Boyfriend allergic to pets!

[Purplecatshopaholic]

Just that really. We took a risk - quite a new relationship - and he temporarily moved in due to lockdown. It’s going great apart from one thing we did not see coming. Being in my place all the time seems to have exacerbated an allergy or intolerance to pet hair - I have dogs and cats. Antihistamine doesn’t seem to help, nor does constant hoovering, keeping windows open, etc. Any thoughts out there for what might help?

Do the pets have free run of the house? If they do, consider barring them from the bedroom he sleeps in. Then deep clean that room. If he has a pet free place to retreat to and sleep in, that will help.

Also, try different anti-histamines. I have allergies and some of them are useless but others will work. My husband has allergies too, but what is useless to me, works for him. So if the antihistamine he is taking isn’t helping, try a different one.

He should also practice not touching the pets and then his face. It’s hard, because they’re cute and fluffy pets. But every time he pets one, he should immediately wash his hands. This reduces the amount of allergens getting in his nose, mouth, eyes.

Honestly I couldn’t live in a house with pets again, I become exhausted with it and then you go on a holiday and realise that feeling that awful all the time isn’t normal. So for me it would be a deal breaker.

Are you keeping the bedroom pet free? -very important and both having a quick shower before bed would help.

Keep up the daily hoovering of pet hair too. That is a good tactic. You can take pets outside and give them a good brushing to remove loose hair every few days as well.

I thought it wasn't so much the hair but the dander/saliva/various secretions that trigger allergies? In which case just dealing with the shedding and hair isn't going to do it.

Some people become acclimatised to their pets over time so hopefully this will be the case. If not then he'll have to make a decision if it's worth it to him or not.

Please don't get rid of your pets for a new relationship though!

I’m allergic to animals. I cannot have one in the house.

Itch, swollen eyes, sneezing, asthma. Once got shouted at my by doctor when l asked if l could have a dog.

Mines got worse as I’ve got older.

Things that do not work.

Vacuuming- it’s the molecules not the hairs
Placing in another room: the allergen molecules are sticky and stick to walls for up to 3 or 4 months.
Washing pet: see above
I’ve had to leave holidays and all sorts due to this. Anti histamines have minimal effect.

Allergy clinic advice is to avoid at all costs. And that would be mine to your boyfriend I’m afraid.

I’ve been hospitalised with it, because l couldn’t breathe

Vacuuming will only work if you use one with a true HEPA filter + designed to pick up pet hairs, allergens etc.

Put an Air Purifier in bedroom, and the living room. Make sure bedroom one also has a sleep mode so you can leave it on overnight.

No pets in the bedroom. & If you have carpet in there, get rid.

I guess your bf takes antihistamines but if they're not working he should try another type. I can only take Loratidine, other types don't work on me.

If all this doesn't work then it may have to be a deal-breaker for you. Allergies are no joke, his throat could close up due to continued exposure to allergy. I've witnessed that kind of thing happening it's frightening, and dangerous.

But if you try all the above you have some chance.

Allergen Immunotherapy has helped a few people I know but not easily accessible in the U.K. and is costly

www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/treatments/allergy-and-immunology/allergen-immunotherapy#gdpr-out

I don’t know much about dog allergies but if there’s a cat in the house you can’t get rid of the allergen by hoovering or an air filter. It’s on every surface and wall.