OVERCOME PET ALLERGIES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

By Achooallergy.com

In the past, the quick advice for pet owners with allergies was to get rid of their pets. Everyday shelters are filled with unwanted cats and dogs because someone in the family either developed pet allergies or a new member is allergic. More than 30% of all animals given up for adoption in the past 10 years have been because of an unforeseen or unmanageable problem with severe allergies to pets.

Dr. Clifford Bassett who writes for the newsletter of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology states that allergy suffers are not really allergic to their pet's fur or feathers, but what's on it. A pet's dander, skin flakes, saliva and urine contain different types of allergens. Allergens are spread by everything from the pet's self-grooming to sleeping in your bed. Hair or fur also collect pollens, mold spores and other outdoor allergens if you pet goes out. She also suggests to speak with your pet's veterinarian to get a well balanced diet. This change in diet may help to minimize hair loss for the pet and this can reduce dander indoors.

Get in the know!

There are many products that can help you conquer allergies such as the new environmental control technologies like Allergy Armor™ Ultra bedding, the Pet Machine™ air purifier, and the Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum cleaner.

Pet dander consists of microscopic flakes of dead skin that cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive. Cat dander in particular is a notorious allergy trigger (allergen) because it is so lightweight and sticky.

"I have two long-haired cats, and my boyfriend actually had to move out and get another apartment because his allergies were so bad every morning," says Erin Primavera of Atlanta, GA. "Now that I have Allergy Armor™ Ultra on my bed, he can stay at my place with no problems."

Featured in the June 2007 issue of Women's Health magazine, Allergy Armor™ Ultra zips up to entirely encase mattresses and pillows, forming a barrier that is impenetrable to allergens. Allergens are microscopic, but the pores in the fabric are even smaller.

Medical literature recommends allergy relief bedding with an average pore size of less than 10 microns to effectively block out dust mite allergen. (For comparison, a strand of hair measures about 70 microns in diameter.) Pet dander, however, is often much smaller than 10 microns.

Allergy Armor™ Ultra was developed with allergic pet owners in mind and has the smallest average pore size in the industry at 2.8 microns. A special finishing process known as calendaring shrinks the fabric's pores using heat and pressure.

"As someone who's allergic to pets and dust mites, I'm proud to offer our customers the best allergy relief bedding available," says P. Cade McDonald, founder and CEO of achoo! ALLERGY & AIR Products, Inc., the company that developed Allergy Armor™.

"But even with Allergy Armor™ Ultra on the bed, allergy sufferers should make bedrooms off-limits to pets," advises McDonald.

Pet dander can float in the air for hours at a time. That's where the Pet Machine™ air purifier comes into play.

Developed by Austin Air Systems, the Pet Machine™ air purifier has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter that's guaranteed to trap 99.97% of all airborne particles 0.3 microns or smaller. The air purifier also contains a customized carbon blend filter geared toward the elimination of ammonia-based pet odors.

The Dyson DC17 Animal vacuum cleaner also features a HEPA filter. Vacuum cleaners without HEPA filtration simply stir up microscopic allergens and pollute the air. The DC17 employs Level 3 Root Cyclone™ technology to spin pet dander, hair, dust, and other allergens out of carpet.

"I don't know what I'd do without my Dyson Animal," says Primavera. "I've been through several vacuum cleaners since I got my cats, and I think the Dyson Animal is the best for pet owners - especially if they're allergic to pet dander or live with somebody who is."

"All pet owners, not just allergic pet owners, should consider investing in Allergy Armor™ Ultra, an air purifier, and a HEPA vacuum cleaner," says Scott Smith, director of marketing at achoo! ALLERGY. "Adult-onset allergies often develop after prolonged exposure to a specific allergen, even if the person has never had allergies before, so it's important to take preventative measures.

"And a recent study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that cat dander in the home clearly increases the risk of allergic sensitization for young children."

		1- Encase your pillow with an allergy relief pillow cover. 2- Encase your mattress with an allergy relief mattress cover. 3- Encase your mattress with an allergy relief box spring cover. 4- Encase your mattress with an allergy relief comforter cover. 5- Wash blankets and bed linens weekly in hot water. 6- Use anti-allergenic laundry detergents or additives to destroy allergens in your bed linens and laundry. 7- Vacuum frequently with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner. 8- Use anti-allergenic carpet sprays and powders to destroy allergens. 9-Minimize carpeting and upholstery.
10- Keep surfaces clean and dust-free and get rid of excess clutter. 11- Monitor your humidity with a humidity gauge. 12- Use a dehumidifier to keep the relative humidity below 50% 13- remove allergens and impurities from the air with a quality air purifier. 14- Use furnace, vent, and window filters for enhanced air purification. 15- Last but not least, keep your dog off the bedroom and wash him with Ecology Works Pet Allergy Shampoo

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All products mentioned in this article can be ordered anytime at www.achooallergy.com or by calling 1-800-339-7123. Contact: Scott Smith scott at achooallergy dot com (Please reformat and retype the email address as this is the only way to protect this e-mail address from spams. Thank you!)

Editor's note: Housepetmagazine.com has no financial support from any of the companies or products recommended here.