Human Allergies and Dogs – Part 2

Note: This post is part 2 of a 4 part series on human allergies and pets. 

We do love our little Yappers but for people with allergies, living with them can be hard.

We do love our little Yappers but let’s face it-when you suffer from allergies, like I do, they can be a major trigger and make my life a total misery for some. YapTalk wants pet parents to enjoy a great relationship with their little dog and allergies should not stand in the way of that. In part 1 of this series of posts, I wrote about how recently, my allergies got so out of control, that I had to seek the medical attention of an allergist to.

What are allergists and what do they do?

An allergist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma and bronchitis. Many people with untreated allergic symptoms aren’t aware of how much better they can feel once their symptoms are properly diagnosed and managed by an allergist.

What to expect during your first visit

The first visit will probably be the allergist “interviewing” you about your symptoms and past allergy history. They will give you a quick physical assesment that will include weight, blood pressure and a look in your nasal passages and throat. Once they gather that information they will sit down with you and discuss a course of treatment. Expect your doctor to be very thorough with the questions. It might be a good idea to think about your present and past allergy symptoms and be prepared to discuss them in detail with the doctor.

Other tips:

• Ask questions! Doctors want you to understand your condition and learn how to manage it. Make a list of questions before you see the doctor.
• Be sure to report anything to your doctor that doesn’t seem quite right. Be sure to include any new or different allergy symptoms you may be having.
• Take all your medicines to the appointment or make a list of all of the medications you are currently taking-including over the counter meds and how many milligrams of each. OTC medications include vitamins, minerals and herbal preparations.

In part 3 of this series on human allergies and pets. We’ll discuss the various treatment options that may be available to you through your allergist.