their fur by as much as 84%. Allergens are present in their fur because the glands in their skin secrete tiny allergy-triggering proteins, called allergens. These are present in their fur, saliva, urine and also float in the air. Different people react more or less severely to these allergens.

Another thing you can do to help reduce your pet allergy symptoms is to create a place in your home where your pets absolutely don't have access. Your bedroom is a good choice as there are special mattress covers available to reduce allergies as well.

For those that really do suffer with animal allergies but are unwilling to give up their pet, you can go to an allergist and get shots. These work by desensitizing your immune system to the pet allergens.

If you don't have a pet and are considering getting one, be sure you know if you're allergic first. If you are and are willing to do what it takes to keep your pet, more power to you. However, if you are allergic and unsure about living with the difficulties that may bring, it's best not to get one.

Debbie Foster is the owner of PetBedsUnlimited.com and an avid animal lover. You can find a wide selection of quality pet beds, dog crates, dog carriers, dog pens, cat beds, large dog beds, cat carriers, and pet strollers at http://petbedsunlimited.com

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Labels: Pet Allergies

The health of their dogs is a very important and crucial matter for the majority of owners. Most dog owners want their dogs to be healthy, fit, and to enjoy a long life. There is a major health issue that can affect a dog significantly, and this is dog allergies.

Allergies in dogs are among the most common health issues confronted by dog owners. This is genuinely something to worry about. It is a reality that nearly all puppies don't develop allergies in their 1st year. However, a lot of dogs develop allergies due to their environment. In case, your puppy exhibits any signs of allergy, you want to take it seriously and seek for treatment. Think that allergies will worsened over time if not treated properly on a timely basis. For very few fortunate dogs, allergies could get better overtime, but in general, once a dog develops allergy they are forever and they worsen over time.

You can spot allergies on your dog's skin in the form of rashes, scratching, skin eruptions, loss of hair, moisture, ear infections etc. When dogs develop allergy, they tend to over wash themselves, rub, chew or scratch. This is not a good sign since they can develop skin outbreaks via scratching. Dogs develop allergies because they're exposed to pathogens or other materials and affect them afterwards. There are a lot of things that could bear upon your dog and develop allergies such as grass, bushes, molds, trees, mites and fleas. Fleas are the most common cause of your dog's allergy.

You might not even be aware that your dog has fleas. Nevertheless, it only takes a brief period of time for your dog to get them. To preclude your dog from potential allergies, you should protect him against fleas. You could purchase some powerful products that you buy from the pet shop or your vets office to protect your puppy against fleas. These products could be used after a simple blood test.

Remember that fleas can attack from anywhere. Therefore you want to be doubly sure that your dog is living in a protective environment. If there are fleas in your environment you could see fleas in your garden, on your carpet, your furniture and even on your bedding. Hence, you would need to treat your house, pets and yards to eliminate fleas from the environment. The product, you select to use must be safe for the health of your pets. Make certain that the product you use is recommended by a professional veterinarian.

If your dog has been affected by small skin inflammation during the summertime, all you need is to give your dog an oatmeal bath and some antihistamines.

You might also want to visit the vet often if you need to give your dog steroids injections, steroid tablets, change their diet, get flea medicines, special baths and antihistamine. Some dogs also suffer from food allergies and need to be given special care.

You can purchase special diets for your pet dog in this instance. You also need to give only a particular diet to your dog for 60 days and withdraw everything else from their diet.

Allergy testing is the optimal way to learn what sort of allergy your dog is suffering from. You could as well conduct a blood exam to know precisely what they're hypersensitized to.

Whenever you observe signs of allergy in your dog, you want to take him to a veterinarian as soon as possible. This is the best method to fix the problem. The earlier you detect it and try to fix it, the earlier your dog will get rid of the allergy.

Increase the happy years of your dog by checking out my free e-book. In it I reveal all the secrets I've used to develop a happy, healthier dog. Visit Dr. Alfonso's dog health blog right now...

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Labels: Pet Allergies

During your first day of having a puppy in the house, you just might notice that you keep sneezing and coughing whenever the little pup comes near you. Should the condition worsen, you might have to fact the possibility of having a pet allergy. As unfortunate as it may seem, pet allergies are quite common all over the world, and even amongst pet owners! This is because most pets are guilty of carrying dander. And this is the primary allergen you have to be wary about when you have pets in the house.

Constant exposure to dander can trigger episodes of sneezing, itchiness, wheezing, and having such watery eyes. These allergic reactions can vary from being mild and tolerable all the way to being severe and extreme. But if you are an avid lover of dogs or cats, what are your chances to having such pets in spite of having pet allergies?

There are actually a number of methods that you can employ to deal with pet allergies. First and foremost, there is the need to reduce the onset or episodes of allergic symptoms manifesting themselves. Thus, there is a need to reduce the existence of allergens in your environment. To do this, you can have your pet sleep in an area that is separate from you. No matter how tempting it can be, do not let your dog or your cat sleep with you on your bed. Well, unless you are ready to face the consequences of sneezing and wheezing the very next day. For severe pet allergies, you just might have to declare your room as off-limits to your pets. Also, you may need to have your pets off your furniture in all of your rooms.

By brushing the hair or fur of your pet regularly, you also lessen animal dander. But be careful as to where you brush your pet's hair because animal dander can stick to just about any surface. Your very own carpet can be laden with much animal dander right at this moment, so you have to vacuum it regularly as well.

You can also choose pets that carry less dander than other pets. For this, you can consult your local veterinarians for the different breeds of dogs and cats that you can go for. Just explain your pet allergy case to the vet and he or she will definitely help you in every step of the way. With that kind of support on your side, you can certainly get the pet you want and stay healthy at the same time.

Are you suffering from Pet Allergies?

To Find out more about choosing the right Allergy Treatment for you, Click Here

Jen Miller is a health and fitness enthusiast. She is also an allergy sufferer and currently runs a website providing allergy information and allergy remedies at http://www.allergyremedy.org

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Labels: Pet Allergies