How Are Cat Allergies Treated
Cat allergies can usually be controlled with standard allergy drugs. Your doctor might recommend:
- Antihistamines, which are available over-the-counter — like cetirizine , diphenhydramine , fexofenadine , and loratadine ; or some antihistamines such as azelastine come in a nasal spray
- , like over-the-counterÂ;pseudoephedrine or allergy drugs that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine such as Allegra-D, Claritin-D, or Zyrtec-D
Nasal steroid sprays, which affect allergy or asthma symptoms in various ways;Â;steroid sprays are a common treatment for allergies. Budesonide , fluticasone , and triamcinolone are steroid sprays that are available over the counter.
Allergy shots are another option. Allergy shots are not always effective, and completing treatment can take years. They’re also not usedÂ;for children under age 5. But they can be a huge help to some people. Ask your doctor if they make sense for you.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent an allergy. Some studies have shown that exposure to pets as a young child seems to reduce the risk of developing pet allergies later. On the other hand, a child who already has allergic tendencies may get worse with exposure to a pet.
How Do You Get Rid Of Animal Dander
If pet dander is so easily spread, how do you get rid of it? You can get rid of pet dander by grooming the pet to reduce the amount of dander produced, vacuuming frequently, using a HEPA air filter, use anti-allergen sprays, and limiting where the pet goes.
First, brush your pet regularly to remove dead skin cells and fur. Ideally, brush the pet outside. If you are highly allergic, wear a mask while you groom the pet.
Resist the temptation to frequently wash the animal. The more you wash, the greater the chances you will dry out the animals skin. Dry skin flakes more easily. So, frequent washing can actually make the situation worse.
Better instead to wipe the pet down between washes with wipes made for pet grooming or apply a coat conditioner like;Allerpet;Pet Solutions;to remove loose dander. As a bonus, Allerpet also conditions, which can slow down the shedding process.;
There’s nothing more upsetting than to hear people say they have to get rid of cats because so and so is allergic. Well, it’s b.s. actually because if they’d do some research they will see there are some possible solutions to the problem.
Yes, once a week you have to wipe pets down with the Allerpet, spray ADMS spray on furniture, bedding, pets bedding, etc., and sweep regularly to pick up the hair.;
“I’ve been using this stuff for years and years. I’ve never had a problem with people coming over to house that’s allergic to cats/dogs ever, ever have a reaction.”Rural.Life;;
Wishing you the best of health
Things To Know About Pet Dander
I know you may be wondering what exactly is dander? Specifically pet dander. Well, pet dander is just a fancy term for describing the process animals go through of shedding dead skin cells off their bodies. Basically, new cells are continually being generated in the lower portion of the epidermis. Thus, the new cells slowly force their way to the surface, resulting in the releasing of dead skin cells into the air. This growth phase can last anywhere from 21 days to as short as 3 days. So just imagine the amount of pet dander you could have in your homes air! Pet dander is just one of the potential causes of cat allergies. If you are not sure if you are one of the 10% of people who are allergic to cats below are some of the common symptoms of those with cat allergies.
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How Do I Remove Pet Dander From My Home
There are plenty of ways you could get rid of pet dander in your home. Some are very straightforward while others require regular cleaning for it to work. Unfortunately, the best way to make your home complete dander-free is to part ways with your cat or dog. Cruel it may seem, but thats the most dependable way to stop the source of the pet dander.
If that is not an option, here are ways you could do keep airborne pet dander at a minimum level.
An estimated 5-10 percent of Americans are allergic to pet dander. Pet dander is excessive skin flakes that shed from animals fur or feathers . Hidden inside shed hair, the tiny skin cells vary in size between 5 microns down to 2.5 microns or smaller. In a household, cat dander is the biggest culprit to allergies follow by dog dander.
When a person is having an allergic reaction, it is the proteins from the hair that is aggravating the allergy, not pet dander. Our immune system will mistake the protein as harmful allergens and start producing antibodies as part of the reactions. This will result in a person experiencing symptoms such as sneezing, skin rash, and headache.
How Long Does Pet Dander Stay In A House
Pets are the most loveable friends in our lives. But did you know pet dander can lead to serious pet allergies? According to research, 10-20% of the world population suffer from dog and cat allergies and these are significant health concerns.
Did you know that more than 90% of abodes tests are positive for pet allergens in the U.S , even in pet-free houses? This tells us how fast pet dander can spread and stay for a long time.
Usually, pet dander stays in the house for 4-6 months even if the place is pet-free.
