Animal Allergies
What Causes Pet Allergies?
All animals can cause allergies, no matter what size or breed they are. Allergies to animals are caused by “dander” (proteins that are in the animal skin and saliva). Animal fur or hair carries animal dander, but is not a source of allergy itself.
Animal dander is very “sticky” and you can be exposed to animal dander even if you don’t own pets - people who own pets bring little bits of animal dander with them.
Managing Pet Allergies at Home
If you have an animal and are allergic to it, the best course of action is to rehome your pet and then have a non-allergic person do a thorough house cleaning to rid your home of animal dander. However, even with thorough cleaning, animal dander can remain in the home for three to six months after the animal is removed.
If you cannot part with your pet, you can decrease your exposure to animal dander by keeping your pet out of your bedroom (with the door kept closed) and thoroughly cleaning all surfaces in the bedroom regularly. In the rest of the house, carefully clean all rugs and upholstered furniture with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner at least once a week, and wipe down wood floors and other surfaces to remove pet dander. Running a HEPA air purifier — particularly in the bedroom — can further help reduce airborne allergens throughout the home.
For more information on pet allergy avoidance, please visit the Allergy and Asthma Foundation.
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