pet allergies....... please help

patchy987

hi

ok so we have just returned from the hospital after being told hubby is allergic to cats and dogs, we have 3 cats and a dog and honestly couldnt bear to have to part with them.

hubby does already take anti histamines

my question is does anyone know of any products that will help, i have so far looked at air purifiers but am not sure if thats the right thing to get.

any advice so we can keep our lovely pets would be wonderful

cinderellacomplex

Oh no That is my worst nightmare!

I can only really suggest the things that we do for visitors who are allergic..

1. If you have carpets then make sure you have a good hoover. Try not to hoover when he is around or when he is just going to be coming into the room, it temporarily kicks a lot of dust up

2. If you have fabric sofas then buy throws which you should wash regularly. Your bedroom should probably be pet-free

3. Try and open the windows often to let fresh air circulate

4. Brush the animals outside at least a couple of times a week.. if outside isn't an option then try a room with less fabric in it like the kitchen. Furminators would probably be a good choice of brush because they really do pull out a lot of dead undercoat.

Do your cats go outside at all?

I hope you find something that works, I would be so upset if I had to let my pets go

paddypaws101

I agree with all of above...also to invest in a REALLy good vacuum, Miele cat and dog seems to get good reviews.
I think I have heard about some kind of wipe ( petal wipes?) that can be used on animals.
I would also recommend that you seek out a GOOD homeopath as this treatment may be able to help de-sensitise hubby. I know it gets a lot of bad press but don't knock it till you have tried it as it really can help.
Good luck

hethmar

You can buy some wipes and some liquid which you wipe over the dogs coats to stop of the release of allergens. I always use it before one of my sons visits - he has slight asthma and within minutes of cuddling the dogs, his arms will be covered in nettle sting like rash. Doesnt happen when Ive used the wipes.

We also have a bionair air cleaner.

mozzyc

Hi

I'm asthmatic, and allergic to my 3 cats. (only found out later too). And i really have to try keep on top of the cleaning. Only rent, so can't decide about the flooring etc. But on the carpets, i find that a rubber brush does the best job. 100% better than any vacuum. Takes a bit of effort, but the end result is amazing. Picks up so much more pet hair. Right now i've got a hand held one, but going to get a larger one at the end of the month, so that i'm not right down there with all the hair etc.

Fire_Fox

Regular brushing/ combing with something like a Furminator plus a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter, plus opening windows wherever possible. You could try Petal Cleanse on the animals themselves, and there is anecdotal evidence of feeding pets a raw/ grain free diet being associated with a reduction in human allergies!

Petal_3

I guess it depends on how severe the reaction is? I had allergy tests many years ago and amonst other things, I was allergic to cats and dogs. Fast forward a few years and I had forgotten about this and adopted 2 rescue kittens! It was awful for a few weeks and my then OH said that we would have to give them back. NO WAY!! I perservered and found that quite soon the symptoms disappeared! itchy/runny eyes and very snotty nose all gone!

Thank goodness! It sounds from some of the advice here that there are some options to try.

Good Luck!

~x~

dazb75

I have asthma, ezcema, and I have been allergic to most animals my whole life. The most common ones I come into contact with are cats and dogs. The common belief is that you are allergic to their hair. Actually, you are reacting to their dander (tiny flecks of skin) which contains a protein which allergy prone people have an aversion to. This will gather in any soft furnishings. My tips are:

• get rid of carpet and replace with wooden floors.
• get rid of heavy (or all) curtains.
• replace any material sofas with leather ones.
• don't let your pets in the bedroom.
• don't let your pets lick you (especially your face).
• if you pet them wash your hands afterwards and never put your hands near your face before you do this.
• take a good (prescribed) anti-histamine.
• don't brush your pets indoors.

We recently got a non-shedding dog - a Spanish Water Dog, and although I don't react to her, I will still have a reaction when she licks my face.

Good luck.

Fire_Fox

You don't necessarily need a POM antihistamine, two very effective and non-drowsy medications are licensed for general sales (GSL) and cheap as chips - loratadine and cetirizine. These were prescription only at one time but taken off as they are considered to be exceptionally safe. To the best of my knowledge (been out of the industry a few years) many of the third generation POM antihistamines are little more effective than the second generation GSL.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Much the same as any allergen prevention programme...

Hard floors wherever possible. Damp mop every single day.

Damp dust door frames, radiators, windowsills, shelves, bedframe every day.

Vaccuum carpets/rugs every single day.

Use blinds rather than curtains.

Minimal textiles. Blast necessary ones (eg, bed sheets) at 60 degrees. Hang duvet up to air every morning.

Open windows in all but blizzards.

Use a steam cleaner to deal with all the little mites that live in cat/dog skin flakes (we have mites, they must do as well). Do all surfaces. Don't forget the back of radiators, between appliances, within 10 foot of tumble dryer (up and down), lampshades, back of audiovisual equipment, etc.

Regular baths for them all. Dog should be clipped if not single coat variety at first available opportunity, get them a coat if it looks as if it might still get a bit cold sometimes. Take cats to parlour if you aren't comfortable doing baths/clipping longhairs - it's got to be better than saying goodbye permanently.

Regular furminatoring (wearing a mask if necessary)

Damp cloth over them daily.

Vaseline around nostrils to trap drifting hairs. Rinse nostrils with saline if it gets bad (eg, if not bothered with housework for a few days)

Rinse eyes night and morning in saline (available from optician for about £2.50 - cheaper than posh eye stuff) to wash particles out of eyes.

Either dry clothes/textiles outside or tumble dry so hairs stick to filter. No hanging stuff up to dry in house.

Really tough pet bedding, possible to nuke wash every week.

Minimal clutter - books in bookcases with doors rather than open shelves, for example, or general gibble stored in sealed wipeable boxes/crates rather than wicker or scattered around.


An ioniser wouldn't hurt = I like them, anyway, as it changes the charge of the particles so that they are attracted to surfaces where they can be cleaned rather than inhaled.

Try and persuade them that your bed isn't the best place to sleep. But if this doesn't work, the other efforts you have made should make it tolerable.

Be absolutely ruthless - it's not the animals' fault, but wage war on their fluff and dander.

You are proper responsible pet owners - I applaud you both!

dibs88_2

I work with animals and am badly allergic. I am on prescription antihistamines which took some time to get right. If his aren't working, try different ones and stronger ones. People recommend using Petal Cleanse to wipe on animals to reduce allergen release. I know people who swear by this.
Good luck