[Plaumpholavup]

Was the doctor you saw a specialist? Because to be honest, he sounds like a bit of an idiot. Just saying, I would not be satisfied with his consultation...at all.

Does this help?
Environmental controls - Must do!Controlling the amount of animal dander in the home is a very important part of treating pet allergies. Here are examples of what I do in my the battle against dog allergy.
A. Environmental controls1. Keep dogs out of the bedroom

• My dogs are not allowed on my bed or even in my bedroom
• It's important to create at least one dog-free room in your house where you can breathe cleaner, less dander saturated air
• Unfortunately, forced air heating and air conditioning will still spread allergens through your house unless you install a central HEPA air cleaner

2. Use HEPA air cleaners

• I have HEPA room air cleaners in all bedrooms (no dogs allowed) and in the family room (dogs allowed)
• The central heating system in my house has an electrostatic air filter to help clean the air distributed through the house
• Central HEPA air cleaner is ideal, but if you don't have one, portable room air cleaners are a lot better than none
• HEPA air cleaners can really make a difference for asthmatics and pet allergy sufferers
• In addition, you can use inexpensive disposable allergen air filters that capture microscopic allergens like dust, smoke and smog particles and large allergens like mold spores and pet dander
• You can also try covering your home's air vents with vent guards or cheese cloth

3. Use baby gates

• I use baby gates to keep the dogs downstairs, away from the upstairs bedrooms

4. Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting

• My house has bare, washable floors in all rooms where my dogs spent their time
• Wall-to-wall carpeting collects dander and is difficult to keep clean

5. Bathe your dog frequently

• I bathe my dogs frequently, my dogs are hairless so it's very quick
• Using a mild dog shampoo helps prevent overdrying of the skin
• Baths can greatly reduce the level of allergens on fur
• Bathing twice a week is recommended in a 1999 allergy study
• If you have to groom your own dog that has hair, use a face mask while brushing the fur and do it outside

6. Keep your dog's skin healthy

• Dermatitis often causes accelerated skin cell shedding

7. Wash dog bedding, clothes, and soft toys frequently

• I wash all dog bedding, cushion covers, doggie shirts, and soft dog toys frequently with a mild, fragrance free detergent
• I love the Perla dog beds made of heady duty plastic. They are durable, inexpensive, and can be easily wiped clean of any dog dander. I use standard size human bed pillows as cushions for the 24" Perla beds. I encase the pillows with anti-allergen pillow covers and pillow cases. I was both covers frequently. When the pillows start smelling "doggy", I just throw them away and buy new ones for 3-5 dollars.
• You could also try using an anti-allergen detergent to wash your doggie stuff

8. Get leather furniture instead of fabric

• I cover my leather family room sofas with sheets to help prevent dog dander deposits on them, these sheets are washed frequently and my dogs are allowed on the sofas
• Leather is the ideal sofa material for allergy sufferers
• You can also use sofa slip covers for a neater look

9. Have dog-free reserved seating

• I have reserved seating in the family room
• No dog is allowed on my comfy chair, but they are allowed on the sofa where rest of the family sits
• Sitting in a dog dander free chair while watching TV makes a significant difference to my asthma level

10. Vacuum frequently with a HEPA vacuum cleaner

• I try to vacuum a lot
• I have a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter
• Vacuum floors, furniture, blinds, and all other surfaces

11. Air the house

• I open the windows occasionally to let the airborne pet allergens air out, but not when the pollen count is high outside

12. Wash your hands

• I wash my hands after petting my dogs, and washing my face helps too
• I avoid touching my eyes or face when I'm playing with my dogs

13. Change your clothes

• I often change my clothes after allowing dogs on my lap to help remove the dog dander on me
• I throw these clothes directly into the laundry hamper

14. Put clothes on your dog

• I have noticed that I can tolerate my hairless dogs better allergywise if they are wearing clothes
• If it's warm, I make sure that their clothes are made of thin, cool, and breathable cotton fabric
• Do not use synthetic fabrics that make your dog sweat, a sweating dog seems to aggravate allergies more
• Change and wash your dog's clothes daily

15. Limit dog dander in your car

• I avoid transporting dogs in my car, I try to keep my car dog dander free
• If you have no second car, you can cover the car seat with a washable sheet or pet blanket, or use washable car seat protectors designed for pet owners
• Leather seats in the car are ideal

16. Avoid clutter in your home

• I try, but not always so successfully :O), to avoid clutter in my house, it collects dust and dog dander
• Pet allergens are tiny and sticky, they attach to all surfaces

17. Allergen reduction products

• Some people are reporting a reduction in their dog allergy when using the Allerpet D for Dogs solution while others notice no difference at all
• Allerpet solution is applied on your dog's coat
• You can also try spraying areas where your dogs spend their time (carpets, sofas) with an anti-allergen spray, it supposedly deactivates pet allergens

B. MedicalVisit your allergy specialist (MD) for advice and medications

• I must use prescription allergy and asthma medications continuously to be able to keep my dogs
• I am also getting allergy shots (immunotherapy) for various allergens, including dogs
• Currently, hypo-sensitization to dogs is less effective than to cats, but experimental studies offer hope for improved allergy shots in the future
• Be sure to discuss your pet allergies with your allergy specialist to create the best treatment and maintenance plan for your specific allergies

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)

• Allergy drops, or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), is an alternative to allergy shots. Sublingual immunotherapy has been used for years in Europe to treat allergies of the eyes and nose, as well as allergic asthma. Drops or tablets of allergen extract are placed under the tongue, jand then either swallowed or spat out. Swallowing the extract seems to work better. Allergy shots appear to be superior at treating allergic disease, but SLIT will likely become an important treatment option for people unwilling or unable to receive allergy shots. There is an increased interest in the SLIT treatment in the United States. However, it is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Until the FDA approves the use of SLIT, most mainstream allergists will probably not offer this type of therapy, and insurance companies will not cover the costs of the therapy.

From: http://sweet-lucys.com/allergictodogs.html