Solutions for Guests Allergic to Dogs and Cats

A national survey conducted by the National Institute of Enivornmental Health Sciences and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developement to measure levels of indoor allergens that might trigger asthma, revealed that in homes with dogs the levels of allergens were high enough to trigger allergies or asthma. People with dog allergies are generally sensitve to dog dander, saliva, and urine. Cat allergies, twice as common as allergies to dogs, affect about six to ten million Americans. People with cat allergies are generally sensitive to all cats.

If friends or family decide to come for a visit or to stay in your home, ask invitees if they suffer from dog or cat allergies and discuss the best manner in which you can alleviate their sensitivities. In most cases, grooming your pet before your visitors turn up can be effective. Products such as LoShed and Allerpet can also reduce shedding and dander. Besides treating your dog or cat, thoroughly clean your home by vacuuming carpets and rugs, dusting surfaces and washing floors.


Once you clean your guest room, limit pet access. If possible, place a HEPA air purifier where guests sleep. The National Bureau of Standards states that air filtered by a HEPA unit is free of 99.97% of all contaminating particles. Allergy experts claim that if you can breathe pure air for at least 8 to 10 hours each night, you can probably tolerate more exposure to allergenic substances during the day.

Most importantly, encourage your guests to discuss increasing doses of their allergy medications with their physicians.

After writing all this, just tell them it would be better for them to stay in a hotel.