Choose a Pet That's Right for Your Allergies

Oct. 3, 2008 - PRLog -- If you have animal allergies but you’re dying to get a pet anyway, you might want to consider which kind of pet would effect your symptoms the most. Usually when people consider getting a pet of their own, they are deciding between a cat and dog. These animals have very different allergens that may or may not effect your symptoms more severely.

It may surprise you to learn that when dealing with cats, it is not actually their hair that causes allergic reactions, but rather a protein present in their dander and saliva. These allergens become airborne as microscopic particles, which when inhaled into the nose or lungs can produce allergic symptoms. Because of the way cats clean themselves (licking their own fur) there is even more of this protein present than we might imagine, and when we pet or hold these animals, this sticky protein is transferred to our clothing, making it easier for our allergies to be effected. This is why it’s very important NOT to allow your pet cat into your bedroom. Cats are constantly keeping themselves clean, and they are great at finding new places to lounge. If you allow them to hang about your bedroom, the place where you spend the most time, then eventually this sticky protein will be all over everything, window sills, clothing, bed, pillows, etc, and you will be suffering severely from your allergies.

Dog allergen on the other hand, is actually less common than cat allergen. And just as with cats, it is not the dog’s hair that causes your allergies to act up, but their dander. Because dogs scratch themselves quite a bit more than cats do, it is easier for their dander to become air borne, but as I mentioned dog allergen is not likely to cause your symptoms to react as strongly as cat allergen will.  Part of the reason why your dog may be scratching so much is because it may actually be allergic to something in your home, there are hundreds of possible causes for this, but the most common is mold. Mold in turn, can also be worsening your own allergy symptoms. So, it’s worth looking into. You can read my blog entitled “Breathe Easier, Control the Mold!” for more tips on controlling the mold in your home.(http://www.vitaltechnologies.com/node/66).

If you’re an animal lover with allergies there are ways to minimize your symptoms while keeping your pet around. As I mentioned previously, keep your pets out of your bedroom. Another great solution is using an anti allergen pet shampoo. You can find more information on both of these solutions by reading “Handling Your Pet Allergies” (http://www.vitaltechnologies.com/node/67).

By keeping this information in mind, you can enjoy your pet’s company while still breathing easy.  Thanks for reading!

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The Ecology Works is dedicated to producing a range of environmentally friendly products to help alleviate allergy symptoms and create healthy environments.