Cat allergen however, was not seen to pose the same risk according to the study published in the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.

Though the reasons for this are not fully clear, one of the reasons could be enodotoxin.

Endotoxin, which is seen to be produced by certain bacteria, can be responsible for inflaming the airways which in turn triggers an attack. Endotoxin is far more commonly occurring in dogs than in cats.

However, those parents who are looking to bid a teary farewell to their furry friend may be acting in haste. According to researchers, there is still not enough evidence to recommend or not recommend to having pets.

The asthma risk from pets is not clearly enough established yet to banish the pooch. In the study, other factors were also seen to contribute to increasing asthma risk.

Source: Reuters

It isn’t the hair or the fur that is causing the allergic reaction to cats to appear; rather it is the dander on the cat that is the culprit.

It’s a substance much like human dandruff and it is in fact the shorter haired cats that cause more of dander to proliferate in the air around them when they groom themselves.

If double the number of people are allergic to cats when compared to those allergic to dogs, then it is dander that is the reason. It is important to control the dander by good animal hygiene and perhaps medication as well.

Many of the symptoms of pet dander allergies are very similar to the symptoms of a common cold, making many people think that they are merely feeling a little under the weather.

Learning how to tell the difference could be an important part of keeping your health strong.

Everything from sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose is common with pet dander allergies, along with developing a cough. You could easily think this was merely cold symptoms.

Developing a postnasal drip and facial pressure due to inflamed nasal passages could also come about from pet dander allergies, although one could have a slightly more serious cold and still suffer from these symptoms.

If your pet dander allergies cause asthma attacks to happen, this may be more severe and you should be able to figure out that the dander is causing these attacks.

If you are not prone to asthma, however, it may take you a lot longer to notice you are suffering allergies. If your cold-like symptoms last longer than a week, more than a traditional common cold should last, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to see if you have pet dander allergies, as they can help you combat this problem.

Sure, they may shed and leave their hair all over, but is it the hair itself which you are allergic to? Not exactly.

What is specifically causing this allergic reaction is called pet dander and it is caused by proteins which are found in the hair, saliva, or even urine of the pets.

When this protein in the pet dander touches you or becomes airborne, it will come into contact with your body’s immune system, which mistakes this form of protein as something which might be harmful to your body.

Your body will then begin producing antibodies to fight this protein, even though it is not something harmful. These antibodies will be what cause the allergic reaction to the protein from the dander.

Some of these antibodies will be milder, causing itchy eyes, a runny nose, or coughing. While these are a large inconvenience, they pose no immediate danger.

More severe reactions, though, could cause constriction of the airways and inflammation which could offset an asthma attack.

The severity of this attack will depend on how sensitive you are to pet dander, but this is the type of allergic reaction which could cause serious problems. In both cases, however, avoiding pets which cause these reactions should be recommended.

Pet dander is caused by a number of proteins located in the fur of the animal which cause the nasal cavities of any person to become inflamed, giving a person a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and even constriction of the airways which can lead into an asthma attack.

The best possible thing to do to avoid having allergy attacks brought on by pet dander is to avoid the animals as much as possible.

Allergy medication can be taken to help calm the symptoms and keep you from experiencing the full attacks, although this medication can only do so much. If a certain type of pet dander causes problems in you, they would find it difficult to own any pets with that particular dander.

Even visiting locations where people own these pets can be difficult, depending on how sensitive you are to pet dander allergies.

Medication can help to control the outbreak in small doses, although those who are prone to severe outbreaks should stay away from those locations as much as is possible. It is not an easy symptom to live with but it can be managed with sacrifices, if needed.

They like their fur petted and their bodies rubbed. Rubbing up against your leg is their way of saying hello.

Your cat likes to stay close to you. You are his best friend. It is too bad that now you are starting to sneeze when he jumps into your lap.

The allergy symptoms you are starting to have such as teary eyes and a runny nose are beginning to make you wonder, “Am I allergic to my cat?” The sad truth is that you probably are.

Purifiers

When you have a cat, there will be a lot of dander flying around in the air. You will want to buy a home air purifier to help with this problem.

You can buy purifiers that reduce airborne triggers by almost 100 %. Room humidifiers will zap awful dust mites, pet dander, and of course, mold spores. These machines are usually quiet in your home.

Vacuum

A good vacuum is necessary if you are allergic to your cat. You need to vacuum carpets and any surfaces that your cat has touched frequently.

A vacuum that has a filtration system will help. It will be hard for allergy triggers to get out of the vacuum with this type of filtration system.

