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How To Get Rid Of Pet Allergies

How Common Are Dog Allergies

How to Get Rid of Pet Allergies | Stephen Dreskin, MD, PhD, Allergy and Immunology | UCHealth

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 38.4 percent of all households in the U.S. include at least one dog.

Meanwhile, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America finds that up to 30 percent of Americansare allergic to dogs. Do the math: a lot of folks out there are living with dogs that provoke some absolutely miserable allergy symptoms.

Yet how many people experiencing these symptoms are willing to part with their pets? Not many. The National Institutes of Health reports that 25 percent of dog owners are, in fact, allergic to their animal. Of those, only 2 percent were willing to give up the pets to control their allergies.

This refusal to comply has created a growing demand in the marketplace for pet allergy control products. While over-the-counter and prescription allergy medications can help, people seem more interested in natural alternatives these days.

Ways To Manage Pet Allergies

If your allergies arent severe, you might be able to find a way to live in harmony with your pet. Even if you do re-home your animal, allergens can be present in your home for up to six months after the animal has left.

There are several things you can do to help reduce the amount of pet allergens in your home. These include:

  • Keep your pet in a limited area: Restrict your pets access to areas of your homeespecially your bedroomwhere allergens can cling to your furniture and bedding. Ideally, keep your pet in a room without a rug, or use an area rug that is machine washable.
  • Keep surfaces clean: Vacuum your floors and furniture frequently to reduce pet allergens. Dander can also be removed from the furniture with a lint roller.
  • Use a HEPA filter: High-efficiency particulate air filters can help trap pet dander and other allergens that are in the air.
  • Keep filters clean: Change the filters in your air conditioning and heating systems regularly to improve air quality.
  • Change your clothes after spending time with your pet: Pet allergens can collect on your clothing, particularly if youve been cuddling your pet.
  • Wash your hands: Wash your hands with soap and warm water after touching your pet to reduce allergens on your skin.
  • Brush and bathe your pet regularly: Keeping your pet clean and groomed can reduce the amount of dander that ends up in your environment. However, you might want to ask someone else to perform these tasks to limit your exposure to pet allergens.

Ways To Get Rid Of Pet Dander In Your Home

Having a pet at your home in Parkland, Florida, comes with a number of benefits, including emotional support, unconditional love, and stress relief. However, one of the most common problems that impact pet owners is a dander allergy. Pet dander is a contaminant that many people are allergic to, but the thought of getting rid of a beloved pet is probably the last thing you want to consider. Instead of saying goodbye to Fluffy or Fido, simply follow these tips to get rid of the dander in your house.

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Dealing With Pet Dander

If youre a pet owner, youre no stranger to visitors claiming to be allergic to your pets hair. Unfortunately for them, theyre not really allergic to pet hair no one is. Pet hair just serves as a vehicle for other allergens, attracting dust, urine, saliva and pet dander, which makes people think theyre reacting to the hair when theyre really reacting to another allergen. Dander is the dead skin cells of animals, shed through normal activities. Controlling pet dander in the home can help make your house more visitor-friendly and comfortable overall.

Use A Little Neem Cream

How To Get Rid Of Dog Dander?

Itchy skin and redness is yet another common allergy symptom. This occurs when dander lands on the area, but may also be a result of an over-active immune system. The problem can be made worse by a number of everyday products such as deodorants, shower gel and bubble bath.

Neem is a type of tree that is known to have a number of health benefits. Here at A.Vogel, however, we use it in our Neem Cream as it is very effective in soothing irritated, red or itchy skin.

To make this product we use fresh rather than dried neem extracts as this maintains the active ingredients that make neem so beneficial for our skin.

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What Is Pet Dander

Pet dander is very tiny particles of skin that had been shed from animals with fur or feathers. So, foxes produce dander, parrots produce dander, and horses produce dander. Since most people dont have these animals in their home, their dander is not a problem.

The dander from cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, and small rodents is a problem.

All animals shed bits of skin. Some of the bits are large enough to be seen with our eyes. Other bits are so small you cant see them without a microscope. No matter the size of the dander, it is a problem if you are allergic to animals.

Cleaning Your Home To Remove Animal Dander Even After A Pet Is Gone

If the above measures do not help to reduce allergic symptoms, it may be time to say goodbye to your furry friend, particularly if you have uncontrolled asthma as a result of exposure to the pet. Pet allergen may persist for months to years in the home, even after the pet is gone. It is important to clean thoroughly:

  • Steam clean all carpets and upholstered furniture.
  • Launder or dry clean all bedding and curtains.
  • Vacuum all hard floors.
  • Wipe down all hard surfaces and furniture.
  • Replace any air conditioner and heater vent filters.
  • Consider having your vents cleaned .

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Prevention Of Pet Allergies

Before we look at some possible natural remedies, it is important to note that you can do a few things to reduce your risk of exposure to pet allergens.

