I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls Collective on behalf of Claritin®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program.
If you read our blog chances are you love animals especially dogs. Living in a household with dogs when you are an allergy sufferer can be very difficult. Neither an animal’s fur, nor its length, is the culprit in allergies. The real culprit is a protein found in the animal’s saliva or on skin. Cats may cause more allergy problems than dogs simply because they tend to lick their fur a lot, spreading the protein onto their coats. Rodents and rabbits may also cause allergy symptoms.
Sometimes it can lead to heartbreaking decisions but with a few easy to follow tips there might be hope for your family. There are ways you can help keep yourself healthy while having a happy relationship with your 4 legged friend. The cleaner you keep your pet and your home the less you will suffer.
Give your pet their own comfy place to sleep
1. Give your pet or have someone give your pet a bath once a week. Not only will this cut down on the allergens from your pet itself but from the allergens your pet might get caught in their fur or hair while playing outside.
2. Brush your pet outside so when the fur starts flying around it doesn’t land all over your home and furniture.
Don't allow your pet on the bed
3. Do not allow your pet into your bedroom and especially not on your bed. If you suffer from allergies it really doesn’t help if you are sharing a pillow with Fido or Fifi.
4. Teach your pet not to lick your face. It might take some time for a puppy to learn and sometimes when they are excited a pet will forget the rules just make sure to wash your face well immediately after being licked.
5. After playing with your pet and before bed change your clothes in a room other then your bedroom and put them into the laundry basket. If you are very sensitive to the allergens your pet gives off take a shower or at least wash your body with a washcloth and water.
6. Know the things that set off your allergies so you can limit your exposure. If you have learned to live with your pet but the pollen outside is a big problem after your walk take a minute to brush your pet so you don’t bring pollen into the house with you. Also having a wet towel at the door for your pet to step on after a walk will help keep the pollen outside.
Long-time allergy sufferer and design expert Sabrina Soto is working with the makers of non-drowsy Claritin® to share her ideas for making indoor and outdoor spaces more beautiful, functional and allergy-friendly. Visit www.facebook.com/claritin to see some of Soto’s tips to help you live a happier healthier life.
For more tips on relieving allergies visit www.Facebook.com/Claritin. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
We are definitely Claratin fans here! We’ve read that weekly baths are hard on a pups skin…
RA & Isis
Weekly baths with harsh shampoos can be very tough on their skin. You can use a natural soap that would not be as drying on their skin. Or if you are bathing them each week even just rinsing them with plain water no soap would be helpful. If you find your dogs coat is getting dry or their skin is a little dry you can add a drop or two of Olive, Flax Seed, or Omega Oil to their food.