Commonwealth Medical Laboratories
This newsletter is published as a service to our customers.
| CONTENTS:
12 Ways You Can Beat Your Allergies Common Sources of Mold and Fungus How can I limit mold exposure? Learning to Live with Animal Allergies |
Learning
to live with Animal Allergies It's a sad day when a child has to say goodbye to a cuddly kitty or puppy because of a family member's allergy. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology says that approximately 10% of Americans have some type of allergy to animals. And if you or one of your family members is allergic to the furry household pet there may be a few things you can do to keep the pet and make the house bearable for the allergy sufferer: * Keep the animal out of the allergy sufferer's bedroom or other rooms where he or she spends a lot of time. * Give the pet plenty of outdoor time. This could work exceptionally well if you have a rabbit or dog, since they are comfortable in an outside rabbit hutch or dog house. * Have a non-allergic person brush the pet outside. Brushing the pet outdoors minimizes shedding of fur by removing loose hair and allergens. * Replace fur-laden bedding and carpeting. It could take months or years for the fabric to become fur-free through cleaning. * Find out about immunotherapy (allergy shots) from your doctor if nothing else seems to help the allergy sufferer. * Make sure your house isn't over-insulated. Some studies have shown that houses that efficiently keep in heat, efficiently keep in allergens as well. * Ask your doctor about the proper air cleaner for your allergy. These filtration devices can help eliminate some of the allergens in your house. Sometimes there is no way to animal-proof your house well enough for an animal-sensitive person. If you've done everything you can and the family member is still "dogged" by allergy symptoms, you may have to find a new home for the animal. It's a sacrifice no one enjoys making, but many must. |