Scales Beat Fur, Hands Down

There's nothing wrong with a fish, or a snake, or a hermit crab or turtle, but they don't love you back. You may really want a dog or a cat…or even a rabbit. If you're allergic, it's a serious trade-off.

Fifteen to thirty percent of people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. Cat allergies are about twice as common as dog allergies.

People tend to think it's the fur that's the problem, but it's not. It's the dander (dead skin that is shed), the outdoor allergens that cling to fur, and the proteins in animal saliva and urine that are the problems.

Many airborne particles are small enough to get into the lungs. When they are inhaled, the allergens combine with antibodies. This can cause severe breathing problems.

So, it's best to remove the furry creatures and settle for the scaly ones. Having said that, how do you live with them when, for one reason or another, you can't bear to get rid of them? The Allergy & Asthma Center recommends the following:

1. Keep your pet out of your bedroom at all times.
2. Isolate your pet to one or two rooms if possible. Consider a HEPA air filter for the bedroom or the room the pet occupies.
3. Vacuum your home at least once a week and air the house out. This is extremely important. Wear a special mask, for example, the 3M Company #8500 mask.
4. After vacuuming, you must air out the house, even if you vacuum only one room. Two methods for airing out your home:

A. Passive method: Choose an afternoon when you are sure the temperature is above freezing, turn off the heat, open the windows, and allow your home to air out for one and one-half hours. The disadvantage of this method is that your home is colder longer than if you use the active method, below.

B. Active method: Choose an afternoon when you are sure the temperature
Is above freezing. If there is a fire in a wood burning stove or fireplace it should be extinguished and the flue closed before starting this procedure. It is also best not to be cooking while airing out the house. (If you heat your home with a furnace, stove, or fireplace that is not sealed, and the fire's air source is the air from your home, these instructions do not apply. Use the passive method.)

The active method will efficiently air out your home without too much cooling. It will also help you deal with another big allergen, dust mites.

Please follow these steps:

1. Install a fan in a window or attic to exhaust the air.
2. If you personally vacuum clean your home, don't forget to use a mask. After cleaning, open a window where the fan is not located. Then open the window where the fan is located and turn the fan on.
3. Go to another room and open a window and then return to the room where you first opened a window and close it. Continue to do this in a consecutive fashion until you have done each room.
4. Leave the last window open, and go back and turn the fan off and close the window. Return to the last room and close the window.

Advantage: Less home energy loss and house warms to a comfortable temperature faster than when you use the passive method.

Obviously this procedure is not easy and it is time-consuming. Is it worth it to reduce dust mites, dander and suffering? Only you can answer that.

5. If you have answered yes, then you must also brush your pet outside once a week, using rubber gloves, or have someone who is not allergic brush him.
6. Wash your pet once a month, using a specially formulated pet shampoo.
7. Wash your hands after each direct contact.
8. Use a pet roller to remove dander and hair.
9. Come see us at Allergy & Asthma Center for more help. Find Us Fast

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