Many dog and cat owners have noticed white dandruff-like flakes on their pets. It's called dander, and the flakes are skin flakes from dogs and cats. While dander is inevitable, there are some measures that can be taken to minimize it. Since 7 in 10 Americans households include either a dog or a cat, it is no wonder that pet dander is a common complaint. Especially for people with allergies, dander can really be a problem. While many people think that pet allergies are mainly a result of an animal’s fur, it is actually the dander, saliva, and urine that pets have that trigger an allergic reaction. The fur will play a part in collecting the dander, but fur alone is not the trigger. By the way, the length of a pet’s hair is not indicative of a heightened dander-level either.
Animal dander contains secretions from glands in your pet’s skin. These skin cells will fall off of your pet and float in the air, which is how people are affected by them when they breathe. Because animal dander is an allergen, allergy-related symptoms can occur when people breathe the skin cells in. Even if nobody in your household is allergic to pet dander, it can still be an annoyance. If your pet has a dark coat, then you may worry that he or she looks unkempt due to excessive dander. Combing your pet’s hair can help to minimize the appearance of dander. You can also bathe your pet 1-2 times a month to keep the appearance of dander at bay.
Suffering from pet allergies that does not mean you cannot be the proud owner of a dog or a cat. And no -- I am not going to suggest that you go out and get a hairless cat, either! You certainly don’t need to resign yourself to tropical fish just because dander makes you wheeze and sneeze. There are several prescription medications that can offer you relief from your allergy symptoms. Talk to your doctor about the right treatment for you. You should also try to keep the offending animal out of the bedroom, so that you do not sleep in an invisible bed of dander every night. If your home has a forced-air heating system or central air, you could benefit from the use of a central air cleaner for about four hours a day. You should also invest in High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filters for your heating and air conditioning, and also for your vacuum cleaner. Vacuum frequently, and keep your walls and surfaces dusted and clean to minimize the collection of dander around your home.
There are several products on the market today that claim to minimize pet dander. Cleansing bath wipes are one of the best dander-reducing products to try out.
While some treatments are moderately effective, you will not be able to rid yourself of dander altogether. After all, your pet is always going to have skin; therefore, your pet will also always have skin cells. Humans shed skin cells too – you’re just not allergic to them.
