STARK is Barking about: To sleep or not to sleep... with your dogs

Hellooo again, I'm sure all of you read Raving's blog about how sleeping with your dogs could affect your love life/ relationship. Today I'll be talking about whether it's a good idea to sleep with your dogs especially if it comes with the possibility of causing allergies for you, your famiy and even your dog.

Yup, the allergies can go both ways. Just as your cute little doggie can cause you to cough, sneeze and wheeze; any innate health issues you have (big or small), can also be passed on to your dog and cause them to do the same. Many people think that the allergies are caused by being exposed to the dog's fur but that's not true, what you are allergic to is what's on their fur.

Therefore the flakes from their skin, saliva and even urine all contain allergens which can easily spread from place to place in your home. So when your dog is licking your face or your fingers, try and imagine where else that saliva has been or what else that tongue might have licked. (It's quite an icky thought!) When walking your dog, as everyone should do, their fur also collects pollens, spores or any outdoor allergens which can become airborne and cause their human owners to develop allergies.

Here are some top tips to keeping the allergies at bay which everyone should adopt:

1. Avoid hugging and kissing pets if you are allergic to them.

2. Remove litter boxes from direct contact with allergy sufferers. Look for "low-dust" or "dust free" brands of litter.

3. Wash hands after handling or touching a pet.

4. Consider placing plastic covers on the couch or other upholstered furniture (which may harbor pet allergens) where the pet sleeps or rests.

5. Wash your pet weekly. Recent studies have indicated that some significant reduction in the amount of pet allergens occurs with weekly washing of dogs and cats. A number of shampoo products are available in pet stores that may neutralize or inactivate allergens present on the skin of cats and dogs.

6. A non-allergic individual should brush the pet regularly, outside of the home.

7. Speak with your pet's veterinarian to get a well balanced diet for your pet. This change in diet may help to minimize hair loss for the pet and this can reduce dander indoors.

8. Use a double or micro-filter bag in the vacuum to augment the filtration of the vacuum cleaner and, in turn, reduce the amount of pet allergen present in carpeting that leaks back into the room air.

9. A number of chemical solutions, like tanic acid, are available that may remove allergens present in carpeting. However, removing carpeting and rugs is the best way to reduce exposure.

10. Finally, look into allergy shots (immunotherapy) from your allergist/immunologist to reduce the unnecessary suffering associated with having a pet in the home.