Increasing Allergies Lead to More Pets in Shelters

In a rawstory.com article, a German journalist reports that about 10 percent of the German population is allergic to house pets.

‘From a medical standpoint the best thing to do is give the pet away,’ says Anja Schwalfenberg of Germany's Allergy and Asthma Association in Moenchengladbach.

And that's just what many allergy sufferers are doing.

Each year, German animal shelters receive about 12,000 pets, many of them from allergy sufferers.

‘We are seeing more animals here because the number of allergy sufferers is growing in Germany,’ says Evamarie Koenig of Berlin's animal shelter. ‘The problem is definitely growing.’

But you don't have to get rid of your pet to avoid allergy symptoms!

Many people believe they're allergic to their pets' hair or fur, but they're actually allergic to animal dander, which consists of proteins found in saliva, urines, feces, and skin particles that get stuck to the fur. When you pet an animal, you transfer the allergenic proteins to your skin. You also inhale airborne dander when a pet lives indoors. Cat dander is one of the smallest and lightest allergens, and it can float in the air for hours at a time!

Kirstin Jung, an allergist from Erfurt, Germany, gives advice on avoiding allergenic pet dander: ‘The animal should be kept outdoors, if possible, such as a rabbit in a stall.’ If that's not possible, at least keep your pets out of your bedroom.

‘Regular vacuuming and airing rooms can reduce the allergen content in a home,’ continues Jung. An air purifier will eliminate allergens from the air.

Jung also says that cats should be washed once a week to reduce allergens. Special antiallergenic pet shampoos and cleansing wipes will help destroy animal dander allergens.

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