I am an allergy sufferer. Not only do I suffer from the seasonal ‘bout of Hay Fever but I also suffer from pet allergies. Yes, pet allergies. I have the paperwork from the allergist to say that I have severe allergies to cats and some allergies to dogs. So what am I allergic to exactly? The dander.
Let’s face it, for those of you who suffer from some sort of seasonal allergies, we can all agree, allergies suck. The itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, etc is just not what anyone could call fun. So what does this mean? Simple, imagine how your guests feel when they step foot into your home. So how do you minimize allergens? Simple.
Groom your pets!
Yes, grooming your pets can mean the difference between having allergy suffering guests and not. Minimizing your pet’s shedding fur can and most often will, minimizing dander. Brushing your pet brings and distributes your pet’s natural oils to the surface and cause dander (flakes) not to be seen and drop. Your dog should be brushed, on average, every few days, more if your pet seems to need it.
As an allergy sufferer, I brush my dog daily as she is a constant shedder. As for my cats, I do what I can to groom all of them. Not only does the brushing help in terms of allergies, the grooming helps keep the fur on the floor to a minimum! Granted, grooming will not eliminate the need to sweep and vacuum but it will help with making the house more manageable when you have those unexpected guests drop by.
Another thing to remember to do is bathe your dog. This will help keep dander under control by using a moisturizing shampoo. With this, I have been told to avoid shampoos with the SLS (sodium laurel sulphate), a degreasing agent which dries a dog’s skin. I have found Pet Head (Yes, by the makers of Bed Head) No More Ruff Skin Soothing Shampoo for Dogs works well if you must go with a fragranced shampoo or any other shampoo with botanical oil extracts and fragranced-free shampoo.
The last thing that I would like to mention is the importance of the between baths cleanings. There are a variety of products on the market that can do this. Although it is fragranced, I have had good luck with Pet Head’s Dry Clean Waterless Spray shampoo, however, it usually is recommended that pet parents use wipes instead.
Although I am neither a doctor nor a vet, yet, I have found that I have had excellent luck with these methods and products. Not only have I noticed a decrease in my allergies, but I also have noticed that there is less pet hair to clean up which is another big plus, especially when you have in-laws dropping in unannounced.
Take care and keep those pets well groomed! After all, not only will you get great compliments about how great your pet looks but your friends with allergies or your own body will thank you for it!
Kim
PS - Pet Head’s Dry Clean Waterless Spray shampoo and Pet Head's No More Ruff Skin Soothing Shampoo for Dogs are both available in PetSmart, PetSmart.com, and Amazon.com in both the US and Canada.
PS - Pet Head’s Dry Clean Waterless Spray shampoo and Pet Head's No More Ruff Skin Soothing Shampoo for Dogs are both available in PetSmart, PetSmart.com, and Amazon.com in both the US and Canada.
