Indoor Allergins: Pet Dander

We love our furry friends, but their dander can cause a host of allergen issues. Interesting enough, it’s your pet’s dead skin flakes, urine, feces, and saliva that trigger allergies, and not their fur. Instead of removing your beloved pet from your home, consider the following tips.

Tips On Pet Allergen Control:

• Isolation measures should include keeping your pets out of your sleeping areas, off upholstered furniture, and even off of carpets.
• Vacuum all floors and carpets daily with a vacuum that contains a Hepa filter.
• Have carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned with a natural solution quarterly.
• Change your whole house filter monthly.
• Clean all areas where the pet sleeps and eats weekly.
• Have your pet groomed monthly to reduce dander.
• Place an air purification system in your bedroom.

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Read more: Allergies, Health, Pets, allergies, cat, dander, dogs, Pets

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Skill G.

5:24PM PST on Mar 7, 2012

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John S.

8:33AM PDT on May 17, 2011

Maybe I cheat, but whenever I walk my boy and its raining, he gets a free shower (luckily or unlucky for me, he loves being outside rain or not).

2:17AM PST on Jan 7, 2010

loved the tip about remembering to think of the order. We're moving into a new to us home that was infested (ok 2 cats) with animals. The fur is everywhere so I can only imagine that the dander is on every mm of space in the house. I'm the only one in the family not allergic so I have a lot of work cut out for me. Thanks so much for this article! Will have 2 HEPA Rabbit air filters, get some Allersearch (a gallon) anti-allergen dander neutralizer to spray and use microfiber clothes to wipe every surface...AFTER the carpet gets ripped out ;)
tastaturen

Rocky C.

4:32PM PST on Nov 19, 2009

I am a trained veterinary assistant and animal groomer who works for humane societies. I'd like to try putting the battle to rest, if I may.

Using the proper shampoo, you can safely bathe cats and dogs weekly. Please look for the proper shampoo, use only tepid water and rinse well. Those pets who get dry skin from bathing are being bathed with the wrong shampoo or not being rinsed well enough. Just like you, your pet needs a specific kind of product be it mild, astringent or conditioning. The most important thing is use only tepid water because pet's skin burns more easily than humans and rinse, rinse, rinse. Inadequate rinsing is the most common error when bathing an animal.

Dogs and cats are no different than humans with regard to cleanliness being important. Humans learned to bathe themselves as they progressed from primitive living to the way we are now. We know the value of cleanliness, so we do it. You may also keep your pets safely clean. In fact, a pet who is bathed regularly from infancy usually likes the process and has fewer skin issues than those who aren't. Hope this makes sense and helps.

Past Member .

7:51PM PDT on Jun 23, 2009

I have two adorable kitties but now that its summer time I always hate all the new hair that starts to build up around my house. This year I invested in the FURminator and love it so much that I wrote a blog to share with others the wonders it can do for you and your cats health http://tinyurl.com/n4yblm

10:31AM PDT on Jun 14, 2009

thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner

6:31AM PDT on Jun 14, 2009

Kabin
Konteyner

CJ H.

8:31AM PDT on May 27, 2009

To help with dander allergies, check out this Web site:

www.nationalallergy.com

Loook at the Allerpet products. These are safe solutions - for both dogs and cats - that moisturize the skin and reduce the amount of dander that is produced. Also, there are other products such as Quick Bath Wipes, Allersearch Pet+ shampoo and Anti-Allergen Solution Pet Shampoo.

All of these products are perfectly safe for your pets and they work by either reducing dander or neutralizing the protein in allergens.

2:05PM PDT on May 26, 2009

I feel for you Alice. Apparently when I posted that my vet told me it was saliva and not dander on cats that most people are allergic to, someone felt I was "attacking" them. I got a very unpleasant private message about not "attacking" people.

Folks, if someone posts that their vet told them something, maybe you ought not assume that the poster is attacking you; merely sharing information that their vet told them.

Alice B.

4:12PM PDT on May 23, 2009

I have a lot to do this weekend, so a quick note. It would appear that I angered Jersey Girl. But my dog hospitalized me at 14 when my allergies onset, and I never deliberately got a pet lest I have to give it up. So all of my critters have been destined for shelters, and we have muddled on through the best we can. I bathe them when I need to, and I've had to take more than one unadoptable street orphan to the humane society or the spca, and one time, to the pound. (she had severe aggression issues). Needless to say she was a dog. I give it my best shot - food, love, heartworm meds, and training, but not every one can be saved. Most however, can be bathed, and without those baths, I could do none of this... I wasn't being sarcastic, and I see no reason to go ballistic.