8 Ways To Deal With Allergies To Household Pets

First things first, you need to make sure you know what’s causing your allergies! Some people assume they’re allergic to animals, but end up learning they’re actually having a reaction to other allergens, like dust or pollen. Dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, and other animals that produce dander can all cause allergic reactions, and you can be allergic to some animals and not others. Finding out what’s causing your allergies is the first step to treating your allergies. Curex offers an at-home allergy test kit that tests for over 68 allergens, including indoor/outdoor and food allergies. Curex’s at-home service makes the treatment experience more gentle and accessible to children. Curex can also help take the confusion out of the allergy aisle for parents and easily break down what might make sense for your child’s allergy symptoms.

If you’re allergic to your pets, one of the best things you can do is keep some rooms of your house pet-free, especially your bedroom. Since you spend a lot of time in your bedroom sleeping, you want it to be a safe and healthy environment. Keeping your bedroom pet-free will make it a good place for you to rest, recover, and keep your immune system as strong as possible. Dr. Neeta Ogden explains, “Avoidance is one of the best steps in terms of controlling symptoms. I suggest the allergic [person] not sleep with the pet in their room or bed.”

Pet hair and dander can collect on the floor (especially in carpets & rugs), so it’s important to vacuum often to minimize allergens. Opt for a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which will trap smaller particles than a traditional vacuum.

In addition to vacuuming often, you should keep the rest of your house clean as well — wash blankets and pillows often, dust regularly, and try to avoid buying upholstered furniture and other items that attract and hold dander.

Buying an air purifier with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter can reduce airborne allergens and minimize pet hair and dander.

Over-the-counter medications, like antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroids can help relieve and reduce allergy symptoms, like runny nose, itching, sneezing, congestion, etc.

Reduce dander and pet hair by bathing your pets often! “Since dander drives allergy,” Dr. Neeta says, “washing your pet frequently can help minimize symptoms, but make sure the allergic family member is not the one washing!” You can use allergy-specific shampoo, which is formulated to help minimize shedding and dander.

If you’re looking for a longer-term solution, immunotherapy may be a great option for you! Allergy immunotherapy provides long-term relief, lasting for years after you finish your treatment. Allergy immunotherapy is the only clinically proven way to reduce your allergies, fixing the source, not just the symptoms (like other over-the-counter drugs).

Dr. Neeta says, “If you are considering getting a pet look for hypoallergenic breeds, however know that there is no true hypoallergenic pet and you can never really predict if you will still react to the pet over time. Strategically, one of the best things would be to start allergy immunotherapy before you get a pet.” Curex is the first U.S. company to bring allergy immunotherapy — the only long-lasting way to find allergy relief — to your home. Allergy immunotherapy treats the source of your allergies by gradual exposure that builds up the body’s immune response to an allergen. Allergy immunotherapy is typically given as allergy shots in a doctor’s office, but Curex enables access to at-home, sublingual immunotherapy.

Curex is a telehealth platform committed to helping people find freedom from allergies and offers telehealth clinical care, allergy testing, and at-home allergy treatment, including prescription immunotherapy. Curex brings together leading allergy specialists to provide you personalized, best-in-class allergy treatment at home.

Dr. Neeta Ogden is a board-certified adult and pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology specialist and Clinical Advisor at Curex. Dr. Ogden is a member of the Medical-Scientific Council of the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA), a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and a weekly contributor at CBSN.  She is the Director of The Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center, a private practice located in New Jersey, where she lives with her husband, two children, and two dogs.