>From:    Donna Micari <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Allergic to Ferrets -- HELP!
>My doctor gave me the worst news yesterday--he told me that he thinks I'm
>allergic to my three ferrets.... Does anyone else on the list have this
>problem?  My dr.  suggested to get rid of them and see if I feel better,
>but naturally I refused.
 
i'm allergic to pretty much all of my pets except for the ferrets and i've
never had to do anything major to live with it!  heck, i even worked in a
pet store!  the thing that doctors don't tell you is that you can develop a
tolerance for things that you are allergic to.  this works just by exposing
yourself to such small amounts of the allergens that you do not have a
reaction and gradually increasing your exposure.  you still have a reaction
if you are exposed too much, but it works pretty well!  i can stand up to
three cats, a single rat or guinea pig, one or two rabbits, and pretty much
any birds.  the only thing is that having developed the tolerance you have
a greater chance of developing asthma and you can still have trouble with
the allergies sometimes.
 
if you have only minor breathing and skin problems, take claritin or
another hayfever medicine, they work just as well on allergies caused by
things other than pollen.  you can also get prescription pills that act
much the same way.
 
the biggest single thing you can do to make it easier though is to get rid
of carpets.  they trap pet hair and dander like you wouldn't believe!
hardwood all the way!  i can't live in a place with carpet.  if you are
renting you may not be able to get rid of it, but it really makes a huge
difference.
 
hope this helps!
 
siani (who is also allergic to cigarette smoke, perfume, and dust- but
allergies aren't a big deal!)
[Posted in FML issue 2628]