Redecorate Your Home

Curtains will pick up hair and dander from your cat so it would be a good idea to put mini blinds on windows instead. You can wipe these off, and you are good to go.

Cloth furniture is another item that you may want to change. You could buy leather furniture instead so that dander and skin flakes from your cat will be easy to clean up.

Wood flooring or linoleum would be your best bet if you do not want to have to vacuum your floors all of the time.

No Cat Zone

Even though you love your cat very much you need to let them sleep somewhere else besides your bed. It may be a good idea to make the bedroom a no sleep zone for your cat. If you do allow your cat in your bedroom, you will need to wash your sheets and comforters regularly.

Keeping Kitty Clean

Cats are not very happy when you give them a bath, but if you are allergic to cats, this is something you may have to do. You will not need to use strong soaps on your cat.

Plain warm water is the best thing for you to use. You will want to groom your cat on a daily basis so you will be able to get any loose hair or dander. Get your cat’s claws trimmed so that they will not be able to scratch. Scratching can spread dander.

There is no need for you to give away your cat if you just adhere to some simple guidelines.

Many people make it all the way to adulthood before discovering their new furry friend is the cause of sneezes and watery eyes.

However, at this point many people don’t want to get rid of their pet. Luckily, there are many ways that you can eliminate the allergic reaction you experience to your pets.

Most people react to the dander and hair their pets leave behind. Although, with a little preparation and follow through, you can cut down on the effects you experience while enjoying your new pet.

Pet Grooming Is Important

One of the quickest ways to eliminate pet dander in your home is proper grooming. To eliminate allergic reactions, you should bath your pet at least once a month, in warm clear water.

Brushing your pet can also help by removing excessive dander left behind by your pet. If you cannot handle the process of pet grooming, there are many professional groomers that can help.

In addition, it may be best to take your pet to the groomer so that the pet dander removed does not end up in the air of your home.

Filter Your Home

There are many filters than can be used in your home to eliminate pet dander and hair. A HEPA filter, or actively charged carbon filter, will work great. These filters can be installed in your central air return.

They work by attracting even the smallest pet particles when your air is circulated through the system.

However, it is very important you change the filter often. Most filters will last about one month, when used for removing pet dander and hair. If they are not changed this often, the filter will become ineffective.

Control Your Pet to One Area

Allowing your pet into your bedroom, or on your furniture, is one of the worst things you can do. Instead, you should use pet gates to keep the animal in rooms without carpet or large amounts of cloth.

Cloth substances can attract pet hair and dander, causing your allergies to flare. If you keep your pet in rooms that can frequently be mopped or wiped down, you will experience fewer allergic reactions.

Choose the Right Kind of Pet

If you know you are allergic to animals before buying a pet, you will have more options. There are many breeds that are dander free or shed very little. Consider a dog which has little or no hair, such as a Mexican hairless.

Another option would be to purchase a hypoallergenic dog breeds with human like hair. These breeds have longer hair that rarely sheds. Breeds such as the Maltese, Yorkshire, or Bichon Frie will fall into this category.

Medications Can Provide Relief

If you simply must have a certain breed, or animal type that causes allergic reactions, there are medications you can take. Many people have monthly allergy shots, or take daily medications.

However, you will want to consider the risk associated with any medication before taking this step. It is also important to understand that a dog may live twenty to thirty years. You may end up taking allergy medications for a very long time.

While adults can usually learn to accept the situation for children it is much harder.

Owning a dog may not be out of the question however, as certain hypoallergenic dog breeds are much less likely to create a reaction.

It might be worth talking to your local vet who will advise you accordingly.

Beyond that a very stringent cleaning routine is required. Soft furnishings would have to be changed to fabrics that attract less hair, for example a laminated wooden floor as opposed to the wool carpet that attracts every bit of contaminate there is.

The actual pet will need a very strict grooming regime; habitual bathing with special non soap products, and regular brushing of their coat. Every member of the household would have to make sure they wash their hands after handling the dog. It is not really going to be much fun for anyone.

Maybe a child could be persuaded towards a more unusual pet, a small reptile perhaps or a lively bird. A colorful tank of exotic fish could even be the solution. Again your vet might have some helpful suggestions to make.

If all else fails a trip to a specialist should detect the specific cause of the allergy and this could then be treated by medicine or alternative treatments.

Ultimately it is a tough decision to make so it is important that all family members are involved in the process.

But the truth is there is no group of dog or cat breeds which are hypoallergenic.

You may be allergic to different things, sometimes it is the hair, sometimes it is saliva, and most often it is the dander.

