If you have a dog or cat that you adore and you also have allergies, don't despair.

"You don't have to give up your pet," according to a news release from Harvard Medical School. I've often heard the same thing from animal organizations, but I knew they have a slight bias: Allergies are one of the reasons people turn in dogs and cats to shelters.

"Your allergist is likely to recommend finding a new home for your furry friend," be that a cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster or rabbit, the Harvard report stated. "But many people find it difficult, if not impossible, to part with their pets."

Thirty-five years ago, an internist told me the month-long "cold" that would not go away was actually allergies. He said I'd have to get rid of Guinevere, the Siamese cat I had owned and loved for five years.

I kept Guinevere and got rid of the doctor. I found another one who worked with me to find the right antihistamines.

Better and safer medicines and treatments are available for people who have allergies and asthma, and more are being developed.

The goal is "to come up with a compromise that works," said Dr. John J. Costa, an allergist, assistant clinical professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and medical editor of the 49-page, newly revised special health report, "What to Do About Allergies."

"Precious few people have life-threatening allergic reactions" that require getting rid of a pet, Dr. Costa said in a telephone interview.

The Harvard report has tips for controlling allergens, which are the substances that trigger the immune system "to mount an inappropriate response" known as an allergic reaction.

The No. 1 tip is "keep your pets out of your bedroom 100 percent of the time, and keep the door closed," Dr. Costa said, because "we spend about a third of our lives in the bedroom."

No. 2 is to use a HEPTA filter in the bedroom.

Dr. Costa next suggests giving your pet a weekly bath to reduce the allergen count. "Some felines may not be amused," he warns. "Wear protective clothes!"

If bathing is out of the question, try wiping the pet with fragrance-free hypoallergenic baby wipes, according to the report.

This perhaps explains why I can spend several hours at a cat show with several hundred cats and not have an allergic reaction. Show cats are generally bathed before and after every show.

The amount of allergens produced by cats and dogs "can vary from one breed to another and from animal to animal," the report stated. This explains why some allergy sufferers can tolerate some breeds better than others.

The report has bad news for lovers of rats and mice: "Don't keep rodents as pets. They're notoriously potent sensitizers."

If you have guinea pigs, hamsters or rabbits, "have someone else clean the cage." For those animals, the allergen is in the urine.

With cats and dogs, allergy symptoms are caused by tiny proteins found in their dander and saliva. These proteins "are notoriously sticky and difficult to eliminate, making pet allergies among the toughest to prevent. These proteins stick to bedding, clothing and upholstered furniture."

Get rid of carpets, use washable area rugs and wash your pet's bedding, according to the report.

Two other "animals" cause big problems: dust mites and cockroaches. Dust mites are No. 1 on Harvard's Top 10 list of "most common allergies," affecting 27 percent of people with allergies. Cockroaches are fourth at 26.1 percent, cats are sixth at 17 percent, and peanuts are 10th at 8.6 percent. Dogs didn't make the list.

Dust mites are tiny members of the spider family, too small to be seen with the naked eye. Everyone's house has millions of dust mites, according to the Harvard report. They live mainly in bedding, including mattresses, and in the stuffed toys of children. Dust mite fecal matter triggers allergic reactions.

The top two solutions to dust mites: Wash bedding once a week in hot water and use a hot-air clothes dryer. Avoid using down pillows or comforters.

The feces of cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks.

"Your main cockroach strategy is cleanliness. Make sure there isn't a crumb left out for them," and that includes kitchen garbage cans, according to the report.

Pet tips make up just one page of this interesting and helpful report, which is available for $18 from Harvard Health Publications. It can be ordered online www.health.harvard.edu/ALL or by calling toll-free, 877-649-9457.