Control dog dander with a few easy techniques. If your dog buddy is in the house, so is her dander. Dander is the normal, dry skin flakes you and your pets constantly shed. If you have a dog allergy, dander is the main culprit. You can't prevent dander, but there are ways to control it in your home. Items you will need Step 1Brush your dog daily with a soft brush to reduce shedding of dander. Brushing will distribute natural oils through the coat, and remove some of the shed dander caught in the fur. Take your dog outside to brush her. Dander can become airborne and hang in the air for hours. If you are allergic, wear a dust mask when you brush your dog, or have someone who isn't allergic brush her. Step 2Spray a commercial allergy spray on your dog to help reduce dander shedding. Look for sprays that can also be safely used on bedding, carpet and furniture to help reduce dander. You can find allergy sprays at your local pet store. Step 3Keep your dog on a good, balanced diet. Feed a diet that contains omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids, which promote good skin and coat health.

Ensure your dog has constant access to clean, fresh water. Proper hydration is essential for your dog's overall well-being and comfort, and for maintaining a healthy skin and coat. Step 4Bathe your dog as needed to reduce pet dander and other allergens she may bring into the house, but be aware that bathing removes natural oils from a dog's coat, and too-frequent bathing may cause skin problems. compressed air cleaner for laptopConsult your veterinarian about how frequently you can routinely bathe your buddy. do air purifiers release ozoneUse a dog shampoo specifically designed to reduce dander, and follow directions on the label. air vent cleaning diyBe certain to remove all traces of shampoo after lathering. After bathing, towel-dry your dog and apply a lotion designed to add moisture back to a dog's skin.

Step 5Place some air purifiers throughout your home to eliminate dog dander from the air. Airborne pet dander can be inhaled and cause dog allergy symptoms in you and susceptible family members. Air purifiers will help reduce dog dander throughout your home, as well as remove other possible allergens, such as dust, molds and pollens, from the air. MORE MUST-CLICKS: Do Dachshunds Get Bloated? Cedar Mulch & Dogs Hair Loss in Poodles Allergy Relief for a Bullmastiff How Toxic Are Geraniums to Dogs? Samoyeds & Bloat Dalmatian Diseases Caring for a Pregnant French Bulldog What Does It Mean When Dogs Stare at a Wall & Growl? Border Collie Hip ProblemsA constant question heard at Red Door: "My husband [or wife or child] has allergies. Do we have to give up our pet?" The answer is, "Definitely not." There are now many ways for people with allergies to live healthy lives with their animals. It is no longer necessary to give up your animals because of allergies. Unfortunately, most people with allergies react to many different things - dust, pollen, mold, and pet dander, to name just a few.

Eliminating just one of these allergens will not necessarily solve your allergy and/or breathing problems. Here are a few suggestions to help you and your animals stay together - and to breathe easier. These suggestions will help with all air-borne allergies. Having allergic reactions to your pet rabbits? True allergies to rabbits are extremely rare. Most often, people are reacting to the rabbit's hay, not the animal itself. Here are some rabbit-specific suggestions: Again, most people with allergies are allergic to many different things. You do not have to give up your animals because of allergies. Having a child with allergies—even allergies to cats and dogs—does not mean that the family must give up the household pets. In fact, new studies show that children's health may be better off growing up with animals rather than being isolated from them. Recent studies now indicate that children who live with pets from birth on may develop less severe allergies than children who are isolated from animals in their early years.

Consult with your child's allergist or pediatrician. Zyrtec, a prescription drug for allergies, can be prescribed for children as young as 2 years old.Dr. Low Dog is an internationally recognized expert in the field of herbal medicine and integrative approaches to women’s health. She is currently the Fellowship Director at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center. Allergies–they can be debilitating for the approximately 50 million Americans that suffer from them. If you’re looking for relief from your symptoms, whether they’re caused by cat dander or tree pollen, take some advice from Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, MD, and member of Pharmaca’s Integrative Health Advisory Board. Avoid or remove the allergens. When the pollen counts are high, “keep the doors and windows closed, and limit outdoor activity.” Dr. Low Dog says you might feel weird wearing a mask to do yardwork, but it’s vital if it means the difference between an allergy–or even an asthma–attack.

In addition, Dr. Low Dog strongly urges allergy-sufferers to get rid of things that collect dust, dander and other allergens in your house, such as throw pillows, thick carpeting and drapes. “How often do you get drapes cleaned?” she asks. Invest in a vacuum with a HEPA filter and, of course, wash your hands frequently and take off pollen-filled clothes as soon as you get in the house. Indoor air filters can also be very useful, says Dr. Low Dog. “Houses with forced air heating and air conditioning can spread allergens throughout the house,” she says. “Putting a HEPA filter into that central unit can help remove a lot of those allergens.” You can also try a stand-alone air purifier in the allergy-sufferer’s bedroom, which Dr. Low Dog recommends running at least four hours per day. The highest-quality purifiers will have the UL seal and FDA approval, she says. Finally, Dr. Low Dog strongly recommends a saline nasal rinse. “It helps to keep the mucus thin and get rid of the pollen that’s in your nose,” she says.

“It also relieves dryness, which is important–when you get cracks in the nasal mucosa it can increase the chance of infections.” Nasal rinses can be easy and inexpensive, too. Just add 1/8 tsp of iodine-free salt to 8 oz of warm water, along with a pinch of baking soda to neutralize the pH. She recommends using a neti pot, or a bulb syringe, to apply the rinse. Boost your allergy response with vitamins and supplements. Dr. Low Dog recommends getting several small doses of vitamin C each day, along with essential fatty acids from fish oil and flaxseed. “I also recommend freeze-dried stinging nettles. I like the Eclectic Institute brand, which was part of a clinical trial,” says Dr. Low Dog. “And I like butterbur, which has been shown in several trials to be as beneficial as a non-sedating antihistamine. Make sure you use a brand that is free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that can be toxic to the liver.” She recommends taking the nettles or butterbur at the beginning of hayfever season.

Try over-the-counter or prescription solutions. “Non-sedating antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin can be useful,” says Dr. Low Dog. “I tell people that if they know they’re going to be outside on a high pollen day, take one a few hours before going out. You’ll get the short-acting effect without it making you sleepy.” Benadryl, on the other hand, should be reserved for quelling attacks, since it almost always induces drowsiness. Another option is a prescription nasal steroid, ideal for patients who with severe nasal allergy symptoms that do not respond to other measures. “They offer localized relief without necessitating a medication that affects the whole body,” says Dr. Low Dog.“I am a firm believer that reducing inflammation in the body is key,” says Dr. Low Dog. “Watch for food sensitivities and allergies, and do things to restore gut health.” She often recommends taking bitters (such as Angostura Bitters, one tbsp in 4 ounces water or Gallexier by Floradix) before a meal to help prime the digestive tract, along with a multi-strain probiotic.