If you are allergic to pets, then exposure to pet dander can cause serious problems, including sneezing, chronic coughing, difficulty breathing, or experiencing itchy eyes. And the fact is that pet dander is pretty hard to get rid of.;
The side effects of pet dander are sometimes serious, and the fact that acute asthma of a dog allergic adult costs up to $500 million to $1 billion per year tells us how expensive the disease is.
Even if you dont have pets and have moved into a home where pets used to live, there is a good chance that you are still housing pet dander that can trigger your allergies.
Because truth be told, there are no hypoallergenic pets. All cats and dogs produce pet dander, and no, the pet dander is not directly related to pet hair or fur. But before discussing how to get rid of pet dander in the house, lets take a look at what pet dander actually is?
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How Do Pet Allergens Occur
Pet allergens are very light weight and small. They remain suspended in the air for a long time, much longer than allergens from cockroaches or dust mites. Because of their microscopic size and jagged shape, pet allergens easily stick to furniture, bedding, fabrics and many items carried into and out of the home. Animal dander is easily spread through the home and out to public places like schools and hospitals. 1 They can be found even in homes and buildings without pets. 1
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How Long Does Cat Dander Remain In A Home After The Cats Are Gone
For homes with sensitive individuals, the best way to protect indoor air quality is to remove the animal from the home. However, pet allergens may stay in the home for months after the pet is gone because the allergens remain in house dust. Allergy and asthma symptoms may take weeks or even months to improve.
How To Remove Cat Dander When House Cleaning
Related Articles
Pet ownership has many wonderful benefits, but exposure to cat dander can lead to a variety of health problems for allergy sufferers. Whether you’ve recently moved into a home where a cat lived or you’re trying to manage symptoms caused by a beloved household pet, the best way to feel better is to eliminate dander from your surrounding environment. A few simple techniques help remove cat dander during house cleaning for healthier, happier living.
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Reducing Exposure To Cats
While medical treatment can help control cat allergies, the best approach is simple: avoid cats and their dander. Here are some tips.
- Don’t touch, hug, or kiss cats. It should be obvious, but some people think a little cat contact is OK. It isn’t.
- Beware of visitors who own cats. Even if your house guests leave their cats at home, they can bring the dander with them on their clothing and luggage. This indirect exposure can cause serious cat allergy symptoms in some people.
- Plan. If you have to stay in a house with cats, ask that the cat be kept out of the room in which you will sleep for a few weeks before you arrive. Also, start taking allergy medication a few weeks beforehand. Once an allergic reaction gets started, it can be tough to control. But taking medicine can prevent it from happening in the first place.
But what if you already own a cat? Here’s the most sensible advice: if you or a family member has cat allergies, you shouldn’t have a cat in the home.
Of course, such harsh advice may not be easy to follow. What if your kids have already fallen in love with a kitten? What if you intended to never, ever part with your cat? If the cat has to stay, there are other things you can try.
While these techniques might help, they may not be enough. As hard as it might be, if keeping your cat is putting your health — or a family member’s health — at risk, you have to consider giving it up.
What Is Cat Allergen
Direct contact with cats may produce various allergic symptoms.; For example, hives may occur when a cat licks an individuals skin.; Cat allergen may also be rubbed on ones eyes or nose after petting or holding a cat.; This is a common, but often ignored, source of significant exposure.The most important route of exposure results from breathing of airborne cat allergen.; This allows deposition of large quantities of allergen in both the upper and lower airways.; The most important determinants of an allergic reaction to a cat are the amount of airborne allergen in the immediate environment, and an individuals sensitivity to the allergen.An allergen is a material which is capable of provoking an allergic reaction .Cat allergen, the allergy causing material from cats, is not cat hair, but rather a protein present in the dander and saliva of cats.; These allergens become airborne as microscopic particles, which when inhaled into the nose or lungs can produce allergic symptoms.
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How To Get Rid Of Cat Dander
While you cant stop the normal turnover of skin cells in a cats body , there are ways to reduce the amount of dander that your cat sheds into your home.
One of the easiest things to remove dander from your cat is groom your cat. Grooming removes excess dander and other pollens and allergens that might cause you to have allergic reactions as well.
Bathing your cat regularly can help to reduce the amount of dander in your environment.
And while you may cringe at giving your cat a bath, bathing once a week or once every other week is the best way to reduce cat dander for allergy-sufferers. If you can, start bathing your cat when he or she is a kitten so that your cat is used to it.
