The Benefits of Owning Pets

Pets can add an incredible amount of joy and companionship to the lives of the humans they live with. Studies show that more than 70% of all American homes own a pet. Not only do they make great friends, but it has also been proven that they can improve our ability to relax. Petting a cat or dog has been shown to lower our blood pressure and decrease our feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Research has shown that having a pet can significantly improve certain health issues, such as lowered immunity problems. They have also been shown to increase our ability to express affection.

The University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, in Davis, California, has reported that Alzheimer's sufferers have seen reductions in bouts of anger and nervousness when there is a pet in their lives. Having a pet can also get you outdoors more for walks and activity. The same study showed that pets of AIDS patients helped their owners reduce depression and anxiety associated with having AIDS. Pets have been shown to calm our nerves in studies done on high-strung stockbrokers, and can even help reduce incidences of heart attacks.

The Origins of Pet Dander

Although our furry friends can bring us an incredible amount of companionship and healing, they also come at a cost. Pet dander, also commonly known as "pet pollen," is a serious problem for many people with allergic reactions.

Oftentimes, pet dander allergies can even present a serious health threat to pet owners, as well as family and visiting friends. It is a commonly held assumption that people are allergic to pet hair.

Actually, it is not the hair, but the sluffed-off old skin scales that cause allergic reactions in human beings. Animals are constantly shedding these skin scales, with older animals giving off higher amounts of dander than younger animals. This dander cannot be perceived by the human eye, as it is only about 2 to 3 microns in size.

For this reason, dander can be easily transported in the air we breathe, absorbed into the clothing we wear, and accumulated in our bedding, curtains and carpeting. Pet dander normally enters our system through the eyes, nose and mouth. It makes contact with our mucous membranes, as well as the bronchial tubes. Studies show that a 2-micron sized piece of pet dander can stay floating in the air for hours before it lands on a surface! During that time, it is highly likely that you, or one of your family members, will breathe it in.

The Effects of Pet Dander Exposure

A person experiences a pet allergy when they react to the dander (skin flakes) or saliva of the animal. They may find themselves with the classic allergy symptoms of swollen glands, hives, sneezing, itchy eyes, watery eyes, nose congestion or runny nose, swollen face and skin, or general aches.

Whether immediate or not, pet dander can be responsible for cold and flu symptoms, as your body reacts to the toxic material it has taken it. This toxic material is actually the protein in the saliva and skin of the animal.

The excretory droppings of animals (including cats, birds, hamsters, dogs, etc.) can also cause an allergic reaction. Especially in the case of birds, where the droppings tend to be left in a hanging cage (increasing air exposure), there is a high incidence of allergic reaction. The excrement of caged animals like rabbits, hamsters and birds tend to attract toxic sources of mold, fungus and other harmful agents. Urine, saliva and fur can also increase the amount of toxicity in the environment, increasing overall allergic reactions in humans.

"But I Don't Own a Pet. I Have Nothing to Worry About."

Nothing could be further from the truth. While most documented cases of pet allergies occur in homes where pets are living, many of the same allergens are also present in places where pets do not live.

It is not uncommon to get a positive test for pet allergens in schools, homes, shopping centers and places of work where there are no pets present. This occurs because the proteins of pet dander are sticky substances that cling easily to the clothing of people who do own pets.

Furthermore, since this dander is sticky, it is hard to remove from porous substances such as rugs, drapes, clothing and upholstered furniture. Cat dander is known to be stickier than that of other animals. The sticky quality of dander is one of the main reasons why we find pet dander in the air everywhere! And another reason why it is more important than you may think to rid your environment of dander from the pets you do not even own.

Resources For Removing Pet Dander

There are some great resources available for reducing the amount of pet dander in our air spaces, including air filters, hypo-allergenic bedding, natural cleaning supplies and general educational resources. Particularly if you suffer from pet-related allergens and need to remove pet dander from your indoor air, you will find the following resources to be very helpful.

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