questions & answersGeneral Questions About AllergiesIn responding to questions about our products,we have been able to answer several "general allergy" questions, as well. We are please to share with you the "most often asked" general allergy questions we have encountered. You can use the Section Menu button
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 What is an allergy?How are allergens taken into
the body?How many people suffer from allergic diseases?How many people are allergic to animals?Which animals cause allergies?Which allergic symptoms do pets trigger?What causes allergies to Dogs? Is it the hair?How is dander formed? |
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What causes allergies to Cats?Cats are know to be extremely fastidious - Why do they cause more allergic reactions than other pets?What about birds and small furry pets?Is it true that certain breeds of dogs and catsdo not cause allergies because they don't shed, or that short-haired pets cause fewer problems than pets with long hair? Don't bird and small furry pets cause fewer reactions? |
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Why do puppies and kittens causefewer allergy problems?Is anything available to help allergy sufferers relieve their sensitivity to pets?What happens when your doctorssays you're allergic to pets?How can you keep your pet and control your allergy?Is any age especially prone toallergy?What causes an allergic reaction?
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An allergy is a hypersensitivity, or abnormal reaction, to a substance that is ordinarily harmless to most people. Substances which cause allergies are called allergens or antigens.
Animal allergens, pollen, house dust, molds, foods and medicines are only a few substances that trigger allergic episodes. Fabric softeners, soaps, detergents, perfumes, scented cosmetics, insecticides, cleaning fluids, paints, tobacco, and even fumes given off by vehicles and industry can set off allergies. In short, anyone can be allergic to anything.
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HOW ARE ALLERGENS TAKEN INTO THE BODY?
These may be taken into the body in four ways:
Through the nose, throat, and lungs, in the airborne substances we inhale. Pollen, house dust, and pet allergens (from dander, saliva and urine) and are prime examples.
Through the mouth and digestive system, in the food, food additives, or drugs we ingest.
Through the substances and chemicals that come in contact with our skin, such as poison ivy, cosmetics, grooming aids, and detergents.
Through the tissues under the skin, via the chemicals injected into our bodies, such as
vaccines, medicines (penicillin, antibiotics, and insulin), or by animal bites or insect stings.
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DO MANY PEOPLE SUFFER FROM ALLERGIC DISEASES?
Allergy is, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, probably the most widespread chronic condition in the world; it is a major problem in every country. It is estimated that one in four people is a chronic allergy sufferer, although anyone has the potential to develop an allergy at any time. Allergies are so prevalent that they affect almost every household. Nearly everyone either has an allergy or knows someone who does.
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HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO ANIMALS?
Sensitivities to animals is one of the most frequently seen allergies. It is currently estimated that 15 to 20 percent of the population are sensitive to animals. With a population of approximately 250 million in the United States, this means that between 50 to 60 million Americans may be adversely affected when exposed. According to many physicians, these figures may be low estimates. From the standpoint of sheer numbers of susceptible people, says Dr. Michael G. Loar of Littleton, Colorado, allergy may well be the most common illness caused by pets.
Allergies to cats in particular have multiplied alarmingly in the last decade, undoubtedly because there are more cats than ever in homes in many parts of the world. Pets have become an integral part of our lives and pet ownership is at an all-time high in this country. Our total pet population is more than 150 million, the most common being cats and dogs. Allergies to cats in particular have multiplied alarmingly in the last decade, undoubtedly because there are more cats than ever in homes in many parts of the world. Indeed, since 1987, registrations of cats in the USA have surpassed those of dogs. Veterinarians in the nation say that their feline patients have doubled or even tripled in the last decade. Cat care now comprises nearly 60 percent of many practices.
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WHICH ANIMALS CAUSE ALLERGIES?
Any animal with fur or feathers. This would include cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice, rats, monkeys, horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and all kinds of birds. Cats, by far, cause the most allergic reactions, followed by dogs and horses.
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WHICH ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS DO PETS CAUSE?
Furred or feathered pets can cause many different types of allergic symptoms in humans, however the most common are:
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The major cause of allergic reactions to dogs is not the hair or fur, but what's under it: the dander or old skin scales (similar to, only much smaller than dandruff on the human scalp) which dogs constantly shed into the environment. These are extremely tiny, like microns of dust or powder, that allergy sufferers seldom, if ever, know are circulating in the air, clinging to the furniture, draperies and wall coverings. If a dog has been in the family for a long time, its dander will have permeated the entire house. And it is not uncommon to find that allergic symptoms will continue for weeks, and at times months, even after the animal has been removed from the house. Saliva and urine are also potential sources of dog allergens -- one potent allergen has been identified in salivary extracts -- but the primary culprit is the dander.
