Say Goodbye to Flare-ups, and Hello to Good Pups!
Do you have an inkling that you might be allergic to your dog, or maybe even a friend's dog? Are you left with a runny nose and watery eyes that seem like a little more than a minor cold? The ruff news is that this is a possibility even if you have had a Dog before in your life. It all depends on your immune system's antibodies and whether or not those have developed in excess.
It's not uncommon for people to develop allergies later in life due to a shift in antibodies. The good news is there are techniques you can learn to manage your allergic reactions to your favourite furry best friend! By taking some precautions in your home, you can get those agitating canine allergies to quit hounding you all the time!
Symptoms You May Experience
There are varying symptoms regarding canine allergies, but they all involve an overreactive response to allergens caught in the air around you. There are upper respiratory symptoms, lower respiratory symptoms, and some skin conditions associated with dogs' allergies.
Upper Respiratory Symptoms
These are probably the most common symptoms people experience when allergic to animals like dogs.
- Nasal congestion & Pressure in Cheek Bones
- Sneezing & Runny Nose
- Red, Swollen, or Itchy Eyes
Lower Respiratory Symptoms
These symptoms may be heightened due to a pre-existing medical condition like asthma or bronchitis.
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Tight/Sore Chest
Skin Reactions
Skin reactions typically occur as a reaction to direct contact with a dog-gone cute pup that you just couldn't resist giving pets and attention.
- Excessively Dry or Itchy Skin
- Hives or Red Swollen Spots on Skin
- Rashes
How to Manage Allergy Flare-Ups
Clean Up Hair Around the House
If there is even slight speculation that you or a friend is suffering from allergies in your home caused by canine dander, then it's time to step up your game. The first thing you want to pay attention to is how to are managing the hair that your pup is shedding around the house.
Ensuring consistently cleaning up hair from furniture and floors will prevent excess allergens from remaining in the environment for too long. Using a crafty tool like the PlayPaw Dog Hair Eliminator, which uses an electrostatic charge to absorb unwanted hair, can be a game changer for your home.
Consistent Grooming
Once you've covered hair removal around the house, your next step is quality grooming. By grooming your canine regularly with a tool like the PlayPaw Pet Grooming Pro to maintain their fur, you will be able to stop many allergens from ever floating around in your home in the first place. It will help keep the level of hair around the house to a minimum. On top of that, it'll make removing hair around the house less of a hassle since there won't be as much shedding.
Medication/Antihistamines
Finally, consider your options for medical treatment of allergies. Often our immune response is overreactive as a result of histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerances are also commonly known for their role in seasonal allergies and hay fever. They simply have different allergen triggers, like pollen vs. doggy dander.
There are plenty of over-the-counter options for allergies to choose from. You can even search for a nasal spray and some eye drops. These things will help you both prevent flare-ups, and manage them once they have already begun.
Conclusion
It's very important to pay close attention to symptoms and canine interactions when determining if you are struggling with allergies. You can manage allergy problems with a little extra effort by taking healthy precautions around the house. That way, when you and your furry furrr-iend go out to play, they won't be the only one having a ball!