For people with animal allergies, the recommended method of preventing an allergic reaction is to completely avoid contact with the animal to which they are sensitive (avoidance).

Because people become very attached to their pets, this is not always an option for animal owners.  However, there are preventative measures that can be taken to minimize allergic reactions. They include:

• Keep the pet out of the bedroom at all times and designate “pet-free” areas of the home, if possible.
  
  
• Run portable air purifiers throughout the home and use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.
  
  

  

• Clean and vacuum regularly. Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter may help remove allergens.  
  
  
• Frequently change HVAC and HEPA filters.
  
  
• Do not permit the pet on furniture.
  
  
• Consider placing plastic covers on upholstered furniture.
  
  
• Remove carpeting and rugs in the home (replace with tile or hardwood flooring). People who choose to keep carpeting, or must keep it, should steam clean it frequently.
  
  
• Avoid clutter and keep walls and floors bare.
  
  
• Wash hands after handling the pet.
  
  
• Avoid hugging and kissing pets.
  
  
• Have a nonallergic individual brush the pet daily (outside), as well as bathe it twice a week.
  
  
• Place litter boxes and animal cages away from areas of air filtration vents in homes. Also have nonallergic individuals clean soiled litter boxes and cages.
  
  
• Provide a well-balanced diet for the pet; minimizing fur loss may reduce indoor dander.
  
  
• Let someone else do the vacuuming to avoid breathing in allergens, or wear a mask when cleaning. Cleaning can stir animal allergens up in the air, where they are more easily inhaled.

When visiting a friend or relative who has a pet, people allergic to animals need to be particularly careful. These visits may require the allergic person to take preventative medicine before a trip or to make arrangements to sleep in a hotel.

Controlling non-pet animal allergies depends on the type of animal. Allergies caused by cockroach debris may be controlled using methods similar to those used to reduce dust mites, as well as using chemicals to kill cockroaches and cut off their food supply.

People who are allergic to insect bites or stings should, of course, avoid those animals when possible, or perform yard work at times when insects are less active. For instance, getting rid of a wasp’s nest is best done in the evening, when their activity level is low.

Some leukotriene modifiers have been used successfully to prevent the sneezing and nasal congestion associated with allergic rhinitis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the nose. Some animal allergens are known to cause allergic rhinitis. However, these medications are primarily used in people with asthma or seasonal allergies and are not specifically approved for use in the prevention of animal allergic reactions.