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Allergies Living with Allergies

When You're Allergic to the Pet You Love

Summary & Participants

Seventy-five percent of those advised by allergists to give up their pets choose not to. But there are steps you can take to relieve your suffering.

Medically Reviewed On: August 04, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: If you’re allergic to your pet, you’re not alone - one out of every ten pet owners in the United States is allergic to an animal they love.

Jeffrey: I think the advantages are not outweighed by the disadvantages - they certainly are a lot of fun, and they rely on you, and they’re there when you come, and they greet you. They become your best friends

ANNOUNCER: 75 percent of those advised by allergists to give up their pets choose not to. But there are steps you can take to relieve your suffering.

Jeffrey: So certainly keeping a clean house, vacuuming, changing your bed sheets three times a week, all the couches in the house have a sheet over them so we could easily wash those things. We brush them, we cut their nails, and we use these like de-allergen wipes on them as often as we can. And it does help. It absolutely does help. You would not believe the amount of hair that comes off when we brush the cat.

ANNOUNCER: And allergists have one other crucial piece of advice

Beth E. Corn, M.D.: A lot of people have animals sleeping in their bed or in their bedroom, and that’s an absolute no-no. So if someone has a pet, they really have to keep the pet outside of the bedroom, because the bedroom is where you spend most of your time.

ANNOUNCER: And don’t be fooled by the popular myth about hairless animals being naturally hypo-allergenic

Beth E. Corn, M.D.: It’s actually proteins that are either in the saliva, the urine or the pelt. Those are all sources of allergen for someone who is allergic to a pet.

ANNOUNCER: If you do suffer from allergies of any kind, make sure you’re receiving proper treatment.

Jeffrey: If I didn’t have the medicine that I take I’m not sure how I would be able to work, and to interact with the cats, or really do anything. I would suffer without the medicines.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.