People's Allergies Don't Always Preclude Pets

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If you've been told you can't have pets because of allergies, don't give up hope.

When I was a kid in the Bronx, I was always finding stray animals to bring home. The scenario was always the same, no matter how carefully I prepared my argument for the court (spell that M-O-M), the itchy welts on my face, complete with swollen itchy eyes, and non-stop sneezing betrayed the defense.

I can't tell you how many trips my father and I made to the ASPCA on Tremont Avenue with me sneezing and crying the whole way there. It wasn't just the pets, I'd sneeze and cough whenever we took family trips to the country as well. One day, I vowed, I'd have a house full of animals.

When I met my husband, he lived in "the country" in a house with two cats and two dogs.  Hmmm...this one was a keeper.

While I was in animal-and-grass nirvana, my allergies were kicking up serious problems for me. One kitty in particular sent me into a sneezing fit whenever we were in the same room together.

What happened next was very interesting. After several months of constant exposure to the animals in my new home, I developed less and less reaction to them. It seemed that as time went by, my sensitivity to the animals' dander was reduced. Isn't this the way allergy shots work?

It didn't happen overnight, and for those who can't "tough" it out there may be some help. Some years ago, research was done at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

According to this study, soaking your cat for 10 minutes in lukewarm distilled water may help human pet allergies.

While this study was done with cats, it seems as though this technique would reap similar rewards with dogs, but it's always a good idea to check it out with your vet first.

So, how does one wash a cat? The doctor in this study suggests starting with a large pan or sink filled with one to two inches of lukewarm water. Just like bathing a baby, you want to have everything you need in one place before you begin. Have towels ready and a nice warm place to put kitty after the bath. Avoid interruptions like the phone or doorbell.

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