Scottsdale Allergies & Pets: Can Allergy Sufferers have pets without being miserable?

It's no secret that Scottsdale residents love their pets.  Dogs and cats become beloved members of the family. But sadly, they often also make allergy sufferers in Arizona miserable.

What are the signs of an allergic reaction? If you find yourself or one of your family members wheezing, sneezing, having itchy eyes, or even breaking out into a rash, the culprit could be allergies – and this can happen at any time, even if you haven't had allergies previously.

Fortunately, in most cases, you won't have to give up your furry family member!!!

How to handle pet allergies

Make bedrooms off-limits
Mattresses, comforters, and pillows are magnets to hair and dander. You spend hours every day breathing deeply as you sleep, which can trigger severe reactions. Keeping pets out of bedrooms minimizes the risk of these reactions.

Start allergy shots and medications as directed by your Scottsdale allergist  
Most children will outgrow allergies if you start shots as soon as you know there's a problem, and adults, too, are usually able to continue to live with pets once they're treated.

Use HEPA filters in the house and in your vacuum
HEPA air filters used throughout the house will help keep allergens out of the air. Use a HEPA filter in your vacuum as well so that dander and fur is captured rather than dispersed into the air.

Bathe pets often
While bathing isn't usually a problem with dogs, you might find it next to impossible with cats. In that case, simply wipe your pet down with a damp cloth.

Use protective casings on pillows and mattresses
Even though you're keeping pets out of bedrooms, it's still a good idea to cover pillows and mattresses in special anti-allergenic casings. Dander and fur can still be carried into bedrooms, and the casings will ensure that mattresses and pillows stay clean and fresh.

There IS another treatment for allergies!

If this sounds familiar or do you have tried these solutions and believe you or your child may be suffering from cat allergies Reach out to a top Scottsdale allergy clinic for assistance, and their special allergy testing - and you or your family member can feel well again!

Quit Wheezing....Enjoy the rest of spring!

Whether it's trees, flowers, and grasses in bloom, or animal dander, this spring is ripe with Arizona pollen and allergens. The contradictions inherent in allergy symptoms can be confusing. Your eyes might be itchy while also being dry or watery; your nose might be stuffy or runny. Instead of hunkering down and staying inside, or avoiding pets as much as you can, an allergist can determine the cause of your symptoms and eventually relieve them.

How do allergies work? Why do allergies have contradictory symptoms?

Allergic responses occur when an irritant disrupts your physiology and your body mounts an immune response to it.

For example, if you inhale some pollen that you're allergic to, a mild irritation can produce a runny nose or itchy, watery eyes. These are signs that your body is trying to flush out the irritant and return to homeostasis.With continued exposure to the irritant, your body's methods of "washing away" the pollen has become ineffective, and the inflammation associated with the immune response can cause swelling of the nasal passages, resulting in an uncomfortable, stuffy nose.

Over-the-counter antihistamines might alleviate mild allergic symptoms, and prescription medications such as steroid nasal sprays and decongestants can help manage more severe symptoms.

Allergies—like many other things—are individual; each person might have an unique profile of allergens that provoke responses.

With a personalized allergy evaluation of your situation, an Scottsdale allergy specialist can propose an appropriate course of action. Available structured immunotherapy treatments include shots and sublingual drops, which is becoming more common. An allergist can properly assess the onset, triggers, severity, and duration of your allergy symptoms so that you can enjoy spring again.