ALLERGIES AND YOUR COMPANION ANIMAL
917-468-2938  www.nycacc.org/safetynet.htm

If you are considering surrendering your pet because of allergies or asthma,theSafety Net Program can help you deal with this issue without giving up your animal. Dog and cat allergies are two of the most UNCOMMON allergies in people. Please contact us to discuss the issue - especially if you haven’t had an allergy test administered by a medical doctor.

Try taking over-the-counter medicines like Claritin.

Use a dander reducer spray on your pet such as Allerpet, Nature's Miracle Dander Remover & Body Deodorizer, or Petal Cleanse.  These are harmless to your pet and minimize or eliminate your symptoms by removing dander, saliva and other allergens from your pet’s fur.  They are sold in pet supply stores.

Create an "allergy free" zone in the home—preferably the bedroom—and strictly prohibit the pet's access to it. Use a high-efficiency HEPA air cleaner (available at almost any home and garden store or discount department store) in the bedroom. Consider using impermeable covers for the mattress and pillows because allergen particles brought into the room on clothes and other objects can accumulate in them.

Use HEPA air cleaners throughout the rest of the home, and avoid dust-and-dander-catching furnishings such as cloth curtains and blinds and carpeted floors. Clean frequently and thoroughly to remove dust and dander, washing articles such as couch covers and pillows, curtains, and pet beds. Use a "microfilter" bag in the vacuum cleaner to effectively catch all the allergens.

Bathing your pet on a weekly basis can reduce the level of allergens on fur by as much as 84%. To get cats accustomed to being bathed; check with your veterinarian's staff or a good book on pet care for directions about how to do this properly.

Understand that allergies are cumulative. Many allergy sufferers are sensitive to more than one allergen. So if you're allergic to dust, insecticides, pollen, cigarette smoke, and cat dander, you'll need to reduce the overall allergen level in your environment by concentrating on all of the causes, not just the pet allergy. For example, you may need to step up measures to remove cat dander from your home and carefully avoid cigarette smoke during spring, when it is difficult to avoid exposure to pollen.

 Immunotherapy (allergy shots) can improve symptoms but cannot eliminate them entirely. They work by gradually desensitizing a person's immune system to the pet allergens. Allergy-causing proteins are injected under the person's skin, triggering the body to produce antibodies (protective proteins) which block the pet allergen from causing a reaction. Patients are usually given one dose per week for a few weeks to months and then can often manage with one injection per month.

Additional treatments for allergies to pets are symptomatic, including steroidal and antihistamine nose   sprays and antihistamine pills. For asthma, there are multiple medications, sprays, and inhalers available. It is important to find an allergist who understands your commitment to living with your pet.