Treatment

The most effective treatment for pet allergy is to avoid exposure to animals. If you own a pet, your best bet is to find it a good home and then vigorously clean your home to remove as much of the allergens as possible.

If your allergy is mild and you'd like to keep your pet, prevention measures may help minimize your exposure to pet dander and the resulting allergic reactions.

Medications
When you can't control your allergic reactions to pet dander with prevention measures, your doctor may recommend or prescribe allergy medications. These may include:

• Nonprescription medications. To counter the signs and symptoms of allergy-induced hay fever, short-acting antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, others), decongestants (Sudafed, Chlor-Trimeton, others) or a nasal spray containing cromolyn sodium (NasalCrom) may help.
• Prescription hay fever medications. These include longer acting antihistamines (Zyrtec, Clarinex, others), nasal corticosteroid sprays (Flonase, Nasonex, others) to reduce inflammation, and the leukotriene inhibitor montelukast (Singulair), which blocks the action of leukotrienes — immune system chemicals that cause allergy signs and symptoms, such as excess mucus production.

If your pet allergy is causing asthma symptoms, your doctor may prescribe: inhaled corticosteroids (Flovent, Pulmicort, others); long-acting beta-2 agonists (Serevent, Foradil); combination inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting bronchodilators — fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair Diskus); and short-acting beta-2 agonists such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), which help open up the airways in your lungs.

Immunotherapy
If your symptoms are especially difficult to control or are causing troublesome nose, eye or asthma symptoms, your doctor may recommend allergy shots (immunotherapy) to desensitize you to pet dander.

In immunotherapy, you'll receive injections of pet dander extract in increasing doses once or twice a week. Once a maintenance dose has been reached, you'll need injections every four weeks.

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EditText of this page (last edited February 11, 2008)