How to help take control of pet allergies

Signs of allergies can often be a result of exposure to proteins found in pet saliva and dead skin cells, or urine. Pet dander can remain airborne for long periods of time as well as sticking to clothing and soft furnishings.²

Allergic reactions are caused by an inflammatory reaction in your nasal passages or lungs, as your immune system responds to inhaling the pet dander allergen.²

By producing the antibodies needed to shield you from foreign substances, your body may overcompensate in reaction to pet allergies, with symptoms including:

• wheeziness
• difficulty breathing and asthmatic reactions
• sneezing and nasal congestion
• eye irritation including itchiness and wateriness
• swollen skin around the eyes
• chest tightness
• insomnia from shortness of breath or coughing
• eczema on the surface of the skin
• red patches on the skin and itchiness²

Any animal with fur can cause a reaction to allergy sufferers, but cats and dogs are the most common² - fur often spreads when you groom your pet, or they groom themselves. Pet dander can remain a trigger even if the pet is no longer in the room.³ It is possible to develop an allergy at any time, even if you’re a pet lover.

Pets are present in 59% of UK households.⁴ If you suffer from symptoms or allergic reactions to pets, there are options available to help relieve the suffering.

The most obvious solution is to avoid being around the cat and dog breeds that cause the most severe symptoms. Ask friends and family to possibly meet outdoors if they’re pet owners to avoid being around pet dander and triggering allergens.

Using a vacuum cleaner with powerful suction and tools, such as the cordless, Dyson V15 Detect™ vacuum cleaner can make a real difference. As it’s cordless, it allows you to clean a variety of surfaces easily and freely without the limitations of a cord. With the Illuminated cleaner head, you can also see hidden pet hair you may otherwise miss.

Vacuuming slowly and carefully, working in a pattern and using the right tools, increases the chances of catching pet dander.

Try the Hair screw tool with the Conical brush bar for specialist engineering that tightens strands and remove into the bin in seconds – avoiding blocking your brush bar.

If you frequently travel with your pet in the car, you’ll know about pet hair covering surfaces quickly. Pet dander can also commonly shed in your car, so a cordless or handheld vacuum, such as the powerful Dyson V7 handheld vacuum cleaner, can make cleaning your car quick and easy.

Finally, washing your pet’s bedding frequently can help to remove dander and particles. Washing pet bedding is an important step to remove possible triggers as it is easily transferable.

Avoiding pets altogether is a difficult option for animal lovers. It’s bene recorded that 3.2 million of UK households have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic.⁶ Pets are a great solution to loneliness – but sadly there are no pets which are 100% hypoallergenic.⁷

Choosing a pet that sheds less hair can help, but you can still be exposed to pet dander regularly. Speaking to your doctor will help you to make a decision of how best to manage your allergies with treatments such as antihistamines for milder reactions.⁸

Pollen, dust and dry air all contribute to poor air quality – including pet dander.

Our environment is something that has come into focus since the start of the pandemic. The machines we choose to protect us from allergies is one that should go through rigorous testing.

An air purifier can be key to supporting your wellbeing. Their prime benefit is to help promote clean, quality air at a healthy level. Engineered to protect you against viruses, allergens and other particles in your home, air purifiers help prevent pollution from entering your airways.

Capturing pollen and allergens, the Dyson Purifier Cool Autoreact purifies the whole room⁹ and removes 99.95% of ultrafine particles.¹⁰

The Dyson purifier range has been tested on rooms the size of 81m³ with nine sensors that continuously measure air quality.¹¹ The unique algorithm cross-checks data every second to precisely monitor your air quality.

The activated carbon filter helps capture odours, so combining this technology with the Hair screw tool will help to prevent smells.

Choosing Auto mode will activate your purifier as soon as particles are detected, keeping the room purified at all times even when you’re busy.

Fortunately, there are several approaches to help improve your allergen exposure. With these tips and specifically designed machines, reducing exposure to pet dander and particles can help you to reduce symptoms.