Living with a pet is very rewarding, but sometimes it is not easy. While pets bring joy and companionship to our lives on a daily basis, they also require training, veterinary care, time, love, attention and sometimes even tolerance. That tolerance is especially necessary when a pet owner is allergic to his or her companion animal.

Studies show that approximately 15 percent of the population is allergic to dogs or cats. An estimated one-third of persons in the U.S. who are allergic to cats (about 2 million people) live with at least one cat in their household anyway. In a study of 341 adults who were allergic to cats or dogs and had been advised by their physicians to give up their pets, only one out of five did. What's more, 122 of them obtained another pet after a previous pet had died. It's clear that the benefits of pet companionship outweigh the drawbacks of pet allergies for many pet owners. Living comfortably with a companion animal despite being allergic to him requires a good understanding of the allergic condition and adherence to a few rules.

All cats and dogs are allergenic (allergy-causing) to people who are allergic to animals. Cats tend to be more allergenic than dogs for most allergic people, although some people are more sensitive to dogs than cats. Contrary to popular belief, there are no "non-allergenic" breeds of dogs or cats; even hairless breeds of dogs and cats can be highly allergenic. Dogs with soft, constantly-growing hair-the poodle or the bichon frise, for example - might be less irritating to some individuals, although this might be because they are bathed and groomed more frequently. One dog or cat of a particular breed might be more irritating to an individual allergy sufferer than another animal of that same breed. What is the source of irritation to pet-allergic humans? Glands in the animal's skin secrete tiny allergy-triggering proteins called allergens that linger in the animal's fur but also float easily in the air. Allergens are present in the animal's saliva and urine, too, and can become airborne when saliva dries on the fur. The severity of reaction to these allergens varies from one person to the next, ranging from mild sniffling and sneezing to life-threatening asthma, and can be complicated by simultaneous allergies to other irritants in the allergy sufferer's environment.

If your or a family member's allergies are miserable but not life-threatening, take these steps to reduce the symptoms. Create an "allergy free" zone in the home-preferably the bedroom-and strictly prohibit the pet's access to it. Use a high-efficiency HEPA air cleaner (available at home and garden stores or discount department stores) in the bedroom. Use impermeable covers for the mattress and pillow because allergen particles brought into the room on clothes and other objects can accumulate in them.

Use HEPA air cleaners throughout the rest of the home, and avoid dust-and-dander-catching furnishings such as cloth curtains and blinds and carpeted floors. Clean frequently and thoroughly to remove dust and dander, washing articles such as couch covers and pillows, curtains and pet beds. Use a "microfilter" bag in the vacuum cleaner to effectively catch all the allergens you vacuum up.

Bathing your pet on a weekly basis can reduce the level of allergens on fur by as much as 84 percent. Although products are available which claim to reduce pet allergens when sprayed on the animal's fur, studies show they are less effective than a weekly bath. Even cats can become accustomed to being bathed; check with your veterinarian or a good book on pet care for directions about how to do this properly, and use whatever shampoo your veterinarian recommends is best for your pet.

Don't be quick to blame the family pet for allergies. Ask your allergist to test specifically for allergies to pet dander rather than making an assumption. Understand that allergies are cumulative; many allergy sufferers are sensitive to more than one allergen, so if you're allergic to dust, insecticides, pollen, cigarette smoke and cat dander, you'll need to reduce the overall allergen level in your environment by concentrating on all of the causes, not just the pet allergy. For example, you might need to step up measures to remove cat dander from your home and carefully avoid cigarette smoke during spring when it is difficult to avoid exposure to pollen.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots) can improve symptoms but cannot eliminate them entirely. They work by gradually desensitizing a person's immune system to the pet allergens. Allergy-causing proteins are injected under the person's skin, triggering the body to produce antibodies (protective proteins) which block the pet allergen from causing a reaction. Patients are usually given one dose per week for a few weeks to months (depending on the severity of their allergy) and then can often manage with one injection per month.

Additional treatments for allergies to pets are symptomatic, including steroidal and antihistamine nose sprays and antihistamine pills. For asthma, there are multiple medications, sprays and inhalers available. It is important to 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.

Of course, if you do not currently have a pet and are considering one, and know you are pet-allergic, be sure to consider carefully whether you can live with the allergy before you bring a new pet home. Except in the case of children, who sometimes outgrow allergies, few allergy sufferers become accustomed to pets to whom they are allergic. Too many allergic pet owners obtain pets without thinking through the difficulties of living with them. Too often they end up relinquishing pets, a decision that is difficult for the owner and can be life-threatening for the pet. Pets deserve lifelong homes.

If you would like further assistance with this or another pet behavior topic, please contact our Behavior Helpline at (314) 951-1540 or e-mail Behavior.desk@hsmo.org.

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