Whether a pet lives with or visits someone, a few reminders can make the experience more pleasant for everyone. Antihistamine medications can be taken to prevent and treat allergy symptoms such as itching, watery eyes, and sneezing, but can cause drowsiness. If symptoms are confined to the eyes, antihistamine eye drops can be used. They are available without a prescription, but should only be used sporadically since they can increase the pressure in your eyes if used continuously. While cat-allergy immunotherapy shots are in the pipeline, avoiding cats is still the best way to avoid symptoms.
Animals can carry fungus, bacteria, and parasites such as ticks and fleas.
Cats are known to transmit a fungal skin infection called ringworm, which can be treated with nonprescription ointments. Dogs can be carriers of the strep bacteria, which causes strep throat. If you or your family get recurrent bouts of strep throat, those licks from Lassie could be the culprit. Have your veterinarian check your dog. Housing restrictions often exist for renters and by city ordinances Lifestyle frequent overnight travel and young children can make pet ownership more difficult Allergies some species could affect you differently than others.