Is there a way to prevent dog allergies?

If you're allergic to your pet and your reactions aren’t life-threatening, there are many ways to reduce indoor allergens and allergy symptoms so you and your pet can live together more comfortably. Create an "allergy free" zone in your home—preferably the allergic person's bedroom—and strictly prohibit the pet's access to it. Use a HEPA air cleaner, and consider using impermeable covers for the mattress and pillows. Bathe your pet weekly to reduce the level of allergy-causing dander. Don't be quick to blame the family pet for allergies, ask your allergist to specifically test for allergies to pet dander, and reduce the overall allergen level in your environment by concentrating on all of the causes, not just the pet allergy. Try treatments, such as immunotherapy, steroidal and antihistamine nose sprays, and antihistamine pills, and find an allergist who understands your commitment to living with your pet. A combination of approaches—medical control of symptoms, good housecleaning methods and immunotherapy—is most likely to succeed in allowing an allergic person to live with pets. Understanding what causes your allergic reaction to them is also important, as people react differently to the allergy-triggering proteins called allergens in saliva and skin glands that cling to an animal's dry skin and fur. Whether someone has an allergic reaction depends on both the individual person and the individual animal, and a person with animal allergies may react less to dogs with soft, constantly growing hair.

Frequent grooming of your dog or cat – preferably by someone other than you - will also help reduce allergens on their coat. Although, science proves that there are no hypoallergenic dogs or cats, there are characteristics allergy sufferers can look for: Size, Smaller dogs or cats leave a smaller allergen footprint by basically emitting less organic matter (i.e., saliva) than bigger pets. Shedding– Dogs or cats that shed less release less allergens into the air. All dogs and cats shed, but those who shed their hair or fur less are considered more allergy friendly. WipeRegularly wipe down your dog or cat to remove saliva that is on their fur from grooming themselves. Wipe down your dog or cat whenever they re-enter the home to remove outdoor pollen from their coat.