PETS Info Blog

 

It doesn’t take long for pets to become cherished parts of the family, so the thought of giving up a beloved family member when someone in your home has pet allergies can be heartbreaking. Fortunately, research has provided a better understanding of animal allergies and what can be done to treat them.

What Causes Allergies to Pets

It is not actually animal fur which causes allergic symptoms in people. Rather, it is caused from the proteins found in animal dander, saliva and urine. These allergens become airborne when the animal moves, gives you a kiss or eliminates waste. Allergen particles that are released into the air can stick on clothes and furniture, causing misery for the person who suffers from allergies.

Allergy Testing

Before you assume that someone in your household is allergic to your pet, have testing done to confirm the source of the allergy. There are several other common household substances, such as dust, mold, cleaners, tobacco smoke and pollen that drifts in from outside, which may actually be the problem. If allergy tests confirm a pet allergy, there are several measures you can take so the pet and allergy sufferer can continue to live under the same roof.

Ways to Provide Symptom Relief

As tempting and snuggly as it can be to sleep with pets, keep them out of the bedroom of the allergic person. Animal dander can easily get trapped in bedding and it is difficult to remove it completely.

To increase the quality of indoor air in your home, use a HEPA air filtration system. This will remove animal dander and other allergens from their air while circulating pure air at the same time.

All pets, even cats who meticulously clean themselves, should be given a bath every week. A bath will help with excess shedding and remove dander, fleas, dirt and anything else the pet managed to get in their fur over the course of seven days. If there is no one in the home who can bathe the pet without experiencing allergy symptoms, the next best alternative is a hypoallergenic and fragrance free wipe designed for pets. Baby wipes will also suffice for this purpose.

Always wash your hands immediately after holding or handling your pet, and be careful not to rub your eyes before you have done so. Animal dander that gets into eyes can cause severe irritation.

Vacuum frequently with a HEPA filter, or better yet, get rid of your carpets all together. Carpets are known allergy triggers since they can hold tiny dust mites and other allergens deep in their surface where they can not be seen.

Finally, be sure to wash your pet’s bedding at least once a week for maximum allergy control.

Saying goodbye is never easy, but a time comes in the life of every person when he or she must make a tough decision. The majority of the pets will become a member of the family, and so when the end is near, the owners feel like the moment puts a knife in their hearts.

In many cases when having a really old animal, the best option is to think about euthanasia. People tend to delay the decision making, just to have the pet around as long as possible, but in many cases this is the worst choice possible. In many cases the pet sends signs when it feels its time is near. Nonetheless the best option for the owners is to talk to a veterinarian that will be able to offer professional and humanitarian advice.

There are some questions that you should ask yourself before making any kind of decision:

Can the pet eat and drink without feeling any pain? Is the animal in pain? Has your pet lost its ability to move around? Are there any breathing problems? Is the pet able to hold its head up? In case the pet is sick, is there any kind of treatment for the illness? Will these treatments be effective? Can you afford the treatment? Will the quality of pet’s life be better after the treatment? Does the pet enjoy life anymore? Will the illness of the pet influence the health of the other animals?

Naturally there are some other questions as well that you could ask, and be sure to write them down before you go to the vet. It is just natural that the pet owners would have a hard time accepting the harsh reality, so you might also want a second opinion. If this would make you feel better, feel free to do so. You should gather the best information possible regarding the condition of the pet.

In case you decide that the best option is to choose euthanasia, you shouldn’t feel guilty about it. You can be sure that you have done everything you could and feeling sad about having to let go is something completely normal. The majority of the pet owners consider their animals part of the family, and losing pets is similar to losing a human family member.

It can be a good idea to talk to some other pet lovers, who understand what you are going through and maybe they could offer you some advice regarding how to handle the whole situation. With time everything will get sorted out, and you might get another pet. This doesn’t mean that you want to replace the old pet, but it shows that you are willing to move on.

 

I like to travel with my pet. So does my business partner. But it seems that up until now, it was a hassle. This is why we decided to build a website for one-stop pet-friendly travel planning.

Pet Hotels of America is the first website designed solely to provide comprehensive pet-friendly travel services so animal lovers can get specific information and reserve pet-friendly hotels, airlines and cars. The site eliminates the need for travelers who want to take their pets along to be forced into surfing multiple sites or thumbing through magazines to find what they need. We think anyone who feels this way will be glad that there’s finally an online community that understands this.

Our goal was to make traveling with pets in America as easy as possible. If you visit the site, you’ll see we did just that.

On the other hand, those that want to leave their pet at home can look through the website’s growing list of kennels, pet hotels, doggie day care centers and other pet lodging. The listings are searchable by city and such establishments can add a photo of their facility with a link to their site for only $4.95 a month. What’s more, the Kennels page is an easy solution for those who want to travel with Boxer, but for one reason or another, need a nearby kennel or pet resort.

We believe the days of having to leave your pet at home or wondering what your pet is doing while you’re away, are over.

Either way, traveling with your pet is now as easy as traveling without. And take it from me, I much more enjoy having Lola by my side when room service arrives.

At Pet Hotels of America, our goal is to keep abreast of our visitors’ travel needs, likes and dislikes to keep providing helpful traveling services. To this end, you can find extensive travel information through our blog.

We also want to keep Pet Hotels of America fun. We invite everyone to submit a pet photo to our “Pet of the Week,” where friends can “Like” your submission, giving you the opportunity to win an e-gift certificate to PetSmart. A new winner is chosen every Monday.

Visitors also enjoy an assortment of funny pet-related videos and, on a more serious note, listings of rescue dogs waiting for someone to claim them.

Pet Hotels of America was made for you! Please help spread the word. The more people that travel with their pets, the more hotels, airlines and car rental companies are going to offer in the way of amenities that cater to us pet lovers.