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Pet Dander Allergy Solutions |
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 Many
people think that the hair or fur on their pet is the source of
allergies. Actually, the source is a protein found in pet dander. When your body develops a
sensitivity to pet dander,
exposure to the allergen will release histamine and allergy symptoms will develop.
Symptoms include itchy eyes, rashes, a runny nose, congestion, hoarseness, wheezing, and sneezing.
You can control pet allergies with
frequent cleaning, a
HEPA vacuum cleaner, an
air purifier, allergy bedding,
and special pet allergy products. |
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Cat Allergy |
 Our
beloved pets provide us with many health benefits. The Center for Disease Control
states that owning a pet can decrease blood pressure,
cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of
loneliness. Millions of pet owners are allergic to their
furry and feathered friends, and the most common pet allergen is cat dander.
Approximately 10 million Americans are allergic to their cats. Cat dander is one of the smallest and lightest
allergens. That means that the dander easily spreads
out to every corner of your house or apartment. Cat dander can float in the air for hours at a time, and
it can be found in homes months after a cat has moved away. Read our
Allergy Sufferer's Guide to Living with Cats for
more information on dealing with this allergy.
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Dog and Other Pet Allergies |
 While
not as common as cat allergies, dog allergies have
separated many dog owners from their best friends. Fifteen
to thirty percent of allergy sufferers have allergic reactions to either cats or dogs.
Allergens can come from any animal with fur or feathers, including cats, dogs, birds, rabbits,
hamsters, mice, gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, horses, goats,
cows, chickens, ducks, and geese. Reptiles and fish do not cause allergies, because they have
scales instead of skin. However, if you have a fish tank,
make sure that it does not become a source of mold allergen.
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Hypoallergenic Pets |
 Some
dogs are considered "hypoallergenic" (less allergenic) because they do not shed as often. Poodles, Airedales, and schnauzers shed their skin
every 20 days or so, while other breeds like basset hounds and German shepherds shed their skin every three or four days. Unfortunately, even
"hypoallergenic" dogs produce dander and will cause reactions in sensitive individuals. When it comes to cats, a company called Allerca claims to have
genetically engineered the world's first scientifically-proven hypoallergenic cats. If these are still out of the question, you always have fish, turtles and
even the occasional frog to fall back on!
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Pet Allergy Treatments |
 Allergen Avoidance
is the key to successfully controlling pet
dander, allergy symptoms from dander, and pet allergies. You temporarily can relieve symptoms with anti-histamines and
over-the-counter medications; but until you eliminate the cause of the allergic reactions, you
will continue to experience allergy symptoms.
If you are allergic to a pet, it is important to set up
allergy-free zones in your home where the pet is not
allowed. You should keep the pet out of your bedroom and
definitely out of your bed. However, you still will want allergy relief bedding on your bed,
because animal dander will inevitably make it into your bedroom even if the pets do not. The extremely small size of some pet dander, particularly that of cats, makes
it light enough for it to easily become airborne.
Air purifiers not only
eliminate pet dander, but they also eliminate other forms of indoor
air pollution that can worsen pet allergy symptoms. AchooAllergy.com represents the top brand air purifier manufacturers including Austin Air,
Blueair,
IQAir,
AllerAir, and
Honeywell.
Air filters for your furnace and vents
will keep pet dander from circulating into clean air.
HEPA vacuum cleaners like the
Miele Callisto
or the Dyson DC25 Animal Vacuum Cleaner
trap pet dander and other allergens. Anti-Allergen Solution
helps to denature (inactivate) allergens in carpet. Vacuum attachments allow
you to suck up dander in all those hard-to-reach places. You may want to wear an
allergy mask while
vacuuming since it stirs up allergens in the carpet. Allergen Wash will destroy
allergens in your laundry.
Immunotherapy is another option for treating pet allergies. Immunotherapy involves
the allergy sufferer receiving a series of injections (allergy shots) over a long period of time in order
to build up a tolerance to a particular allergen. However, allergy shots do
not work for everyone, and they are very expensive.
Another way to lessen the impact of pet dander is to groom your pet frequently (at least once every two weeks) to keep allergens at a minimum.
Anti Allergen pet shampoos & cleaners
help control pet dander. The Pet Brush Vacuum Attachment makes
hypoallergenic pet grooming easy. One of our allergy tips is that if someone
living in the house has a pet allergy, it is best to do the grooming outdoors.
You also can limit pet dander by paying closer attention to your pet's diet. The addition of some natural fat to
their diet will help clear up dry skin and minimize dander flaking.
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Pets Can Have Allergies Too! |
 We
have heard from several customers who have allergic pets. Like humans, pets can be allergic to dust mites, pollen, molds, foods, chemicals, and even
other pets! Cats and dogs normally experience allergy symptoms in the form of skin problems. The most common allergy among cats and dogs is flea
allergy. Many felines and canines are allergic to flea saliva, and they experience allergic reactions whenever fleas bite them. If your dog or cat
constantly scratches or gnaws on its skin, there is a good chance that your pet has a flea problem even if you cannot see any fleas.
When a human or a pet has an environmental allergy, it is important to control pet dander by keeping the home and the air clean with a
HEPA vacuum cleaner,
air purifier,
air filters,
frequent cleaning, and frequent
pet grooming.
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