We all love our pets, but those of us with allergy issues can pay a high price for the love of an animal. A good number of pet owners know they are allergic to their furry friends, but who wants to give up someone who loves them unconditionally? According to this advice from Aprilaire, we may not have to:

Studies indicate that more than 70% of U.S. households currently own one or more domestic animal with an estimated 10 million pet owners who are allergic to them. About a third of the population that is allergic to cats, live with at least one cat in their home anyways. Whether it's a cat, dog, hamster or other household animal, simple steps can be taken to make your pet allergies more tolerable.

Don't Blame the Fur
Allergic reactions are caused by exposure to proteins that are normally present in secretions from the glands in the skin as well as in the animal's saliva or urine. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't matter whether your pet has short or long hair - it's the pet's dander (skin scales) that can cause some of the worst allergic reactions. Although a pet's fur doesn't in itself cause allergic reactions, pet hair is a good airborne carrier of pet dander and saliva as well as dust, mold spores and other allergens.

Prevention is the Best Treatment
Allergists agree that the best treatment for pet allergies, as for all types of allergies, is avoidance of the things that cause allergic reactions. But avoidance doesn't necessarily mean living without pets, especially when a family member's allergies are moderate in nature.

Dr. Robert A. Wood, Director of the Pediatric Allergy Clinic at Johns Hopkins, offers a simple avoidance strategy for those who have moderate animal allergies but don't want to give up their pets. Potential strategies include:

Avoid Allergen Exposure - Reduce the overall allergen burden in your home by restricting your pet to non-carpeted areas. Keeping pets out of the bedroom is a sensible strategy since you spend roughly one-third of your time there. If possible, remove carpeting and upholstered furniture, once allergens get into them, they may remain there as long as six months.

Remove Allergens from the Air - Good ventilation and a high efficiency, whole-house air cleaner can help remove allergens already in the home. A high efficiency media air cleaner can remove up to 95% of airborne particles as small as 1/25,000th of an inch.

Groom Your Pet Regularly - You can help make your pets less of an allergy source by keeping them groomed and clean. Dr. Ilona Rodan, a veterinarian, cat owner and a mother of a child with allergies, recommends having a non-allergic person comb the pet everyday either outside or away from the allergic person's sleeping area.

Other Tips from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
• Avoid hugging and kissing pets if you're allergic to them.
• Wash hands after handling a pet to help avoid the spread of dander.
• Remove litter boxes from direct contact with pet allergy sufferers and place them in areas away from vents.
• Wear a dust mask to vacuum. Use a vacuum with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter if possible.
• Wash your pet on a weekly basis. Check your local pet store or ask your veterinarian for shampoos that may neutralize or inactivate allergens present on your pet's skin.

Reduce Airborne Allergens Throughout Your Home
According to the ACAAI, restricting pets to as few rooms in the home as possible can help manage allergens, however, isolating a pet to one or multiple rooms will not restrict allergens to that particular room. "Air currents from forced-air heating and air-conditioning will spread the allergens throughout the house. Homes with forced-air heating and/or air-conditioning may be fitted with a central air cleaner. This may remove significant amounts of pet allergens from the home."

See Your Doctor
The severity of allergies varies from one individual to the next. Reactions can range from mild sniffling and sneezing to more serious reactions. If you believe you may be allergic to your pet, see your allergist. Many times an allergy sufferer is sensitive to multiple irritants such as dust, pollen and smoke. Reducing the overall allergen level in your home, and not just the pet allergen may be necessary. For more information consult your doctor to get tested or to see if immunotherapy is an option.

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