Every time my friend comes over my house, she starts sneezing and her eyes get all runny.  She says it's because she is allergic to my cat.  How can I prevent her from having this reaction without getting rid of my pet?

Meet at her house instead.

So your friend starts sneezing and breaks out in hives when she sits on your sofa. You've even tried putting Fluffy upstairs and vacuuming thoroughly, but that doesn't help your friend very much. You heard about a special shampoo that might help, but Fluffy has to be sedated in order to be bathed. What else can you do?

Unfortunately, the best control method for allergies is avoidance of the allergen. If someone in your house is allergic to a pet, the pet will need to be removed from the environment permanently. Dog or cat allergen is present both on the animal and in its environment. Even after the pet has been removed, it takes months for allergen levels to decrease. Finding the animal a home with a family member or close friend may be a good option in some cases.

Some pet owners are very reluctant to find another home for their pet and wish to try other alternatives. A pet shampoo called Allerpet was developed to try to reduce the allergen levels of pets. However, it is not known how effective this shampoo is in reducing the overall amount of allergen in the environment of the animal.

Dealing with pet allergies can be frustrating and sad. Some people are so sensitive that they react to allergen carried into the house on the clothing of someone that has been around animals. For children, the best solution is to look into alternative pets with which they may connect, such as fish. Consult a medical doctor regarding available treatments that may allow mild allergy sufferers to live more comfortably with animals.

08/01/00