Use luke-warm water, a dime-sized amount of mild unscented shampoo, and keep water off your cats head and out of eyes, nose, and ears. Do not use hot water or cold water because nobody likes that, and dont use scented shampoo because it can be very irritating to your cats eyes and nose.
Do not bathe more often than once a week because excessive bathing can dry the skin out, which can lead to dandruff.
Here are some more bathing tips if you need them:
If your cat hates the bath, then you can try grooming your cat without a bath. Instead, try wiping your cat down with a damp cloth or an unscented baby wipe.
You can also apply dander removal lotion to the cloth. Brushing also removes dander, and you should brush your can two to three times a week to remove dander from the fur.
How Does A Doctor Diagnose A Pet Allergy
Your doctor will diagnose a pet allergy based on your symptoms, physical examination, medical history and test results. Your doctor can use either a blood test or skin test to aid in the diagnosis. Allergy testing will show if there is allergic sensitization to the animal.
Some people find it hard to believe that they could be allergic to their pets. The doctor may tell you to stay out of the home where the pet lives to see if your symptoms go away. It does not help to remove the dog or cat, because the allergen will remain. Pet allergens still in the home can cause symptoms months after the animal is gone.
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Be Diligent To Control Allergies
Cleaning pet dander is an endless battle that is never truly won. To help minimize allergic reactions, remember to take your allergy medication and keep a few areas in your house, such as your bedroom, as a cat-free zone. Keeping up with your cleaning routine, and the cat’s grooming routine is generally effective to keep dander at bay.
Cat Allergies: Symptoms And Treatment
7 mins readIn about 15 to 20 minutes, long process, A positive cat allergy will usually cause aThe benefits outweigh the risks for sure, Thus, or other common allergens for your geographical region, As many as 29 percent of asthma cases could be linked to cat allergens.Cat allergy is the most common animal allergy, and
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Quick And Effective Tips To Remove Pet Dander
As we mentioned, pets with fur or feathers tend to shed dander and allergens. Unfortunately, with pets, you cannot get rid of dander completely. But here are some quick fixes to help reduce pet dander.
;;; Steam clean: cleaning carpets, furniture, and curtains might help remove pet dander. Steam cleaning the floors also helps clean them deeply. You can also use a sticky lint roller to quickly remove pet dander from any type of surface.
;;; Bath your pet regularly: when you bath a pet, the extra fur or skin flecks will get flushed down the drain.
;;; Get a good air purifier: many pet owners think air purifiers are overrated, but that is not true. A HEPA filter can genuinely change your life and filter the pet dander from your homes air. A good pet air purifier will drastically change the quality of your life by helping you breathe and sleep better. It also helps keep the particular pet odor at bay.;
;;; Get professional help: if nothing helps and your allergies are getting worse, you need to get the air ducts cleaned by professionals. A professional air duct cleaning service will remove dander built-up and thoroughly clean the air ducts from allergens. This means removing any, and all types of pet dander from everywhere.;
Best Way To Get Rid Of Pet Dander
If you have pets in your home that are constantly exacerbating and triggering your allergy and/or asthma symptoms, it can feel like you are fighting a never-ending losing battle. You cant get rid of your pet, nor would you want to, but the allergic symptoms are becoming too much to bear. What can you do? Well, thankfully there are solutions that you can incorporate into your environment that will help to overall minimize pet dander in the environment which will help your growing health issues. The best ways to get rid of pet dander in your home are as follows;
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What Is Cat Dander And How Does It Affect Allergies
Dander refers to the minute particles of dead skin that are constantly being shed from your cat .
Dander and allergies:
The actual cause of allergies is a protein known as Fel D1 which is produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin and is also present in your cats saliva and to a lesser degree in the urine. Your cat is constantly shedding minute particles of dander containing the Fel D1 protein and also transferring the same protein via the saliva to his fur when he grooms himself, which is also constantly being shed.
Due to the minute nature of dander, it can remain airborne for several hours after it is shed into the environment, after which it settles on walls, carpets, furniture etc. Cat dander can be found even in places where cats havent been such as schools and other public buildings. The main reservoirs of cat dander in the home are carpets, soft furnishings such as sofas and bedding. We then breathe in these particles through the nose and mouth, leading to an allergic reaction to susceptible individuals.
Studies suggest that up to 50% of people suffering from cat allergies have never owned a cat. Allergies dont develop the first time you encounter the allergen, it takes time for a reaction to build up. Often people have owned a cat for several years before they develop an allergy.