Pets produce dander, and the protein in it can cause severe allergic reactions for some people. Pet dander can easily become airborne and inhaled. Unfortunately, it is also very sticky and can cause allergic reactions for long periods of time (up to 20 weeks). If you share your home with a pet, you will find everything here that you'll need to know in order to go about creating a healthy indoor environment that will be beneficial to controlling both your, and your pet's, allergy symptoms. FAQ about Pet Dander: What is pet dander? What health problems does pet dander cause? How does pet dander cause an allergic reaction? What is cat allergen? What is dog allergen? Do hypoallergenic dogs really exist? How do I avoid pet dander? Pet dander is the name given to microscopic skin flakes shed by animals. It is a bit like dandruff flakes, only smaller at around 2-3 microns in size. Animals shed a number of allergenic proteins in their urine, sweat and saliva. These body fluids adhere to the skin life for example when a cat cleans itself.

Cat dander is the most common inhaled allergen source after house dust mite and pollen. Other animals commonly kept as pets, such as dogs, mice and guinea pigs, may also cause allergic reactions. Pet allergens are widely distributed in the air, because they are so light, and they remain airborne for several hours before settling (only to be easily stirred up again). Indeed, they may persist for many months after an animal has left a house. The best way of avoiding pet dander is obviously to not have a pet. If you have a pet and are determined to keep it, then there are still various measures you can take to cut down on pet allergen exposure, from controlling the animal's access to certain rooms to using an effective air purifier to trap dander particles. Pet allergies are known to play a role in: People with atopy, a tendency to allergy, should avoid owning pets if possible. Even if you are not allergic to the pet at present, continued exposure could eventually cause sensitisation, leading to allergic symptoms.

In an allergic person, exposure to certain proteins in animal dander will cause the immune system to over-react and cause an over production of Immunoglobulin E (IgE). how to clean indoor air conditioner coilsThe IgE attaches itself to mast cells, which are a type of immune cell, causing them to produce the chemical histamine. air purifier hospitals useIt is the histamine which causes allergic symptoms like swelling, redness, watery eyes, coughs and sneezing and also why the main drugs for allergy are called anti-histamines.spray foam car cleaner Pet dander is very sticky and stays on people’s hair, clothes and other belongings for long periods of time, and thus travels to offices, kindergartens, planes etc. These animals can all cause pet allergy:

Male cats shed more allergen than females, and cats shed more allergen than dogs. Horses produce very powerful allergens and old mattresses stuffed with horsehair can produce symptoms. Snakes, lizards and other reptiles, and even insects, may shed dander-like skin particles into the air. Fish are perhaps the only companion animals not associated with allergy. Four main cat allergens have been identified and studied. The two main ones are Fel d1 and Fel d4 (Fel stands for Felis – the scientific name for cat). Fel d1 is found in a cat's sweat and Fel d4 in its saliva. The minor allergens are Fel d2 and Fel d3 found elsewhere such as urine. The two main dog allergens are Can f1 and Can f2 which are found in dog saliva. Can stands for Canis the scientific name for dog. The dog genome does not, as far as we know, vary so much between species that some have lower allergen levels than others. Therefore, all dog species produce the same amount of allergen in their secretions.

Any differences probably relate to the length of the dog's coat and how much hair it sheds, or maybe how much it sweats. There are around 60 breeds of dog that are said to be hypoallergenic - generally, as you might expect, those which are hairless or have short coats and therefore do not shed as much. Examples include various breeds of terrier and US President Obama's dog (Bo, The First Dog) who is a Portuguese water dog, because one of his daughters is allergic. A recent research study looked at the amount of allergen shed by different dog species and found that hypoallergenic dogs do not shed significantly less allergen than other breeds. To learn more about dog allergies visit our Dog Allergy Information page. All allergen avoidance / environmental allergen control is important. The following guidelines should help: What you should know about Animal Dander? What is animal dander?Animal dander is not the hair or fur of the animal, but is old skin scales which are constantly shed.

Older animals produce more dander than young ones because their skin is drier. Animal dander is extremely light weight and tiny in size, (approx. 2.5 microns) and can stay airborne for hours. (1 micron = 1/25,000 in.) Are skin flakes the only source of animal allergens?No, the primary cat allergen, Felis domesticus allergen I, is a glycoprotein found in the sebaceous glands of the cat's hair roots and in their sublingual salivary glands. It is also present in the urine of male cats. How does animal dander become airborne?During grooming the allergen from the sebaceous glands is deposited with the saliva on the cat's fur. When it dries, it flakes off and is released into the air. Why do I have symptoms even when I am not near the cat?Cat dander sticks to our clothing and personal belongings and is easily transported wherever we go. This is why cat dander has been found in schools and offices where an animal has never lived. Its ability to remain airborne and to permeate every area of the house makes it extremely hard to control.

Can birds produce dander?Yes, birds produce a feather dust which can cause allergic reactions. The larger the bird the more dander is produced. What about rabbits and guinea pigs?Any furred or feathered animal is a potential source of animal allergens. The saliva and urine contain the proteins that cause reactions. What are ways to reduce my exposure to animal dander? Wash pets with pet shampoo and then clean ALL surfaces thoroughly with a damp cloth or mop. Use a vacuum cleaner with a High Efficiency Air Filter to trap the tiny particles of animal allergen. The water vacuums are not effective on animal dander. Studies have show they actually increase dander levels when in use. Bathe the animal weekly with Allerpet, a shampoo/ conditioner. Studies have shown this product can decrease the amount of dander in settled dust by nearly 50% It is available for cats, dogs, and birds. If the pet can't be removed from the house, at least keep it out of your bedroom.