Are you constantly buying Benadryl for dogs to control your pet’s allergies? While this type of medication can help your dog during allergy season, there are a number of alternative methods that can be used to reduce these issues.
If you are like most pet owners, you view your dog as a member of the family. According to a recent study, nearly 81 percent of pet owners consider their furry friends as equal members of their family.
Pet owners will generally have a variety of warning signs when their dog has allergies. If a dog has itchy skin, an increased propensity to scratch or runny eyes, chances are they have allergy problems.
The following are some of the things a person will need to consider when trying to control your dog’s allergies.
1. Get Rid of Carpeting in Your Home
Does your home have a lot of carpeting? If so, this could lead to the allergy issues you and your dog have getting a lot worse. Allergens are very sticky and thrive in carpet-like environments. The longer you have this type of flooring in your home, the more allergens you will ultimately have to deal with.
Replacing your carpet with hardwood or laminate flooring is a great idea. These types of flooring will eliminate the hiding places allergens use to infest your home. You may also want to replace your drapes and curtains with shutters and blinds.
If your significant other is insistent on keeping your carpet, then having it cleaned professionals twice a year is essential. By doing this, you can get rid of deep-seated allergens with ease. While there are carpet cleaning machines available for rent, they are usually ineffective and expensive.
2. Cleaning Your Home Regularly is Important
Vacuuming on a frequent basis can also remove allergens from your home’s flooring. If you have a pet, then you know all too well how much hair they can leave behind. Investing in a high-quality vacuum will be worth it considering the benefits they can provide.
Before buying a vacuum, you need to do some research to find out how effective it is. Ideally, you will want to invest in a vacuum that is completely sealed. Doing this will allow you to avoid redistributing the allergens into your home’s air supply as you vacuum. Giving your dog a clean indoor air supply is vital when trying to keep them in good health.
3. Groom and Bathe Your Dog on a Regular Basis
You may be surprised to learn just how much dirty and dust can collect in your dog’s fur. This is why giving them a bath on a regular basis is so important. Giving your dog a bath regularly can also help to remove dander, which can reduce allergens by up to 84 percent.
Most veterinarians recommend that dogs get a bath every week. If you notice your dog’s skin is getting a bit dry due to all of the baths you are giving them, you may want to try out some wipes. These wipes are less harsh on a dog’s skin and will help to remove a lot of allergens when used properly.
4. You have to Wash Your Dog’s Bed
Pet bedding is one of the main sources of allergen build up. Instead of leaving these allergens on your dog’s sleep surface, you need to wash it on a regular basis. There are a number of specially formulated laundry detergents made for pets. While these detergents may be more expensive, they are far more effective at eliminating allergens from this bedding.
You will also need to throw out your pet’s bedding once every six months. Usually, you can donate this bedding to local animal shelters in need.
5. Use HEPA Filters
Using HEPA filtration is also a great way to reduce the allergens in your home’s air supply. These filters are known to remove nearly 100 percent of all of the allergens in your home’s air. This means that everything from pet dander to harmful indoor air pollutants will be a thing of the past.
You need to be aware that these filters are a bit expensive. Taking the time to shop around will allow you to find the right filter for the best price.
6. Consult With Your Veterinarian
If you have tried a number of things and still can’t get your dog’s allergies under control, then it is probably time to schedule a vet visit. With their help, you can get to the bottom of when your pet is having such bad allergies.
A vet will also have access to state-of-the-art treatments for these ailments. Trying to diagnose and treat these conditions without the help of these medical professionals may lead to a number of mistakes. The last thing you want to do is hurt your dog due to your lack of experience. Researching the various vets in your area will help you figure out which one is the right fit for your needs.
7. Knowing The Common Causes of Your Dog’s Allergy Problems
In order to adequately your pet’s allergies, you need to know what is causing them. Your dog’s allergies can be caused by everything from mold spores to weed and grass pollen. During the spring and summer months of the year, your dog’s allergies will usually get a lot worse. This is why finding the right treatment before this time of the year arrives is so important.
Often times, finding the right allergy treatment for your dog will require a bit of trial and error. Consulting with your vet before trying a new treatment is essential. They will be able to give you a breakdown of the benefits and risks associated with the treatments you are considering.
Having your dog tested by a vet is a great way to get to the bottom of their allergy issues in a hurry. Once you have this information, you can avoid giving your pet medicines they simply don’t need.
Great tips, Thanks for sharing