May 03, 2011
I think I have allergies to dogs. What should I do?
Full Question:
I think I have allergies to dogs. What can I do? 
Ed's Answer:
There are several things that can be done to help people with allergies. I will say that a number of people feel they are allergic to dogs who in fact are not allergic to dogs, but to dust mites or other elements. So before going to a great deal of work it is worth your time to be tested.
For those that are truly allergic to dogs there are a number of things that can be done. You can begin by making sure that you keep the places the dogs sleeps and spends time clean. It's important to keep the hair and dander vacuumed. If possible it's better to keep dogs on hard wood floors or ceramic tile floors and not on rugs.
It's also important to try and control shedding in the dogs. Get one of the German rakes that we sell and brush the dog every day. These rakes go right to the dogs skin and will stimulate oil production and healthy fur in the dog.
You can even go so far as to vacuum your dog every day. Many dogs have a problem with sound of the vacuums. These dogs can be desensitized by running the vacuum a lot. You can even record the sound of the vacuum on a tape recorder and play it when the dog eats his daily meal. Initially the sound can be quiet and gradually increased.
You should also make sure that your furnace filter is changed regularly and even go to Wal Mart or K-Mart and buy one of the portable air cleaners. Make sure to keep the filters on these units kept clean.
You can also improve the dogs coat by feeding a top quality dog food and making sure the dog gets vitamin and mineral supplements, (see your vet for counseling in this area).
There are also products that can be wiped on the dogs coat to control dander. You can go to one of the larger pet food stores and talk with their groomers to determine what product to use.
Do not give your dog a bath too often. Once every 3 months is enough for most dogs. Bathing too often will only dry out the dogs skin and cause more dander in the home.
In the worst case scenario you may have to change breeds of dogs. Poodles and a few other breeds do not shed. They have hair and not fur.
For those that are truly allergic to dogs there are a number of things that can be done. You can begin by making sure that you keep the places the dogs sleeps and spends time clean. It's important to keep the hair and dander vacuumed. If possible it's better to keep dogs on hard wood floors or ceramic tile floors and not on rugs.
It's also important to try and control shedding in the dogs. Get one of the German rakes that we sell and brush the dog every day. These rakes go right to the dogs skin and will stimulate oil production and healthy fur in the dog.
You can even go so far as to vacuum your dog every day. Many dogs have a problem with sound of the vacuums. These dogs can be desensitized by running the vacuum a lot. You can even record the sound of the vacuum on a tape recorder and play it when the dog eats his daily meal. Initially the sound can be quiet and gradually increased.
You should also make sure that your furnace filter is changed regularly and even go to Wal Mart or K-Mart and buy one of the portable air cleaners. Make sure to keep the filters on these units kept clean.
You can also improve the dogs coat by feeding a top quality dog food and making sure the dog gets vitamin and mineral supplements, (see your vet for counseling in this area).
There are also products that can be wiped on the dogs coat to control dander. You can go to one of the larger pet food stores and talk with their groomers to determine what product to use.
Do not give your dog a bath too often. Once every 3 months is enough for most dogs. Bathing too often will only dry out the dogs skin and cause more dander in the home.
In the worst case scenario you may have to change breeds of dogs. Poodles and a few other breeds do not shed. They have hair and not fur.
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