Helpful Tips for Getting a Family Pet: Preventing Allergy Flare-Ups

Pets can be an amazing addition to the family. Pets can give life and happiness to a home. Apart from that, they can teach children responsibility. Pets can be sweet, unconditional, easy, and enjoyable. At the same time, pets can destroy a home, annoy neighbors, and exacerbate allergies. In this article, the focus will be on owning a pet while keeping allergies at bay; it is possible with some foresight and upkeep.

1. Choose Your Pet Wisely

If you or anyone in your family have problems with pet allergies, then you do well to choose a pet that will not make allergies worse. If fur is a big problem, then you may do well to get an animal with hair. You definitely do not want an animal that sheds a lot. There are also animals that are considered to be hypoallergenic. Study the different breeds of animals that you are interested in order to find a breed that will not exacerbate allergies. You will have to do your own research before you choose your pet. This does not mean that you cannot adopt a pet from a shelter, it just means that you would have to do extra work in order to find out if the animal that your family is interested in is allergy-friendly.

2. Clean Often

If your family truly wants a pet and allergies are an issue, you want to make sure that you are cleaning your house with a high amount of regularity. Specifically, you have to vacuum often. A good vacuum is imperative because it can be used on every surface of the house in order to get out any pet fur or dander. Miele vacuums are highly recommended when it comes to allergies and pets. All horizontal surfaces can be cleaned with the vacuum; in that way, there will be no leftover pet fur in any part of the home. Apart from vacuuming, you want to mop your home regularly. If you have carpet, consider purchasing a steam cleaner in order to deep clean your carpet with regularity.

3. Avoid Carpet and Rugs

In conjunction with the previous paragraph, avoid carpets and rugs whenever possible. Rugs are a hotbed for fur and other allergens; not to mention that they can be incredibly difficult to clean completely. If it is possible for your family to avoid carpet or even pull the carpet up before you get a pet, that is a great way to prevent a serious allergy flare-up. If you have rugs that you absolutely do not want to give up, they will need to be regularly washed.

4. Get an Air Filter

An air filter can be a wonderful way to clear up allergens in your house. If you have a family that suffers from problems with allergies and you all want a pet, do all that you can to minimize allergens. Air filters are wonderful for your house and for your family’s health. There are plenty of affordable air filters that can be purchased online. If you have a large home, you may need to purchase more than one; choose to put the filters in the rooms where the allergy sufferers spend the most time.

5. Get Plants

Plants are a wonderful way to naturally clean air in your home. Not only are plants great for decoration, but they can do wonders for the air quality in your home. Not all plants are good for certain pets, so make sure that you do your research before you purchase a plant, or you can put your plant in an area that is difficult for your pet to access.

6. Clean Off Your Pet’s Feet

If you have an indoor/outdoor pet, then you do well to clean off its feet when it comes indoors. Allergies can often be exacerbated by pollen and dirt. In order to avoid any extra flare-ups, keep the pet’s paws free from outdoor allergens.

You Deserve a Pet

Pets have negative and positive attributes, but if you really want one, you deserve one. Don’t buy a pet purely based on emotion. Do your research, find the right pet, and set up your house for success. If you follow some of the tips above, you can have a pet-happy home with minimal allergy flare-ups.

By Samantha Higgins