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HOW IS DANDER FORMED?
Dander occurs naturally as the epidermis, or the outer layer of the skin, renews itself. The epidermis of dogs and cats is quite thin; it is made up of many layers of cells which are constantly pushing upward to replace the cells above. As this process takes place about every 21 days, the outer cells die and flake off into the environment as dander.
It has been found, incidentally, that the epidermal turnover is more rapid in breeds that are prone to the various forms of dry and oily seborrhea, such as Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, West Highland White Terriers, Chinese Shar-Pei, Basset Hounds, German Shepherd Dogs, Irish Setters, Afghan Hounds, Doberman Pinschers and Dachshunds. Instead of the normal 21 day cycle, the epidermal turnover of seborrheic dogs is 3 to 4 days. Treating seborrheic breeds with Allerpet once a week is of particular importance to loosen and remove the dander, flakes and scales. Allergic persons will suffer far more from these animals because of the frequency and exceptionally large quantity of dander that is produced.
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WHY ARE MORE PEOPLE ALLERGIC TO CATS THAN DOGS?
Cats cause more allergy problems than other animals and sensitivities to them can be extremely serious. Fel d 1, the major allergen of the domestic cat, is produced in the sebaceous glands of the cat’s skin and in cat saliva. Fel d1 is deposited on the fur from sebaceous gland secretions and through saliva (when cats lick themselves clean).
Previously , it had been generally accepted that the self-cleaning of the cat was the major source of Fel d 1. A recent study in Marseille, France, at the Hospital de Ste-Marguerite indicated that the largest producer of Fel d 1 by far is the sebaceous glands.
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CATS ARE KNOWN TO BE EXTREMELY FASTIDIOUS; WHY DO THEY CAUSE MORE ALLERGIC REACTIONS THAN OTHER PETS?
Cats are notoriously fastidious. They groom themselves repeatedly by licking their fur with their tongues. Such methodical self-grooming is not just a matter of personal hygiene, it is a reflex behavior in normal healthy cats. It is estimated that most normal, healthy cats spend from 30 to 50 percent of their waking time grooming themselves. And it is this natural behavioral instinct that makes cats more allergic than other pets. Each lick of their tongues during the grooming process deposits large amounts of saliva on the fur. The saliva dries on the hair; eventually it flakes off, becomes airborne and triggers the symptoms that characterize allergies to cats. The allergen in cat saliva and sebaceous gland secretions is one of the smallest of all known allergens and after being inhaled, penetrates very deeply into the lungs.
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WHAT ABOUT BIRDS AND SMALL FURRY PETS?
Birds can also produce allergic reactions in humans. The principal allergens are derived from their feather dust, which is old dried dander. Some of the larger species of parrots are known to produce greater amounts of feather dust than other birds. Moluccan (or salmon-crested) Cockatoos, Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Greater White-crested Cockatoos, and Umbrella-crested Cockatoos, for instance, may cause more problems for allergy sufferers, since they can produce enough powder to coat most surfaces in the room in which they are caged on an almost daily basis.
Urine from small furry pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats, mice, ferrets and rabbits contains allergens which also trigger reactions. It appears that proteins present in the urine, particularly of males, are the primary cause of allergies to rodents and other small furry caged pets. Additional allergens from dander and saliva have also been identified. Rabbits are becoming increasingly popular as house pets. Like cats, rabbits are self-cleaners and their saliva probably causes as many allergy related problems as that of cats.
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IS IT TRUE THAT CERTAIN BREEDS OF DOGS AND CATS DO NOT CAUSE ALLERGIES BECAUSE THEY DON'T SHED, OR THAT SHORT-HAIRED PETS CAUSE FEWER PROBLEMS THAN PETS WITH LONG HAIR? DON'T BIRDS AND SMALL FURRY PETS CAUSE FEWER REACTIONS?
Shedding or non-shedding, short hair or long hair, it makes no difference. The patterns of allergy response to various breeds of dogs and cats differ; a sensitive person can be more allergic to one breed than another, independent of the animal's hair length or shedding pattern. Some animals seem more tolerable than others because they shed fewer allergens.
