You’ve just got a new boyfriend/girlfriend or your aunt is visiting for the weekend and the person in question is allergic to pet hair. If, like the vast majority of pet owners, you consider your pet to be an important member of the family, this can be a difficult time. However, there are a number of ways to tackle the problem, without having to place your pet in a boarding center.
1. When having a friend or family member who is allergic to pets stay for several days, it is a good idea to ask if they have any medication. Try to tactfully explain that you will do all you can to reduce the potential for allergic reaction, but that your pet will be in the house.
2. If it is the new love of your life who is suffering with allergies, it is a good idea to arrange to go out for your dates. If that special someone is sneezing and puffy- eyed when in your house, it will surely kill the romance.
3. It is always a good idea to thoroughly vacuum all carpets, rugs and possibly furniture, before an allergy sufferer arrives in your home. These days, there are numerous vacuum cleaners that are wonderful at ridding your home of allergens.
4. Remember, not all people love animals as much as you do. It is a good idea to respect a houseguest’s feelings on this matter and try to prevent your pet from jumping up or on your guest. Moreover, ensure that your animal cannot get to your guest’s belongings to chew or shed on them.
5. It may be helpful to separate your guest and your pet, either by keeping your animal in another room, or using a baby gate to divide a room. Of course, baby gates will not work for cats or dogs that like to jump. Therefore, if you keep your pet in a separate room be sure to check on him, or her, frequently to ensure that there are no signs of distress.
6. During the two or three weeks leading up to your guest’s visit, ensure that you have brushed your dog or cat daily. If you have a dog, it is wise to bathe him, or her, too. This will help to reduce the amount of hairs that your pet sheds, thereby reducing the possibility of an allergic reaction.
7. If your houseguest is severely allergic, you may like to consider asking a friend, relative or neighbor to care for your pet for the duration of the visit. Leaving your pet with someone you trust is preferable to leaving him, or her, in the care of strangers.
8. Alternatively, you may like to purchase an air purifier or filter, as this can prove very helpful to an allergy sufferer. It is certainly worth investing in an air filter if you are expecting regular visits from an allergy sufferer.
9. On the other hand, if you have yet to get a pet and you’re living with an allergy sufferer, there are many animals that will not cause symptoms. Most obviously, fish and reptiles make great pets and do not shed. Alternatively, if you would rather a cat or dog, there are hairless breeds of both animals. Moreover, there are some dog breeds, such as the Poodle and Greyhound, which are considered ‘hypoallergenic’ due to the fact they do not tend to cause allergic reactions.
Of course, the majority of this advice is designed to help with a short-term visits from an allergy sufferer. Unfortunately, none of these measures can guarantee a solution to pet allergies, but they will help to reduce the chance of an allergic reaction.
Samantha Markham is a professional freelance writer, based in the UK. She is currenlty producing articles for Remmeer.com, a high quality supplier of pet products. Visitors to Remmeer.com an array of unique pet-related products, including dog lover gifts and dog memorial stones.