Understanding PET ALLERGY
Pet allergen, the allergy-causing material from dogs and cats, is not actually the pet hair but instead a protein present in the dander (made up of flaky skin cells and dried saliva) that triggers allergic reactions. Unfortunately, all dogs and cats produce dander and none are hypo-allergenic. Some may produce less dander and allergic individuals may be more sensitive to some breeds than others. Allergic reactions to pets range from inflammation of the nose and eyes to asthma attacks. Although steps can be taken within the home to decrease one’s exposure to pet dander, the most effective treatment is finding a new home for the pet.
Allergy Alert! Your Improving Life Indoors Allergy Education
Animal Allergens: Under the Microscope
Pet dander particles are particularly sticky and easily stick to clothing or soft materials such as carpets, bedding and furniture. Because of high area of exposure to these allergens, it may be impossible to escape from this allergy trigger. If pet allergies are serious enough to threaten your health, it may not be enough to take allergen avoidance steps and a new home may be necessary for your pet.
Pet Allergens: Where Are You at Risk?
Cat allergen is present to the greatest extent in homes with cats, however, these allergens can be found in places where cats have not been allowed. Pet dander can travel on clothing to public spaces, such as offices and schools, and this dander can remain allergenic for long periods of time. It can take as long as 20 weeks for pet dander to reduce to the point where it no longer triggers allergies.
What Allergen Avoidance Steps are Important for Pet Allergies?
If a new home has to be found for your pet, you’ll take the difficult yet most effective step toward dealing with pet allergies. Ridding the home of pet dander will require thorough cleaning, but the process will reduce your exposure more quickly. These steps can be as simple as cleaning walls and surfaces and encasing the bed to removing carpets. If finding a new home for the pet is not feasible, the pet should be strictly kept out of the allergic individual’s bedroom. Listed at right are important allergen avoidance steps that should be taken to reduce exposure to pet allergens, whether the pet is in the home or not.
Allergen Avoidance Action Steps: PET ALLERGY
-
Don’t allow the pet in the allergic individual’s bedroom.
To keep exposure down, keep the pet out of the bedroom.
Minimize exposure to the pet and wash hands and clothing after contact.
-
Use encasings on the bed.
Soft furnishings and bedding are reservoirs for allergens. Encasing the pillow, mattress, box spring and comforter provides a barrier to the allergens built up in the bedding. Allergy Control® encasings such as Pristine® COMPLETE block both dust mite and pet allergens.
-
-
Remove or treat carpets.
Removing carpet will eliminate a large allergen source. If the carpet cannot be removed, vacuum thoroughly and apply a carpet treatment to denature allergens.
-
Clean with a HEPA filtration vacuum.
HEPA vacuums, with high filtration bags to contain tiny pet allergen particles, should be used to keep allergens from blowing through the exhaust.
- Clean walls and surfaces to remove allergens that stick to vertical surfaces.
- Use filter media over vents in bedroom.
Filter media, placed over the vents in the allergic individual’s bedroom, can help keep allergens from entering the room.
Trap pet dander from circulating throughout the vent system with central furnace filters.
-
Use a HEPA air cleaner to trap airborne pet allergens.
Cat allergen particles are particularly small (1/10 the size of dust mite allergen) and, therefore, remain airborne for prolonged periods of time. HEPA air cleaners are especially useful for capturing these particles.
-
-