It has been said that dogs and cats which do not shed -- such as Poodles, Bichons Frises, Bedlington Terriers, Rex cats -- and short - haired and hairless breeds will not cause allergies. Or that birds and small caged animals -- gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits and such -- are acceptable. These statements are not true.
Birds preen themselves and flutter their wings, no matter how small they may be, shaking feather dust into the air where it circulates throughout the house. And bird cages that are not cleaned regularly can be the perfect setting for the growth of mold spores, bacteria and other organisms which can heighten allergic sensitivities. The spreading of allergens is less of a problem with small furry pets that are kept in cages, but even they can cause problems. How many allergens these pets spread depends on their size and number, and how often they are handled by various family members.
Remember: the hair, fur or feathers have no allergic potential themselves. However, they may be contaminated by dander and by salivary and urinary secretions which dry and later flake off into the environment, becoming airborne and circulating throughout the house.
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WHY DO PUPPIES AND KITTENS CAUSE FEWER ALLERGY PROBLEMS?
Young animals, especially puppies and kittens, have less skin to shed and therefore diminished dander. This is why people who purchase young pets often find themselves "suddenly" developing an allergy to the pet as it reaches maturity.
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IS ANYTHING AVAILABLE TO HELP ALLERGY SUFFERERS RELIEVE THEIR SENSITIVITIES TO PETS?
Until Allerpet, nothing has been available to use on furred or feathered animals to help allergy sufferers. Allerpet was formulated to solve these problems by cleansing the hair of the antigens that cause their sensitivities, by controlling their dispersal into the environment, and by specially conditioning the hair and skin to reduce future accumulations.
Allerpet is easy to use on all animals with fur or feathers. It is sponged onto the hair or sprayed onto the feathers once a week. Allerpet is non-oily and will not leave a sticky residue on the coat or feathers. Since perfume can trigger allergic reactions, Allerpet contains no fragrance. It is safe and non-toxic to pets, regardless of how frequently an animal licks its coat.
Anecdotal testing of Allerpet commenced in April of 1985 and continued through June of 1988. A total of 160 persons were involved in the study. Throughout the study, a consistent 80 to 85 percent of those participating expressed a significant improvement in their ability to tolerate their pets. This high success rate is consistent with many papers that have been published on the subject of aeroallergens over the last few years. In conjunction with Bayer AG of Leverkusen, Germany, the formal testing of Allerpet was completed on January 31, 1994 at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
Removal of the allergens from an animal before they have a chance to become airborne is the easiest, quickest, and most certain way to reduce the environmental load of pet-related allergens. This is especially true of cat allergen which is extremely tiny and remains airborne for protracted periods of time.
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR DOCTOR SAYS YOU'RE ALLERGIC TO PETS?
Being allergic doesn't mean that you can't have a pet or that you must give up one you already have. Even if your doctor finds that you have an animal-related allergy, don't give up your pet so quickly!
The human-companion animal bond is so strong that the thought of having to give up a pet because of allergies is almost impossible to contemplate. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States reports that in a study of hundreds of adults who were allergic to cats or dogs and hae been told by their physicians to find new homes for them, only one in five dis. What's more, several of them obtained another pet after the previous one had died.
The importance of pets to human mental health has been well documented and we have learned, too, that pets can play an important role in people's phyical well being. Pets, especially dogs and cats, are loved like children. Owners pamper them, let them sleep in their beds, worry about their health, give them unlimited access to areas where the family spends most of their time, and frequently take them along on vacations or social visits. Having to part with a cherished animal can be an emotionally wrenching experience, especially when the pet has given years of devotion and companionship. It's like losing a much-loved family member. The thoughts of what will happen to it can be agonizing and the ensuing emotional trauma can make an allergy even wors
Then there is the special problem of pets and allergic children. A youngster with allergies can disrupt an entire family. Other non-allergic children often become jealous or resentful because they cannot have a pet, or have to give up one which is loved and wanted. They frequently develop behavior problems in an effort to receive more attention.
Some doctors add that giving up a pet literally can be heartbreaking since studies show that pet owners tend to live longer after a heart attack than non-pet owners, presumably because caring for a pet eases stress.
Scientists have made dramatic advances in the understanding and management of
airborne animal allergens in recent years and, except in the most dire cases,
removing a pet from the home is not the only solution anymore. Except in
the worse case scenario, giving up a pet should be the last step an allergic
person should take, never the first.
