My Favorite Allergen! A guide on how to live with your pet

Dr. Wendt discusses life with pets

Bet you didn’t know I had a favorite allergen…but I do! Born on July 14^th, 2022, my little mini (I hope) Bernadoodle is the sweetest, happiest, and perhaps the most spoiled dog ever. At Christmas, my family joked that they had been replaced because at least by number, he had the most gifts under the tree. He doesn’t shed, is hypoallergenic, and really doesn’t bark. I got him when I realized that I was going to miss my girls when they go off to college next year.

It has only been about 6 months with our family and I just cannot imagine life without him! This article is meant to help present some options on how to live with your "favorite little allergen" if you can't live without him/her.

Signs that you may be allergic to your favorite allergen include runny nose, itchy, red, runny eyes, sneezing, wheezing, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, runny nose, sinus pain and pressure, sneezing, plugged ears, mild fever, and fatigue. If you’ve noticed hives or itching after being licked or mouthed, you are probably allergic. The presence of chronic allergic lung or skin conditions, like asthma or eczema, may worsen during Bermuda season as well.

Fun fact about Bernese Mountain Dogs: They are called milk and cheese dogs because they were trained to pull carts loaded with milk and cheese to deliver to patrons.

Short of a life-threatening allergy, I would never recommend parting with your pet, simply because of the evidence that they are so good for our happiness and well-being. Dog owners have been shown to live longer than average and maybe this is due to the exercise required in walking the dog or in the increased socialization that the dog brings when people want to pet the dog. Either way, that outweighs the allergic symptoms in most cases in my mind.

Likewise, if you are in a relationship with a die-hard dog owner, you owe it to yourself to be comfortable and aggressively treated.

Fun fact about Poodles: They come from Germany, not from France.

While complete avoidance is NOT an option for you, consider getting an air purifier for your bedroom. Wash your sheets and change air filters regularly. Consider removing carpet and switching to a hardwood floor to make clean-up easier. Keep your pet out of the bedroom and definitely out of the bed (that being said, I need to take my own advice on this one--Huxley just needs to look at me).

Consider over-the-counter antihistamines and allergy nasal sprays. Come on in and we'll teach you how to use them if you do not know.

And if all that fails, consider allergen immunotherapy, or "allergy shots". This is a weekly shot (but we can make if faster if you don't have time) that starts below the allergic level and increases over time, effectively "turning down" your allergic response and "turning up" a controlled response to your allergies.

If you would like to be tested for your allergies or believe you might be a good candidate for allergen immunotherapy, Dr. Wendt and her staff at Relieve Allergy, Asthma & Hives would love to help.

Relieve Allergy Asthma & Hives is located near Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Quarter, DC Ranch and Grayhawk at 21803 N. Scottsdale Road Ste. 200, on the corners of Deer Valley and Scottsdale Roads, and has convenient evening and early morning hours to accommodate your schedule.

Dr. Wendt is also available for telemedicine appointments as appropriate. Insurance plans accepted. Call 480-500-1902 today to schedule an appointment now and begin your allergy testing and treatment with Dr. Wendt at Relieve Allergy, Asthma & Hives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Learn more about Dr. Wendt and Relieve Allergy Asthma & Hives at www.relieveallergyaz.com and FOLLOW US on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Linked In.

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