Dogs are without a doubt our best pals. Unfortunately, for those of us who love dogs but deal with allergies, the relationship can be hard at times. Yes, dogs need to spend time outside getting exercise and going potty. Unfortunately, this is where the allergens that can make our asthma and allergies go insane reside.
Our canine companions’ fur can act as a carrier for these airborne allergens, bringing them into the house after walks. Let’s take a look at seven ways you can reduce the amount of allergens your dog brings in. This will make allergy season easier for everyone involved.
The 7 Ways to Stop Dogs From Bringing Outdoor Allergens Home
1. Wipe Your Doggy Down
When it is time for your dog to come back inside after spending time in the allergen-filled outdoors, take time to wipe them down with a damp cloth before you bring them into the house. There are even doggy wipes on the market you can buy to use for this purpose. While it may not remove every allergen on your dog’s fur, wiping their body and paws is a great way to limit the amount they bring with them.
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2. Brush Your Dog Before They Come Back Inside
A good grooming session outside is another smart way to limit the number of allergens your dog brings into the house. If you suffer from allergies yourself, make sure to wear a mask and perhaps gloves before taking on this task, or ask someone who is not allergic to do this. Once you’re ready, use a clean brush and go over your dog’s coat thoroughly. This will keep most of the allergens stuck to their fur outside instead of on your furniture and floors.
3. Give Fido a Bath
One surefire way to help remove allergens from your dog when they come inside is to bathe them. Unfortunately, this solution isn’t very convenient. Even if your dog loves bath time, the idea of tossing them into the tub each time they step outside can become tedious and it is not good for their skin. Instead, try doing it once a week to help eliminate allergens on their fur.
If you are looking for the perfect, pet-friendly shampoo and conditioner combo, we highly recommend the products by Hepper. With a soothing oatmeal shampoo, free of soaps and other harsh chemicals, and a cucumber and aloe scented conditioner, your pet's skin and coat will be smooth, hydrated, and irritation-free.
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Hepper Oatmeal Pet Shampoo |
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Hepper Pet Conditioner |
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At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!
4. Try to Walk Your Dog in Low Allergen Areas
If you know what you are allergic to then try your best to avoid walking your dog in areas where those allergens are in high amounts. For example if you have a grass pollen allergy, avoid walking through grassy fields in pollen season and try to stop your dog from rolling in grass.
5. Use a Microfiber Doormat
Your pooch walks across the doormat each time they go in and out of the house. If you weren’t aware, there are microfiber doormats on the market that are designed to not only catch dirt and water on your dog’s feet as they come inside but also allergens. These types of mats come in handy all through the year, not only when allergens are at their worst.
6. Wash Their Bedding Regularly
Anywhere your dog lies and sleeps will have more allergens from your dog’s fur. Washing them regularly, at least once a week, should help keep the allergen level down in your house.
7. Wash Your Hands
After your dog has come in from outside and you’ve done everything you can to reduce the number of allergens they are bringing into your home, don’t forget yourself. Wash your hands each time you touch your pooch after a trip outdoors. This will help keep you from being the one to spread allergens around the house and make things worse for your seasonal woes.
Other Tips for Fighting Allergies
While all these tips are great at helping to reduce the allergens your dog is bringing into the house, it is simply impossible to stop them all. Unfortunately, the world is full of them. Let’s take a look at other tips to help lower allergens in the home when they inevitably get there.
Have a Safe Space
If you suffer from allergies, especially dog allergies, having a safe space away from your pets is good for your health. It also helps keep an area clear of allergens you may miss when trying to clean them off your dog. If your allergies are severe, it may be in your best interest to have your bedroom as a pet-free room. This will help you combat any allergens that accidentally sneak in on your pup.
Keep the House Clean
Sure, you do routine cleaning of your home, but during allergy season, you may need to do more. Plan on vacuuming carpets once or twice a day with a cleaner that uses a HEPA filter. This will help grab any allergens you missed on your dog. It will also lower the amount of dust and dander in your home, which should help your allergies significantly. You should also keep all surfaces in the home wiped down and dust-free.
Use a Good Air Filter
They may be more expensive, but allergy-reducing air filters are the way to go if you’re an allergy sufferer. These filters can capture dust, pollen, pet dander, and a host of other allergens when they make it inside your home. The real key with these filters, however, is to stay on top of changing them. Yes, it is great to spend the extra money, but if they aren’t changed every 3 months, they can’t do their job properly.
Conclusion
For those of you out there who suffer from allergies, anything that keeps them at bay can help. While your canine best friend doesn’t carry allergens into your home on purpose, it does happen. If you want to limit the number of allergens your dog brings from outside, give these suggestions a try. Hopefully you will feel better with fewer allergens in the home.
Featured Image Credit: Kristesoro, Shutterstock
The 7 Ways to Stop Dogs From Bringing Outdoor Allergens Home
