Twelve ways to avoid asthma while loving your pet.

Copyright 2005 David Kane Any asthma sufferer allergic to their pet would improve their condition if they found another home for the animal. Yet many cannot face going through with this and decide to keep the pet and suffer. However, you can take steps to make living with your pet easier. Firstly, understand that a shorthaired animal can trigger asthma as easily as a longhaired animal. The problem is not hair. Animal saliva, sweat, urine and dander (flakes of dead skin) can act as powerful allergens. Petting, grooming or vacuuming can stir the allergen into the air leaving it to float through the air for hours. If you cannot bear to part from your pet try these measures: 1. Decide which areas of the house will become your exclusion zones. I recommend you never allow your pet into at least two rooms, the bedroom and lounge. You may want to add other rooms to the list. If your pet once slept in those rooms, wash as much of the bedding or upholstery as possible and consider buying a new mattress and duvet. Keep the animal