Allergies can make your life really miserable. Did you know your pet can suffer from allergies just as much?  Here are some simple remedies you can do at home to relieve symptoms for both of you without resorting to expensive doctors and medicines.

Your Allergy Symptoms.

Sneezing, runny nose, headache, the usual miserable stuff?  Lots of people are allergic, they think, to their pets.  And lots of people end up giving their pets up just to get some relief from allergies. But you don’t have to send your precious pet away. Truth is it’s not even your pet that you’re allergic to–it’s the dander and pollen and saliva on your pet’s fur that’s causing you allergic distress.  And, like most loving pet parents, you let your pet sleep with you in your bed. So your nose is getting up close and personal at night with all those allergy inducers. Even if your pet doesn’t sleep with you at night, you still snuggle with him during the day, right. Up close and personal with the allergens. Good News ~ Totally Fixable!  

Try this: every night before bed, wipe your pet down, head to toe, with a damp washcloth–his face, all of his fur, bottoms of his feet. This will take away any loose dander, pollen, and dust that will aggravate your nose and eyes. Next, flush your eyes with saline or warm water. Doing this rinses away pollen that can start trouble with your eyes.  Also flush your nose with nasal saline mist; it’s a simple rinse, all natural, non-medicated. You can get it at your local pharmacy or on Amazon–it is not a prescription. Here are the simple products that can become your lifesavers.

Once you have flushed the pollen away, now you need to coat the inside of your nose to protect the nasal surface from more pollen. Using a q-tip, spread a thin layer of vaseline on the inside of your nose; be careful not to go too high to avoid injury. It will probably feel a little weird at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly, especially when you realize how much better you’re going to feel. The vaseline will comfort your nasal passages and protect the nasal surface from reacting to new pollens. Now you’re ready for a comfortable, peaceful night’s sleep. Sweet dreams!  

Your Pet’s Allergy Symptoms.

Check your pet for signs of allergies as well. Are his eyes red and runny? Does his nose run and he sneezes a lot?  Sounds like he’s got allergies, too. Poor little guy’s as miserable as you are. You can feel his pain, right. But never fear–you can help him with simple solutions at home and give both of you relief at the same time. One really effective habit to get into on a daily basis, even when it’s not allergy season, is to run warm water through your pet’s eyes to wash away pollen and debris, just as you do your own. I find the best way to do that is to fill a cotton ball with warm water and let it drizzle through his eyes. This will cause him to sneeze, also removing pollen from his nose. VERY important — do NOT rub his eyes with the cotton ball. Just hold it over his face and let the warm water drizzle over his eyes.  NEVER rub his eyes with the cotton ball–you could cause corneal injury and damage his vision.

Once you’ve finished flushing your pet’s eyes, put lubricating drops in each eye. Systane Ultra by Alcon is the one I use, for my pets and myself. It was recommended to me by my pet’s ophthalmologist. It’s really really soothing, preservative-free, and we all get immediate comfort and relief with it.  NOTE: don’t use ointments in your pet’s eyes. Ointments are tacky and actually trap pollen and debris, which can make allergies worse, and also scratch the surface of your pet’s eyes. Stay away from ointment!

Okay, now you’re all informed with some easy, non-drug home remedies to fight allergies and some links to help you quickly purchase your supplies. It’s going to feel great to feel great again–aren’t you excited?!   🙂

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.