Dog Dander Can Make You Sick

The total pet population is more than 100 million, or about four pets for every 10 people. Based on pet allergy sufferers' testimonials, it is possible to be allergic to all dogs or only to certain breeds.

People with dog allergies have supersensitive immune systems that react to harmless proteins in dog dander, saliva, or urine. In other words, your immune system mistakenly identifies this protein as something that could harm you. When you inhale the allergen or come into contact with it, your immune system responds and produces an inflammatory response in your nasal passages or lungs. These allergy-producing proteins can cause nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, skin rashes, headaches, fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and serious asthma attacks.

What is Dog Dander?

Dog dander is made up of the loose flaky dead skin that dogs shed on a continual basis. Dander collects on fur and other surfaces, and can typically be found in all kinds of environments. The amount of dander a dog produces depends on his diet, his grooming, and the amount of hair that he sheds. These proteins will not lose their strength for a long time, sometimes for several months. They appear to be sticky and adhere to walls, clothing and other surfaces. Dog dander can even enter a home on a visitor’s clothing. Petting or grooming your dog makes the dander airbo
e. Once the allergens are airbo
e they can remain in the air for long periods of time.

Allergy to Dog Dander Diagnosed

Here's a tip from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: "To test the effect of household pets on your quality of life, remove them from your home for at least two months and clean thoroughly every week. After two months, if you still want pets, bring a pet into the house. Measure the change in your symptoms, then decide if the change in your symptoms is worth keeping the pet."

Once you can admit that your best friend might be causing you discomfort, your immunologist can take blood tests to prove it.

Fight Dog Dander

· Bar your dog from your bedroom, and clean it aggressively.

· A Central HEPA air cleaner is ideal, but portable room air cleaners also work.

· Keep your dog's skin healthy with a good diet, anti-allergen dog dander products, and good grooming. Dermatitis often causes accelerated skin cell shedding.

· Cover your leather furniture with sheets to help prevent dog dander deposits on them, and wash them frequently.

· Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to clean all surfaces.

· Open the windows occasionally to let the airbo
e pet allergens air out.

· Change your clothes after petting your dog, and throw these clothes directly into the laundry hamper.

· Dressing your dog in clothes will decrease the amount of dog dander that becomes airbo
e.

· Keep your car seats dander free by covering them with a sheet. Wash with every use.

· Wear a mask and clean, clean, clean.

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Sources:

http://www.ehow.com/facts_6060225_dog-dander_.html#ixzz0qx3AkvN1

http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=18&cont=236