Most people think that it is because of animal hair that some people are allergic to animals especially domesticated ones like cats and dogs. This, however, is a misconception. Before you can attain pet allergy relief, you must first understand why you are allergic to pets and what makes you allergic.

Who is the culprit?

While animal hair can indeed cause allergic reactions, people are not just allergic to that. There are a host of other allergens that animals emit or produce that can trigger allergic reactions.

Cats, for example, produce in their saliva a protein that some humans are allergic from. The protein allergen can also be found in their skin, prompting many to believe that it is the hair that causes the allergic reaction. The proteins are also transferred to the hair when cats groom and lick their bodies. When these hair strands fall off and floats in the air, the respiratory tract is affected, thus triggering the reaction. When inhaled, the allergen can cause sneezing, watery and itching eyes, hives, coughing and constricting of bronchial tubes.

Female cats for example secrete less of this protein in their saliva. Protein levels can go down in male cats if they are neutered. This is because the saliva is produced by the hormone testosterone in male cats.

Carrier of allergens
It is also not always the animal’s fault. Notice sometimes when you seem to be allergic to them? This is probably because you are allergic to the substances and miniscule organisms that cling to their hair. Examples of these substances are dust, dander or old skin cells. dust mites and molds. It is then important to bathe your pets as often as possible to keep them clean and to prevent allergic reaction episodes that may be hard to relieve.

7 Tips For Pet Allergic Relief

1. The best method for pet allergy relief is avoidance. If you cannot afford to not have a pet, then compromise and only allow the pets within certain areas of the house.

2. As much as possible, do not let your cat or dog stay in your room. Not only will they bring in dust mites and molds into your room, they can also get dead skin fibers which can cling to their hairs.

3. To attain maximum pet allergy relief, considering using vacuum to help you get rid of hair that are lying in different corners of the house.

4. Keep them off upholstered furniture or rags because they can easily leave off dander and dust mites in those kinds of materials.

5. Use room purifiers. Some come in the form of machines while others as spray. Popular brands of air purifiers are Taskmaster, Panasonic, Delonghi, Lightning Air or Surround Air.

6. If you are grooming your pet, make sure that you wear protecting gloves. This will help you from accidentally inhaling or ingesting the allergen when you touch your face or run your hand through your own hair.

7. Have the clothing that you worn when you were playing or grooming your pet to the laundry. Our clothes will often have traces of animal dander which ca trigger you allergic reaction. Keep it also away from your bedroom especially the sheets. This will prevent the allergens from being transferred to the place where you sleep.