How to deal with pet allergies
Pet allergies are quite common. Interestingly, up to 50% who are allergic to animals will not get symptoms straight away.8
What causes pet allergies?
If you have been experiencing common hay fever symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose, you could be allergic to pets. A pet allergy is an allergic reaction to the proteins within an animal’s skin cells, urine or saliva.1
Pet allergies are usually triggered by exposure to the dander a pet sheds.2 This means that pet allergies come from pets with fur and feathers including domesticated dogs, cats and birds.
What is pet dander?
But, what exactly is pet dander? Pet dander is the tiny flecks of skin on pets that can become air-borne or linger within the home.3 When pets shed heavily and release their protective layer of fur, the pet dander is released. As this protein is small it can stay airborne for hours which is when pet allergy symptoms are triggered.
There are a range of pet dander allergy symptoms which depend on the level of exposure. Sneezing, a runny nose, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, itchy eyes and skin rashes are all symptoms of an allergy to pet dander.4 Pet dander can also cause a skin rash allergy to the face and body.5
How to deal with your pet allergies?
The best way to manage an allergy to pet dander is to minimise your exposure to pets in the home. However, If you have a pet but don’t want to find it a new home, or if your family wants a pet even though someone in the household is allergic, here are some strategies that may help keep symptoms at bay:6
Bathe your pet regularly to reduce the amount of dander becoming air-borne. If you or a family member is cleaning your pet weekly there is a smaller chance of pet dander settling in the home.
Designate a pet-free zone to ensure pet dander doesn’t become present in all spaces. A good pet-free zone is the bedroom of the person with an allergy to pet dander, ensuring they can sleep and rest without the risk of pet dander.
Use an air-purifier within the home to avoid dander and dust from getting into furniture, wardrobes, clothing and carpets. It is also a great idea to clean these places regularly to reduce the build up of pet dander.
There are many ways to deal with pet allergies in your house, however if needed Telfast 60mg Tablets can relief symptoms of sneezing, a runny and itchy nose, sensitive eyes and itchy throat to provide long lasting relief.
How long do pet allergy symptoms last?
The duration of pet allergy symptoms can vary widely depending on the individual and the extent of the exposure. Typically, symptoms can begin within minutes to a few hours after contact with pet allergens. For many people, symptoms may persist for several hours to a few days, especially if they are in an environment where allergens remain present.
In cases of prolonged or high-level exposure, such as living with a pet or being in a heavily contaminated environment, symptoms might last longer.7
So, if you have an allergy to cats or dogs, it might be time to take the next steps to diffuse pet dander symptoms. This could include removing pets from the home or dealing with an allergy to pet dander through Telfast 60mg Tablets and home management techniques.
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