Some people are allergic to animal dander. Dander is not the hair or fur of the animal; it is the shedding of skin scales which occurs when the skin becomes old. It is very light weight particle of size approximately 2.5 microns. It can stay airborne for hours. Apart from skin scales, other sources of dander are sebaceous glands of the cat’s hair roots. Dander is also seen in the urine of male cat. When released in air, dander becomes airborne.
When immune system of the body sees the dander protein as harmful to the body, it produces histamines as a defense against the protein. This process has several symptoms in the body.
Respiratory Symptoms: Airborne respiratory symptoms are primary symptoms of dander allergy for the reason that dander spreads fast in air. Some of the symptoms are:
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Sinus Pressure
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Sore throat
- Scratchy throat
In severe cases
- Breathing problems
- Airway blockage
- Anaphylactic shock
Skin Symptoms: Skin is the gateway to your body. Conditions of the skin indicate an exterior reaction to an internal threat. Here are some symptoms that are seen on skin:
- Hives
- Itchy patches
- Eczema
- Severe redness
- Dermatitis
Other symptoms seen in gastrointestinal system are:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Frequent headaches
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
Animal dander allergy can be very severe. In some cases it becomes anaphylactic. It is advised that you need to consult a registered health care practitioner in order to get treated at the earliest.
Prevention:Here are some tips to prevent animal dander allergy:
- Use high efficiency air filters and vacuum cleaners to filter the air.
- Wash your hands more often.
- As far as possible avoid direct contact with dander. If you have to remove dander from animals body, use gloves to do so and wash your hands properly.
- Bathe your pet animals weekly with a shampoo or conditioner. It decreases the amount of dander by approximately 50%.
- If you cannot live without pet, at least do not allow it to come in your bedroom.
- Have proper clothing when pets are in your vicinity.
