From "Allergic to Pets?" by Shirlee Kalstone, Bantam Dell 2006

ABOUT PETS AND ALLERGIES

More than 30 million Americans have serious allergies, and 25 million Americans have asthma; approximately 30 percent of them are allergic to their pets.  Most physicians advise them to give up their pets, but only one in five do­ and most obtained another pet after a previous one had died. According to Dr. Wood, director of the John Hopkins University School of medicine, “There are no convincing studies demonstrating the direct clinical benefits of removing an animal from the home; it doesn’t eliminate the pet-related asthma or allergy symptoms.  Most people need only minimize allergens through precautions.” 

Many people can live comfortably with their pet from years of natural desensitization, but have allergies to other people’s pets.  Studies have shown that persistent exposure to high levels of dog and cat allergens can have a protective effect against developing allergies.  The longer children kept cats and dogs when they were young, the lower the incidence of developing allergies to these animals.  80 Percent of people allergic to cats never had a cat at home.  This is why we must encourage people to consider ignoring their physicians’ advice and keep the family pet!

WHAT IS AN ALLERGY?

An allergy is a hypersensitivity or abnormal reaction to something that is ordinarily harmless to most people.  Allergies can be inherited.  If one parent has allergies, a child has a 20-40 percent chance of developing sensitivities; if both parents are allergic, a 40-60 percent chance.  Young boys are more likely to suffer allergies than young girls, but the pattern reverses itself in adulthood to affect women more than men.  Anything that can cause the immune system to react is called an allergen (or antigen).  Allergens can be inhaled, ingested, inflicted by vaccines, medicines and insect stings, or come in contact with our skin.

PET ALLERGIES – SURPRISING TRUTH

People are not allergic to the fur, hair or feathers of pets; they can be sensitive to the dander, saliva and urine.  There is no pet or breed of pet which won’t cause allergies; however, there are some generalities:

• People are much more likely to be allergic to a cat or a rabbit than to a dog.  This is because cats and rabbits are very clean animals and spend much time licking and grooming themselves, and many people are allergic to the saliva.  A December 2000 issue of the Journal of the AMA said that cats with dark coats provoke more allergic reactions than ones with lighter-colored coats.  A dark colored cat was six times more likely to cause an allergic reaction.
• How much a dog sheds doesn’t seem to affect allergies significantly, since people aren’t allergic to the hair or fur; however double-coated dogs seem to have excessive allergens, and therefore cause more allergies (Akitas, Collies, German Shepherds, Samoyeds, and Shetland Sheepdogs).  Some dogs are known to have less dander and therefore cause fewer allergies:  Poodles, Bichon Frises, Maltese, Kerry Blue, Bedlington and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers and Portuguese Water Dogs (dogs with soft, silky, or curly single coats).  Baby animals may cause more allergies due to the saliva from their mother’s licking and from increased urine on their skin.
• In general a neutered male pet produces fewer allergens than an intact male or a female (male hormones can produce more allergens).
• Some birds cause more allergies than others; some members of the psittacine family have a very small or absent preening or oil gland, so their feathers produce a significant amount of powder allergens (Cockatoos, Cockatiels, African Grays and Pigeons).
• A protein in urine (especially in males) can cause allergies to mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, rabbits and ferrets.
• Horses are extremely allergenic animals­mainly from their dander and urine; the sweating of their skin also aggravates many allergies.

Minimizing allergic reactions to your pets

• Weekly, wipe your pet down with an allergy relief solution (Allerpet, Dander-Off or AllerFree). 
• Weekly brushing and bathing of your pet can reduce the allergens (the dander, urine and saliva)  by as much as 85 percent. Do not bathe rabbits - the stress can literally kill them; wipe them weekly with a product like Allerpet.
• Wash your hands immediately after direct contact with your pet.
• Cages should be cleaned at least once a week to get rid of build-up of dander, dried salivary and urinary secretions, molds and bacteria.
• Feeding your pet a high quality, balanced diet will minimize shedding of dander.
• Wear washable clothing around your pet.  Researchers at the University of Sydney found that people who wore wool sweaters were exposed to more than ten times the amount of allergens (allergens accumulated on the sweaters).  People who wore freshly washed T-shirts were exposed to the least amount of allergens.
• If you have a severe allergy, keep pets out of the bedroom (since children spend up to half their day, and adults one-third of their day, there).  Close the door to the bedroom during the day also.  Encase all bedding in allergy-proof covers.
• Wash plastic, rubber and nylon toys with hot water and mild dish soap to remove saliva.
• Get a HEPA or ULPA filter.  ULPA filters are the best (but most expensive); they purify 99.999 percent of all airborne particles larger than 0.12 microns (whereas HEPA filters purify 99.97 percent of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns).  Anything less than a HEPA must say “HEPA-type” and is inferior.  Consider a dehumidifier to reduce the mite population (they need lots of moisture to thrive). 
• Carpets are major allergen reservoirs, ­they hold 100 times more allergens than nonporous flooring­consider wooden floors with small, washable area rugs.  Conventional vacuums blow the allergens back into the air; switch to an “allergy vacuum” with built-in HEPA filtration systems.  Practice good flea control.
• Remove all cat urine.  ­Cats tend to spray behind a sofa or chair or under a bed.  Buy a black light at Home Depot or through mail-order, and urine will fluoresce a green color.  Neutralize urine with X-Tract.
• Other allergens will potentiate or worsen pet allergies.  During pollen season, try to stay indoors with the windows closed between 5 and 10 a.m. (pollen counts highest then).  Don’t use fans in your home during pollen season. 
• Don’t keep too many indoor plants (especially African violets) due to the molds in the soil. 
• Painted walls have fewer allergens than wallpaper. 
• Cover air vents and furnace registers tightly with cheesecloth.  Prevent mold growth on bathroom curtains by soaking them in salt water.

LOOK OUT ALLERGIES – HELP IS ON THE WAY!

There is some great help that will be available in approximately three years for people who suffer from cat allergies: ­a new drug with limited side effects that will prevent allergies.  It’s called GFD (for gamma Felis domesticus); it virtually blocks the histamine reaction that causes cat allergy symptoms.  So hang in there, you sniffling, sneezing pet lovers, ­help is on the way!