Just What Exactly is Dog Allergen?

So, maybe you or someone you love has been diagnosed as allergic to dogs. The term "dog allergen" may have been bandied about a bit, but if you're still a little vague on exactly what it is, read on, and you'll know in just a few short minutes!

* There are two main dog allergens: Can F1, found in dog saliva, and dog albumen, found in canine blood.

* Dog allergen is fairly commonplace, so even if you don't have pets, the allergen might be lurking in your place of work, your school, or other places you visit.

* Because dogs are bathed however, there is way more cat allergen out there than dog allergen, which may explain why so many people have problems with cat allergies!

* Amazingly enough, far from stimulating allergies in infants, exposure to dogs from a young age has actually been shown to reduce the likelihood of dog allergies later in life!

* If, however, a child (or adult) has already developed an allergy or asthma, exposure to dog allergies may worsen the problem.

Now that you know what dog allergen is, the tricky part is avoiding it, and the nasty allergy symptoms that accompany exposure. Of course, if you live with a dog, and can't bear to part with him or her, you may need allergy shots or medication to lessen effects, but there are other things you can do to try and limit your exposure to this allergen:

* Make sure your dog is neutered. Un neutered dogs may urinate inside your home, adding to the dog's allergen problem, and making your symptoms worse!

* Bath your dog weekly, or even twice a week, to remove the dog allergen that adheres to his coat. In between baths, each day, you can wipe him with a wet cloth to help minimize the presence of the allergen in your house.

* Don't allow the dog in your bedroom, and never in the bed! His allergen where you sleep will play havoc with your allergies!

* A HEPA filter and HEPA vacuum cleaner should help remove traces of dog allergen from the air, and the general environment.

* Vacuum your home frequently, and keep dogs off upholstered furniture.

* If all else fails, and allergies worsen, you may have no alternative but to rehome your dog.

* Remember that this type of dog allergy can survive in nooks and crannies of your home for months after your dog is no longer there. Likewise, if you move into a new home, the dog allergen from the previous owner or tenants pets may still be there.

Dog allergen is the microscopic molecules that cause your body's immune system to trigger an allergic reaction. While it's possible to limit this allergic reaction, even while owning a dog, it is a little more work, but if you're serious about keeping your dog, and your allergies are not that severe, you should be able to work around the dog allergen problem, and enjoy many years with your best friend.