The allergens your pet carries are associated with his skin, hair follicles and saliva.

Dander, a naturally occurring combination of skin cells and saliva, is shed from your dog and is a common cause of pet allergies. It embeds itself in carpeting, furniture and draperies and lingers in the environment, causing allergic reactions. Some dogs shed more than others, making them less tolerable then other dogs.

Most allergies can be solved by making minor adjustments to your environment. The key is reducing the total allergen level in an environment. An individual who is allergic to animals may exhibit no noticeable symptoms when the total exposure is below the allergy threshold level.

The goal should be to minimize exposure to allergens that exceed your tolerance threshold and trigger attacks. Air purifiers, vacuums with air filters and other methods to keep your environment free of dust and hair will help. If you have allergies, consider not letting your dog sleep on your pillows or bed.

Feeding your dog a high-quality, low carbohydrate diet greatly reduces dander production due to the dog’s skin being healthier. There are foods, treats and shampoos on the market that reduce shedding, thus reducing dander production. There are also de-shedding tools, such as the Furminator, that can reduce allergic reactions.

Talk to your physician about medications that are available to help with allergies.