Tag: Allergen

10 Ways to Avoid Springtime Pet Allergies

Published on by mariadorfner3 Comments

We all love our pets.  But Spring cleaning may stir up more irritants than usual.  

Here’s how to avoid pet allergies.

1.  KEEP PETS OUT OF YOUR BED.   As cozy at it might be to snuggle up with Moses, your best bet is to keep your pup out of the bedroom, day & night.

2.  USE THROW RUGS INSTEAD OF CARPETS, which trap pet dander. If you can’t remove the dander-trapping carpets, steam clean frequently.

3.  WEAR A DUST MASK WHEN YOU VACUUM. Use one with a HEPA filter.  You can find the masks at hardware stores.



4.  HAVE SOMEONE ELSE CHANGE LITTER BOXES, CLEAN CAGES & BRUSH PETS.  Have them all done outside your home.  I don’t know who.  But, I wish I had known that stay allergen-free rule when I was doing that all myself.  

"I don't always poop. But when I do, I make sure it's right after you clean the litter box."


5.  BATHE YOUR PET WEEKLY which will reduce levels of allergens. I guess the same person who brushed your pet can rub-a-dub bathe them too.

6.  WASH BEDDING AT TEMPS HIGHER THAN 130 degrees F  TO KILL ALLERGENS.  Again, that same person can’t forget laundry!  🙂

I asked Pet Expert, Wendy Diamond for her specialized tips.  She added the following. She reinforces the bathing & No Pet Zone in bedrooms:

7.  Mutt Makeover Time! Tame allergens by bathing pets, removing the allergens that accumulate in fur.  Be careful not to bathe too often as frequent bathing can dry out your pet’s coat and ask your vet or groomer for the safest product(s) for your specific pet.

8.  Who Knew? Dogs often get “atopy”, where they inhale allergens that cause excessively itchy skin, known as pruritis.  Medications and immunotherapy (de-sensitizing shots) can let you and your pet live with less scratching, dander, and obviously allergy reactions!

9.  Don’t Smell The … Although your garden may be gorgeous to look at and fun for your dog or cat to sniff, certain flowers and plants such as oleander, azales, and lilies of the valley, if ingested by pets can be toxic.  Research before planting.

10.  No Pet Zone. If you do have pet allergies, keep pets out of at least one room, preferably the bedroom (easier said than done, training and treats will help here).  Use hypoallergenic fabrics (materials), allergen removing central air  in your “no pet zone”.

For the Best that Pet Lifestyle and animal welfare has to offer follow Wendy and Lucky Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, and at AnimalFair.com!

Related articles

http://www.animalfair.com/home/seasonal-allergy-relief-pets-humans/

Enjoy an allergy-free Spring with your pet! 🙂

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I’m loving MedCrunch. Very helpful and informative. And even eerily insightful, as if you are writing it just for me sometimes.

Eye Allergies: FDA Approves Over the Counter Drops

Published on by mariadorfner4 Comments

Springtime Allergies are here, so your eyes may bother you, but you can’t touch them.

Be sure to check the weekly pollen count in your area to find out if high pollen may be to blame.  Enter your zip code at http://www.pollen.com

Below is a Symptom Checklist to  tell the difference between allergies and a cold.

                                                   ALLERGY SYMPTOMS:   

Itchy Eyes

Itchy Nose

Itchy Throat

Headache Behind Eyes

Clear Mucus if Nose is Runny

Onset Immediate

Sometimes Fatigue

No Fever

Cough

Doesn’t Go Away

vs.

                              COLD SYMPTOMS:

Sneezing

Sore Throat

Headache

Sometimes Fever

No Itchy Eyes

Lack of Appetite

Fatigue

Achy Body

Comes on Slowly

Cough

Yellow or Green Mucus if Nose is Runny

Last 5-10 Days (more than that could be a sinus infection, see doctor)

                            TIPS TO HELP YOU COPE WITH ALLERGIES:

ALLERGIES:

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology says avoiding allergy triggers is the best way to reduce symptoms. Here’s how:

  1. Limit outdoor activities during days with high pollen counts.
  2. Keep windows closed (at home or in the car) to keep pollens out. In Summer, keep windows closed and AC on.
  3. Take a shower after coming indoors. Otherwise, pollen in your hair may bother you all night.
4.  Wear sunglasses to keep pollen from getting in your eyes.

 

5. Keep pets away from plants and trees (good luck with THAT).

…and there’s always over-the-counter help.

The FDA approves Pataday (twice daily and once daily) eye drops as being purchased over the counter, without a doctor’s approval. It was previously only available with a prescription.

So, if you have allergy eyes –help is here.

photo of woman touching her head
Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova on Pexels.com

COLDS: Drink lots of fluids, get lots of rest, lozenges if your throat is sore, chicken soup, TLC and wait it out, over-the-counter help if it’s bad.

See a physician if it lasts more than 10-days.   A sinus infection may require antibiotics.

 Natural Allergy Relief: 

http://www.rodale.com/natural-allergy-relief

More Info:

Visit The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology http://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/MediaLibrary/PDF%20Documents/Libraries/EL-Spring-Allergies-patient.pdf

Related articles:

COMING UP…Tonight at 11 p.m. Eastern tune into ABC7 in New York or at abclocal.com to find out the latest in help for allergies!

Remember…you can manage the symptoms…and enjoy a Happy Spring! 🙂 -Maria Dorfner

Maria Dorfner is the founder of NewsMD and Healthy Within Network. This is her blog.

 

Stay healthy!

@Maria_Dorfner