What is pet dander and how do you get rid of it?

Pet dander is very small skin particles that have been excreted by furry or feathered animals. Foxes produce dander, parrots produce dander and horses produce dander. Since most people don't have these animals at home, their dander is not a problem.

On the other hand, dander from cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets and small rodents is a problem.

All animals shed bits of skin. Some of these pieces are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small that they cannot be seen without a microscope. Whatever the size, pet dander is a problem if you're allergic to animals. Why are pet dander a problem?

For allergy sufferers, pet dander is a real problem. Many people suffer from allergies to pet dander. Pet dander contains a protein that causes allergic reactions. What's more, this protein is also found in the urine and saliva of these animals. So, every time the animal empties its bladder, the protein contained in the urine can stick to the skin.

Even if you take your dog outside to relieve itself, you'll bring some of this allergen back inside in the form of tiny droplets of urine that touch the skin. Once this part of the skin is eliminated, it contains a double dose of the protein that causes the allergic reaction. The first dose is the skin itself, and the second is the protein in the urine.

But wait, there's more! The protein that causes allergic reactions is also found in the animal's saliva. Every time a cat or dog (or rabbit or ferret) licks itself, it spreads the protein.

As our pets bathe by licking their fur and skin, they add more of the allergy-causing protein. Skin that has been groomed by the animal receives a double dose of protein through saliva.

When you inhale these tiny particles of skin and urine, or skin and saliva, your immune system thinks it's being attacked by germs.

In allergic people, the immune system misidentifies these harmless proteins as bad invaders. It creates a specific antibody for the protein. The next time it sees the protein, it tells the antibody to start stimulating mast cells.

A cascade of reactions occurs and the result is one or more of these symptoms:

Itchy or watery eyes

Coughing

Sneezing

Wheezing

Eczema

Stuffy or runny nose.

Now there's a problem. As long as exposure continues, the reaction continues. A prolonged allergy attack caused by pet dander can lead to a secondary infection such as bronchitis, sinusitis or otitis media (ear infection). Allergies can also trigger asthma.

How do pet dander spread?

These small pieces of skin have irregular edges. They're also very light. It's a terrible combination. This means that the irregular edges allow the dander to cling to absolutely anything, and the lightness of the mass makes it mock gravity.

The dander falls off the animal and into the air. If you don't inhale them immediately, they stick to the first surface they touch. Once detached, the dander floats through the air several times, sticks to a surface, then becomes airborne again.

Every little disturbance sends them into the air. As soon as they touch something, they cling to it until they break off again.

In fact, these scales cling to people and objects. You can go to the mall and find cat dander, even if a cat has never been inside. That's because dander travels on pet owners' clothes.

Dander can be found in offices, hospitals and many places where pets don't usually go. They travel in human hair and on clothing. They are easily transmitted.

A cat owner can take dander onto a plane, transfer it from his clothes to the seat and leave it behind for the next passenger. Pet dander can travel from coast to coast. Animal dander is where you least expect it.

How to get rid of animal dander?

If animal dander spreads so easily, how do you get rid of it? You can get rid of pet dander by grooming the animal to reduce the amount of dander produced, vacuuming frequently with a HEPA filter, using an anti-allergen spray and limiting the animal's movements.

First of all, brush your pet regularly to remove dead skin cells and hair. Ideally, you should brush your pet outdoors. If you are highly allergic, wear a mask while brushing your pet.

Resist the temptation to wash your pet frequently. The more you wash him, the more you risk drying out his skin. Dry skin flakes more easily. Frequent washing can worsen the situation.

It's best to wipe your pet between washes with wipes designed for pet grooming, or to apply a coat conditioner like Allerpet Pet Solutions to remove dander. As an added bonus, Allerpet also conditions the coat, which can slow down the shedding process.

Nothing is more upsetting than hearing people say they have to get rid of cats because he's allergic.

Yes, once a week, wipe pets down with Allerpet, spray with the Protech Allergies spray spray on furniture, bedding, pet bedding, etc., and vacuum regularly to pick up hair. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter will not only help get rid of hairs and allergens but clean your air at the same time.

"I've been using this product for years and years. I've never had a problem with people coming to my house who are allergic to cats/dogs, never, never a reaction." Sébastien Gagné, Quebec.

Dander denaturants are available in spray form. We recommend sprays for most situations. Allergen sprays are easy to use and, when used correctly, are very effective.

Vacuum before spraying.

We personally use and recommend Protech Allergies anti-allergen spray because it's very effective and can be used on most fiber surfaces.

"I've been using this product for years and years and it has allowed many friends with cat or dog allergies to visit me. I spray it once a month on curtains, furniture, pet bedding, but if I wash the bedding, pet bedding, I spray it again.

Many pet owners alleviate their allergies by using a HEPA air purifier. Operate the air purifier in the room where you and your pet spend the most time. Make sure it's fitted with a good HEPA H13 filter and that the unit is the right size for the room, with a minimum CADR of 100 for a bedroom. Be careful, as many companies exaggerate the surface area their purifiers can treat. The important figure to look at is the CADR, not the surface area, because the larger the CADR, the faster your purifier will treat the air in your room.

If the company can't provide you with CADR (or m3 of air treated per hour), this is a bad omen, as the purifier probably has a weak motor and will take a long time to treat all the air in the room.

Now for the hard part. Keep the pet out of the room and especially out of the bed. You don't want your bed covered in dander. You sleep eight hours every night, so make sure you sleep in a dander-free zone.

Also, wash your dog's toys frequently to remove dried saliva, a source of allergens. Cat owners should wear a mask when cleaning the cat box, as urine is rich in allergenic proteins.

So now you know what pet dander is and how to get rid of it. You see, with a little work, you can live with pets and pet allergies.

We wish you good health

Protech Allergies

Allergy elimination is about getting rid of the allergen in your home as best you can. Once you've done that, you may be able to eliminate the need for all medications and doctor visits.