Struggling With Pet Allergies? ---suggestions For Reducing Allergens Of 4 Popular Pets

With close to 70 million households sharing their home with a pet, it's easy to see why those who suffer from allergies are having a hard time. Pet allergens, like more normal chronic indoor allergens, can cause symptoms to range from irritating to disruptive. Here are practical ways you can minimize allergens from 4 of the most popular pets.

Birds---There is no way to escape the fact that you will have more dust than a home without a bird just through their normal daily activities.. They also eliminate food very quickly and can produce fecal material and urine more than 30 times each day.

It is important to line the bottom of the cage with paper, and change the paper daily to avoid growth of mold on food and excrement. Keeping the paper clean will also minimize the amount of waste that can dry and become airborne.

The white powder that powder-down birds produce is relentless. These include the Cockatoo, Cockatiel, and African Grey.

Using a clean spray bottle to mist tepid water into the air that will gently fall on your bird is a great way too remove dust and dander. Some birds prefer a bowl of water that they can splash in and clean themselves. Knowing your bird so well will make it easy for you to determine which it likes better..

It is rare that the feathers cause allergic reactions but rather the protein in dander, urine, and saliva that is such a potent allergen. Bacteria and viruses can be minimized with a thorough cleaning of the cage each month.

Dogs---The adage that a dog is man's (woman's) best friend is borne out by the fact that there are over 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States according to the American Pet Products Association completed in 2012.

Brushing your dog regularly outdoors is one of the best ways to reduce allergens. Even though hair is not an allergen the dander (dead skin flakes), dried saliva, and urine are, and they can all become attached to your pet's hair. Taking the time on a regular basis to remove loose hair can drastically reduce the number of potential airborne allergens.

Bathing your pooch weekly can help remove additional allergens and keep skin healthy. Check with the veterinarian for product safety and best frequency for your pet.

Cats---For whatever reason, cats cause more allergies in humans than most other pets. Many think that the fact that their urine is so strong is at the root of the problem. In the wild the smell is designed to ward off predators. In captivity it can and often does ward off friends and family. The Fel d1 protein found in their urine, dander, and saliva continues to cause major grief for those with allergies.

Praise your cat when he uses the litter box and reward his good behavior by cleaning as soon as it's done. Your cat's nose is keener than yours and it will be more likely to go in the box if it smells good. The less time waste stays in the cage, the chance there is of it drying and being able to become airborne and inhaled.

Ferrets---These funny characters are becoming increasingly popular as pets. They are smart and have shown themselves to be capable of being trained to use a litter box.

with ferrets, it's usually the musky odor they produce that can trigger allergy symptoms. This odor is produced by the sebaceous and scent glands and many find it really offensive.

Neutering and spaying can greatly decrease the smell. In females this procedure comes close to completely eliminating the smell, and in males it makes it much less noticeable.

Keep the cage clean by disinfecting it once a week. Keeping their bedding laundered is a great way to keep the air smelling fresher.