Clean well: clean the floors, curtains and furniture as thoroughly as you can. Make dusting and cleaning easier: Consider replacing your carpet with tiling and reduce clutter from areas that dander may cling to. Filter your air Keep your pets out of the home if possible but make sure you dont allow them into the family bedrooms.

Scientists May Have Found Out How To Get Rid Of Cat Allergies

Allergy Advice : How to Reduce Pet Allergies

That sneezing, wheezing, congested, itchy eye, must-escape-this-room-because-I-cant-breathe-around-this-cat feeling can ruin even the best of daysespecially if you are a cat lover.

But now, you might be able to avoid the allergies altogether, instead of avoiding the furry feline.

You read that right. There have been some very promising scientific breakthroughs that can help alleviate the symptoms of cat allergies altogether. Breathing comfortably without red, itchy eyes could become the norm for allergy sufferers.

And we arent talking about allergy shots or desensitization therapy, either.

These new treatments for cat allergies arent for youtheyre actually administered to your cat. The goal is to help make them less likely to incite an inflammatory process in you.

Heres everything you need to know about the potential new cat allergy treatments.

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What Are Animal Allergens

Cats, dogs and other mammals produce proteins in their skin that can become airborne and cause allergic symptoms. Because of their very small size these particles remain suspended in the air for long periods of time. It is not the hair of the animal, but rather the dander produced by the skin, that causes the allergic reaction. Even a non-shedding pet produces dander, so the sad truth is that there is no such thing as a non-allergenic breed of cat or dog. However, it is true that some individual cats or dogs produce more allergenic dander than other individual cats or dogs.

Set Boundaries For Your Cat

This is one of the most difficult tasks on the list, because it involves changing habits and re-training your cat. If your allergies are moderate to severe, you may benefit from having some cat-free areas in your home. The most important areas to make into cat-free areas are places in the home that come in contact with your skin for long periods. The bedroom furniture and linens are the top options.

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Install A Hepa Air Purifier

Your ability to clean your household items can only go so far. You`re surely going to miss some places, and there are times when you cant get around to cleaning life gets busy.

Installing HEPA filters in your HVAC system, or free-standing air purifiers is a great solution to filtering microscopic pet dander from the air you breathe in your home.

Air purifiers with HEPA filters work by drawing in small airborne particles and trapping them in the extremely fine filter, with pure clean air returned to the room.

What many users love about HEPA filters is that besides removing dander, they also remove other allergy-causing particles such as mold, lint, and dust.

Most importantly, the air filters can provide a constant flow of fresh and quality air into your household.

We also have some good recommendations for effective HEPA furnace filters

Tips To Reduce Accumulation Of Pet Danderin The House

How to Get Rid of Pet Dander
  • 11 Sep, 2020

Pet dander triggers health problems, suchas asthma or allergy attacks, in some people. If you have such persons in yourhome, you should take measures to minimize pet dander in your house as much aspossible. The following tips can help.

Clean Your House Regularly

Clean your home regularly to reduce theaccumulation of pet dander. The following cleaning tips will help:

  • Use a lint roller to remove dander on flat surfaces.
  • Clean HVAC registers and air ducts so they don’t circulate dander throughout the house.
  • Vacuum soft surfaces, such as sofas.
  • Clean pet accessories, such as toys or clothing.
  • Throw large items, such as blankets, into the dryer before washing.

Regularity is the key here – cleaning yourhome occasionally won’t be enough, but a regular cleaning schedule can keep petdander under control.

Bathe and Brush Your Pet Regularly

Brush and bathe the animal to get rid ofpet dander. The bathing allows you to direct the fur into suitable places, suchas down the drain, so they don’t end up in your house. The frequency ofbrushing and bathing depends on the furriness of the animal. For example,longhaired animals require daily brushing, while others can make do with weeklybrushing.

Use a HEPA Filter

Change HVAC Filters Regularly

Dirty air filters are not as effective asclean filters. For one, dirty filters force the HVAC to run longer than usualto keep the house cool or warm. The more the HVAC has to run, the more it’slikely to circulate debris in the house.

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What Can Be Done To Decrease Exposure To Animal Dander Allergens

The medically best solution is the most emotionally difficult: finding a new home for the pet. Although this is a decision that only you and your family can make, the fact is that there is no other action that will as dramatically, effectively and safely eliminate the symptoms of pet allergy. If you are able to remove the pet, the steps noted below will hasten the clearing of residual pet allergen.

If you can not or will not remove the pet, the following steps will decrease the level of exposure somewhat. Whether or not they will be sufficient to relieve symptoms will depend on the severity of the allergy.

Reduce The Pet Dander In Your Home

If you are allergic to dog dander, that means that your immune system sees the dander as a threat to your wellbeing.

Although your immune system is only supposed to attack and expel dangerous things that could make you sick , some people suffer from immune systems that target pollen or pet dander.

This is why allergies feel so much like a common cold. Your body is offering the same reaction to pet dander as it does to sinus infections.

