Australia's much loved veterinarian, Dr Chris Brown, believes loving your furry friend shouldn’t be so sneezy. Here he shares his top tips to reduce your reaction so you can snuggle up to your pets allergy-free.
Red eyes, sneezing and a runny nose are a big price to pay for a pat. And over a million Aussies do just that.
Fact: Despite what you might think, allergies to pets isn't caused by their hair. Instead, members of the “Kleenex Club” are actually reacting to a protein in the saliva. And because pets groom themselves, this protein is spread all over their fur and then flakes off.
Tips to reduce your reaction
Ironically, having a pet may help by desensitising you to the allergy. Here are some other tips:
- Wipe pets down with a moist sponge twice a day to remove that protein from their coat
- Bathe pets regularly
- Keep hair trimmed short to lessen how much allergen their coat can carry
- Use air filters to remove airborne allergens
- Wash your hands after patting pets
Tell us: Are you allergic to your pet? What tips have you found worked? Share your comments with us below.
For more tips on your pets, follow Dr Chris Brown on Facebook here.
This article was written in partnership with Over60.