Is it difficult for you to go near your pet without itching or sneezing? If so, your body may be overly sensitive to the pet dander that your pet is emitting. But just what is dander and how does it affect your alergies? Basically, it is a combination of hair and dead skin flakes that can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tracts of humans. In the U.S., 70% or more families have either a dog or cat within their houses. Sadly, between 10-15% of the American population suffers from allergic reactions caused by these animals. Given these statistics, what can be done to cope with the harmful health effects of having a pet in your family?

Ridding of your favorite household companion to painfull to have to do, though some families must unfortunately resort to it. As a matter of fact, dander may still linger in the air even if a pet is removed. Pet dander can remain in a household for up to six months after a pet is no longer present since it is an active allergen. The decisions regarding what to do with the family pet should be made based on the severity of the damage it is producing to the family members within their home.

The most common household pets are dogs and cats. As far as cats are concerned, six million Americans develop allergic reactions to them, showing just how vital it is to be understanding of their presence. The substance that causes the allergic reaction is actually not their hair but rather an airborne protein found in the hair and saliva. It can spread throughout a house very quickly and is known to stick almost everything. Allergic reactions to dogs, on the other hand, are usually less common. However, if you are allergic to dogs then simply being exposed to their saliva can trigger an allergic reaction.

The animal's fur is not the allergen; it is the dander. In order to prevent these loved animals from negatively affecting your everyday lifestyle, there are several measures that should be taken. For one, do not allow pets to rest on furniture, as the allergens that they produce can stick and remain there for over six months. In addition, minimizing physical contact with a pet is important, as a basic touch to your skin can produce much unwanted itchiness. Fans, and blowers, like found in central heat and air conditioning not only move air thought-out the house, but also the allergens. For this reason it is important to consider investing in an HealtProO2 air purifier to remove the unwanted airborne pollutants that accumulate. Finally, giving your pet regular baths is essential, as it significantly decreases the amount of allergens that can be produced. Bathing the animals helps in reducing the output of oils on their skin even though it might remove some of the luster on their fur. Implementing some of these measures will allow you to not have to part with your loved companion.