Painful Pets

Is it hard for you to go near your pet without itching or sneezing? If so, your body may be overly sensitive to the pet dander that the animal is emitting. But just what is pet dander and how does it affect one’s body? Basically, it is a combination of hair and dead skin flakes that can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tracts of humans. Not surprisingly, more than 70% of families in the United States have either a dog or cat in their household. Sadly, almost 10% 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 is not always the answer, though some families must unfortunately resort to it. As a matter of fact, dander may still linger in the atmosphere even if a pet is removed. It is said that dander is a very sticky substance, causing it to cling on to clothing and furniture. Because of this, it can remain in a household for up to six months after a pet is no longer present. The decisions regarding what to do with a pet should be made based on the severity of the harm it is producing.

Cat and dogs are no doubt the most common pets in American homes today. As far as cats are concerned, six million Americans develop allergic reactions to them, demonstrating just how important it is to be considerate 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 to most clothing. Allergic reactions to dogs, on the other hand, are usually less common. Similar to cats it the fact that the allergen is produced not by the hair but the dander. Simply being licked by a dog can trigger an allergic response as well.

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 long periods of time. In addition, minimizing physical contact with a pet is important, as a basic touch to your skin can produce much unwanted itchiness. Air heaters and conditioners are known to only help spread the allergens throughout the household, which is why it is important to consider investing in a HEPA air purifier to filter out the unwanted airborne pollutants that accumulate. Finally, giving your pet regular baths is essential, as it substantially reduces the amount of allergens that can be produced. By taking these appropriate measures, you should hopefully not have to part with man’s best friend.

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