Pets Archives

Don’t Let Your Pet be A Statistic Control Cat Allergy

The Santa Barbara Independent reports that the number 2 reason that cats are turned into shelters nationwide is “allergies”. They cite the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy as their source and say that the number one reason is “too many cats”, which sounds like a momma cat had kittens.

You can read the entire article here. These cats lose their home because people don’t know how to control cat allergies.

It’s a shame. Because allergies are cumulative, there are probably many other factors besides just the cat that caused the uncontrolled allergy. The allergic person is probably allergic to dust mites, pollen, mold, or other household allergens. The Humane Society reports that almost 1/3 of Americans live with a cat to which they are allergic. Those are cat lovers that have learned to control cat allergies.

I believe it. We help people every day live with pet allergy and their pets. By simply keeping Miss Kitty out of the bedroom, you can greatly reduce your exposure to her allergens. Weekly application of Allerpet/C is an easy way to reduce the allergens in the cat.

Allerpet is a great coat conditioner as well, so in addition to reducing allergens, it makes the fur soft and shiny. It is not a cat allergy shampoo or a cat allergy spray, it is a liquid that is easy to apply with minimal indignity suffered by the cat.

Also, by running a HEPA air cleaner, you can reduce the level of all household allergens, including airborne pet allergens. Same for frequently vacuuming or cleaning floors and dusting the furniture with damp cloths. All of these steps help reduce allergens in the house, whether from pets or dust mites and as a result help you control cat allergy and dust mite allergies.

I’ll never forget when a friend asked me after a visit “Why do your house and air feel so clean?” I just had to laugh and say “That’s because it is”.

I run multiple Austin Air HealthMates, a have no carpeting, and I don’t have lots of overstuffed furniture. I do have lots of surfaces that are easy to wipe down and I don’t keep many dust catchers on the shelves. It keeps down the allergens and housecleaning is pretty simple. And face it, if something is easy, you are more likely to do it. Right?

So, like peace, just give the kitty a chance.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Pets to Prevent Pet Allergy?

It might seem totally against conventional wisdom, but there is research to indicate that if you want to protect your children against allergy, the best thing to do is get them a pet in the first year of life. Read the full study here. Yes, you can prevent pet allergy by getting your newborn a pet.

That’s right, get a pet in the first year of life to prevent pet allergy!

The Journal of Clinical Allergy and Immunology reports a study that showed that the risk for developing allergies decreased when a dog was in the home during the first year of life. The study took place in Wisconsin and covered a representative demographic of the community. The allergies studied were not just environmental allergy but food allergy as well. Odd as it may seem, Ubu prevents food allergy in addition to pet allergy. Sit Ubu Sit! Good Dog!

However, the window of opportunity was small. The dog had to present from birth and the first year of life.

So, don’t let fear of allergies keep you from having a pet and a newborn. Of course, use common sense. Don’t leave the baby unattended with a pet and you certainly don’t want the pet licking all over the baby. That’s just ewwww. Also, supervise baby when it interacts with the pet. No one likes having their tail or fur pulled.

If you are past that one year window and still want a dog, we suggest washing the dog at least monthly in the Pet Plus Shampoo.

If you get a cat, rub it weekly with the Allerpet/C solution to gently denature the allergens and remove any loose fur. If you didn’t catch my blogpost with the pictures of the cat after the Allerpet, see it here. That Allerpet was one shiny cat.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Allerpet for Dogs Too!

I love catching up with old friends. Sometimes you can go weeks and even months without seeing one of these valued friends and then “pop” there they are you and pick up like you never left off.

I had a great lunch a few days ago with a couple of those special friends. While we were chatting, one friend asked me about the blog post where I discussed the Allerpet for Cats. I assured her that I had not done the Photoshop treatment for the picture of my cat. Yes, the cat really was my cat and yes it really was that shiny. She wanted to know if they made Allerpet for dogs.

Seems that her beloved beagle causes her to be uncomfortable from time to time. She noticed that when the dog is freshly washed, she has no reaction. But, if the dog goes long without a bath, then the itchy, watery eyes and discomfort return. Knowing what I know about pet allergens, that makes perfect sense.

See, the protein that causes the allergic reaction is found in the saliva and urine of the dog. Every time the dog licks or urinates, a bit of this sticks to the skin and fur. It then dries up and can either flake off on its own and become airborne or it is shed with that piece of skin or fur, which then becomes airborne.

Once it is in the air, it is inhaled and triggers the reaction. When the dog is first washed, all loose skin and fur are removed and the dried saliva is washed away. However, it builds up quickly.

So yes, they do make Allerpet for dogs. It is called Allerpet/D for dogs. Not only will it gently denature that allergen, but it will make the dog as soft and shiny as my cat.

She is going to stop by The Allergy Store to pick up a bottle. I’ll ask her to take a beagle pic and post that one too.

Stay tuned!

Cheryl

AllergyStore.Com