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HOW CAN YOU KEEP YOUR PET AND CONTROL YOUR ALLERGY?
Studies have shown that even though many doctors advise their patients to find new homes, the majority choose to suffer with their symptoms rather than give away a beloved companion. Many people can significantly decrease their symptoms by using ALLERPET and making a few adjustments in their lifestyle and environment. As previously mentioned, scientists have made dramatic advances in the understanding and management of airborne animal allergens in recent years. The trend has moved toward coexistence, i.e. working out a plan that enables a person to keep his or her pet while taking certain practical steps to minimize allergens in the environment by a combination of actions including cleansing the animal, reducing dust levels and filtering the air.
Allergies are cumulative. In other words, they build up. People also can have varying degrees of sensitivities to different allergens. When someone is allergic to animal dander and saliva, he's probably also allergic to other substances found in and around the house. Dust, mold, mildew, pollens, flowers, trees, paint, perfume, soaps, cosmetics, and other substances can trigger allergic reactions. Whether a person has symptoms or not depends on how many of these allergens are in his environment at a particular time.
Every allergic person has a tolerance level above which an acute reaction takes place. This is often referred to as the "rain barrel" effect. Someone who is allergic to animals, for instance, may have no noticeable symptoms when his total exposure is below his allergy threshold (or the amount of a substance needed to produce a reaction). But collect enough other allergens in the same environment to exceed his allergy threshold limit, his "rain barrel" will overflow and symptoms will pop up. One of the most important goals in controlling allergies to pets is to minimize exposure to other allergens, such as those mentioned above, that trigger attacks. By using Allerpet on a regular basis, and by taking a few preventive measures to remove or decrease other allergens in the home, an allergy sufferer should be able to reduce many of the sensitivities to his pet.
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IS ANY AGE ESPECIALLY PRONE TO ALLERGY?
No. Allergies can develop at any age but there is a greater inclination for them to start during childhood, partly because a child's immune system is more active and sensitive than an adult's. Some people develop allergies in childhood and have them all their lives while others "outgrow" their allergies. While it happens occasionally that a youngster will lose symptoms of a specific allergic condition, a child almost never loses his allergic state; other allergic manifestations or the old symptoms return. It's also not unusual for an allergy to manifest itself in mid-life, when after repeated contact with an allergen, a person suddenly develops a sensitivity.
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WHAT CAUSES AN ALLERGIC REACTION?
It results from a misdirected response by the immune system, the body's defense against invasion by bacteria, viruses, and other organisms.
During our lifetime, millions of foreign substances enter the human system, usually with no detrimental effects. Normally, the immune system produces various antibodies that kill or neutralize specific foreign invaders. When such a substance enters the body -- whether it's swallowed, inhaled, injected, or touched -- specifically programmed antibodies attack and destroy it. In people with allergies, the immune system can't tell the difference between dangerous and harmless substances. It attacks normally non-irritating substances -- pollen, dust, animal dander, food and the like -- by producing 5 types of special antibodies (which substances called immunoglobins). The one that triggers most allergic reactions is Immunoglobin E (IgE).
Exposure plays an important role. You're most likely to develop an allergy to a substance you've been exposed to in small doses, many times, separated by intervals. Sensitivity to a particular allergen can take anywhere from a few days to a few years to develop. Rarely does an allergen provoke a reaction the first time you encounter it.
Suppose you become allergic to animal dander. When the tiny dander particles first enter your body, nothing happens. But the next time animal dander enters your body, or the tenth time, or the hundredth time (it frequently takes numerous exposures before an allergy develops), your immune system begins to manufacture IgE antibodies to combat the dander allergens. The IgE antibodies gather on the surface of two types of body cells: the mast cells (tissue cells found primarily in the lining of the nose, throat, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and skin), and the basophils (a type of white blood cell).
The union of the specific IgE and allergen that takes place on the surface of the two cell types is explosive. The cells become injured or "sensitized," which causes them to release a torrent of irritating chemicals, particularly histamine. Normal amounts do no harm, but too much cause the capillaries to widen. You could say that the immune system goes haywire. Depending on the part of the body where the reaction takes place: the nose, eyes, sinuses, lungs, gastrointestinal tract of skin, it triggers various maddening sensations associated with allergies like a runny nose, sinusitis, itchy eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, hives, eczema and so forth.
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