Canine allergy is also called as dog allergy. It is due to the number of allergy provoking protein particles in their saliva and skin scales.

Canine allergy is common and the longer haired breeds which carry more skin scales provoke allergic reactions more frequently.

A canine’s lick may set off a severe allergic response as you breathing in the allergen particles.

There are some classes of canine breeds that are often recognized as hypoallergenic. These include:

• Small canines
• Canines with extremely short or no hair
• Canines with human like hair
• Canines with non-shedding hair

Small canines are probably hypoallergenic since there is less chance of them to shed and distribute allergens. Toy breeds come under this category.

Canines with little or no hair are good for some of you, since the amount of hair shed is much less. Some of the breeds which come under this category include basenjis, boxers, Chinese crested, shorthaired chihuahus, Mexican hairless, and whippets.

Canines with human like air generally have long silky hair that sheds minimally. There are limited canine allergy symptoms with this type of hair. Bichon fries, maltese, havanese, sliky and skye terries, and Yorkshire terries.

Canines with non shedding hair are especially good for canine allergy sufferers. Some of you can not tolerate these canines. If the dog’s hair doesn’t shed then there are less allergens released in the air, hence mild or no symptoms of canine allergy. Komondor, puli, and poodles come under this category.

Tips to control canine allergy:

Allergist:

If you are allergic then visit an allergist, he helps in determining exactly what it is that you are allergic to. With this you can plan how to reduce that particular set of allergens and hence you can get best results for your effort.

Sometimes your allergist may also suggest allergy shots if the symptoms of canine allergy are severe. He may give effective medications for controlling severe asthma attacks. [Dog allergy symptoms]

Air filters:

HEPA air filter is the most effective filter that can be recommended to reduce the allergens. Instead of HEPA filters since they are costly, you may also get a high efficiency filter for your central system. But you need to change them for every 2-4 weeks.

Measured solution:

If you have canine allergy, keeping your pet out of the bedroom will helps you greatly.

Some other applications:

Wash and groom your pet regularly. This will reduce the dander, saliva and shedding. If you bath your pet monthly in plain water you will experience relief.

Still if you want to keep a pet with you then you can consider any type of canine breeds that are listed above. Hence you will free from the symptoms of canine allergy.

You may affect with these allergies at any time. About 15 percent of the Americans are allergic to either dogs or cats.

Allergies from dogs are due to dog’s dander and saliva. These are the main causes of allergies.

Albumin, a protein found in the dog’s blood is also an important allergen.

Allergic reactions to dogs are very common, since dog allergens can be found in public places, including daycare facilities.

Some of you are allergic to certain breeds of dogs and not to other breeds. Some breeds can cause fewer allergies than other breeds.

According to most recent studies, you can keep dog allergies in control & you can live allergy free life with dogs. Dog ownership can protect against the development of allergies in your children.

This is because; dogs release a protein called endotoxin. This protein stimulates the immune system away from allergies.

The child living in homes with indoor dogs are far less likely to wheeze compared to children living in homes without dogs. Already if you have allergy or asthma and you are living with a dog then endotoxin may also worsen your symptoms.

Dogs and allergies! Due to dogs, allergies such as asthma, itchy and watery eyes, hives, headaches, fatigue, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, voice loss and runny nose can be seen.

Dogs and allergies – How to keep dogs and allergies under control?

• Once you notice allergic reaction to dogs, visit your allergist. He may suggest antihistamine therapy for minor allergies. If you have severe allergic symptoms he may suggest immunotherapy allergy shots. This method helps to reduce heavy hitting allergens.
• Air filters can help you greatly in avoiding pet dander or any other allergen.
• Avoid carpeting your home, because it one of the biggest allergen collecting items and pet dander may get stick to the carpet and triggers allergic reaction.
• Daily brush your dog, especially during flaking season, in a well ventilated area can minimize the dust from floating inside the house.
• Wash all your doors and walls of your house with a mild dish soap. This helps to remove accumulated dander from the walls.
• Vacuum regularly with a HEPA equipped vacuum cleaner to remove the pet dander. Hence, you can be free of allergens from dogs and allergies.
• Wash all your bedding and even your dog’s also to remove all the dander.
• Rinse your dog daily in plain water. This is the biggest allergen reducer. Use only plain water but not shampoos and conditioners.
• Follow precautions to avoid house dust mites.
• Daily wipe your dog with a wet cloth or hand towel.

You should take all the above mentioned precautions to control allergic reactions due to dogs.