Pet allergies are caused by dead skin cells, saliva, or urine that your pet leaves behind. While saliva and urine can be allergy triggers, most people are allergic to pet dander, or dead flakes of skin.

The idea of your dogs dead skin sounds pretty nasty, but even worse is the news that you cant escape itever.

Just about every household in America, as well as every store and public place, contains some level of pet dander. Dander floats in the air and sticks to surfaces, so it travels easily and is hard to remove.

That being said, there are ways you can reduce the pet dander in your home, thus lightening the strain on your poor sinuses.

First, you can purify the air. Pet dander is light, and it floats around your house. If you get an air purifier with a filter, youll be able to see just how much dander is in the air!

Youll also notice a huge change in the air quality of your home.

Its best not to over-vacuum. If you can replace your carpet with hardwood or tile floors, this would make a world of difference.

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How To Reduce Pet Allergens In The Home

AAFA suggests a variety of strategies and tips for pet parents to reduce exposure to pet allergens at home. In addition to the AAFA Certified products listed below, here are their top tips:

  • Keep your pet out of your bedrooms or sleeping areas. You spend at least one-third of your time there. Keep the bedroom door closed. Consider using a CERTIFED asthma & allergy friendly® air cleaner in your bedroom.
  • Wear a mask and gloves while cleaning. Or have someone without a pet allergy clean when you arent home.
  • Keep your pets off fabric furniture or cover them with slipcovers or blankets you can wash weekly. Vacuum fabric furniture and carpets weekly. Or remove carpet, if possible, and replace with laminate or wood flooring.
  • Have someone without a pet allergy brush the pet outside to remove dander, as well as clean the litter box, bedding, or cage.
  • Clean hard furniture, walls, and baseboards regularly with a damp or microfiber cloth. This will help keep the pet dander from going back into the air.
  • Forced-air heating and air-conditioning can spread allergens through the house if it doesnt have adequate filtration. Consider using a CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® filter with your central heating and air conditioning to help remove pet allergens from the air. If you live in a rental apartment and dont have access to your central air, you can cover your bedroom vents with dense filtering material like cheesecloth.
  • How Do You Test For Pet Allergies

    Pet Allergies & Medications : How to Get Rid of Pet Allergies

    If you are experiencing allergy symptoms, you can schedule a test with your doctor to see if your pet is the culprit. Depending on your doctor, you will either get a blood test or a skin test.

    The blood test requires a blood draw, which is sent to a lab so doctors can test the response of specific antibodies in your blood to the allergen. For a blood test, it will take a couple days minimum to get your results back.

    The skin test, which you can receive at UW Medicine, involves pricking the skin with a small amount of the purified allergen. If your skin has an allergic reaction in that area, then your allergy is confirmed.

    We use a skin test because its quick it takes 20 minutes and you have your answer, Ayars says. If someone has symptoms around pets, the testing helps confirm the allergy.

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    Go Ahead And Hug Your Dog

    Resisting a cute, furry face is not possible when you love dogs. So go right ahead and hug yours , even if you are sensitive to dog allergens. Regularly follow these six natural solutions for reducing the amount of dog allergen in your home, office and car and you will outwit Can f1 demons forever!

    How To Manage Pet Allergy Medications

    Over-the-counter drugs are also one way to help you deal with your pet allergies and they can be pretty effective. Nasal steroids are typically the number one treatment for allergies and those help with nasal congestion, dripping and draining, Dr. Hong says.

    Other options include antihistamines, like Benadryl, which are good for alleviating itching and sneezing. And allergy shots are another helpful option but Dr. Hong notes that theyre not effective for everyone. Those shots mostly help those allergic to cats and dogs but you may see less success with dogs.

    Depending on the pet and the person, more serious allergies could develop, leading to increasing sinus infections. It can also cause asthma to flare up for some and even cause more upper respiratory infections.

    While medications can help with many of these symptoms, Dr. Hong says, the downside to relying on those medications should be top-of-mind, especially since some can result in drowsiness. For kids, those medications can keep them from being able to focus on schoolwork. The same goes for adults, who may be at work but also not able to focus.

    And Dr. Hong also advises us to remember that while drugs may help us feel better around animals were allergic to, those medications arent cures. Rather, she says, they simply mask our symptoms.

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    Endust Fragrance Free Hypoallergenic Dusting And Cleaning Spray

    We like to use a hypo-allergenic product to remove stubborn marks, fingerprints, and heavy dust anywhere in the house. Think dining room tables and ceiling fans. I cant handle most furniture sprays because I cough, and they irritate the dog.

    Endusts silicone-free cleaning and dusting spray is AAFA certified and leaves a natural shine without and residue buildup. Over the past year, Ive used this product on wood, paneling, cabinets, the interior of the car, window sills, and non-fabric blinds.

    Things I Like

    • Contains no irritating scents or perfumes that may bother people or pets
    • Gets rid of smudges and fingerprints with very little product
    • Narrow stream directs itself exactly where you want it to go and not all over the place
    • Reduces allergens on surfaces and in the air

    Things to Consider

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