As much as you love your cat or dog, you may find yourself a little allergic. This may be an allergy that recently developed or something you have always had. What is it about our pets that give us a runny nose or itchy eyes? How do we stop it?

Cats and dogs have a unique protein in their saliva, sweat, urine and skin that can trigger allergies in you. When things like this dry on their skin and fall off, they are called danders, which have allergens. The dander can fall into your house, car and even your clothes.

Different animals give different allergens. That is to say, you can be allergic to cats and not dogs or vice versa. Increased exposure to allergens over time can push your allergy limit and make you feel like your allergies have worsened.

So the question is: what do you do if you are allergic to your pet?

A potential answer is that you can choose to make your bedroom pet free. The average person spends one-third of their time in the bedroom, so if this place is pet free, you will feel much better.

Some animal owners may need medication. Try purchasing over-the-counter allergy medicine at your local corner store. If these do not work, you may need something more powerful. Consult your doctor and research your options such as allergy shots. If you do not have an allergy doctor who you already see, Gainesville Medical Centers provides excellent testing and treatment for a wide range of allergies.