Pet Adoption

Does Your Dog Display Signs of Allergies?

We have a dog that has been to the vet for a regular check-up and is in good health. She goes for her walks every day in the morning and usually whichever one of us, myself or my husband, have to almost run to keep up with her. She’s a beautiful, energetic, loving creature. And she has little quirks that are endearing. When she sleeps, sometimes she makes a ‘mmm mmm’ sound. I mentioned this to my husband the other day and he laughed. He likes it when she makes that sound too. I think it means that in her dog world, she’s content. Sometimes, if we’re at the door to go our for our walk, she barks to say “Come on already!”. I think it’s here way of showing who’s boss. More recently, I noticed she licks her paws. I couldn’t figure out how to interpret this. I’ve just found out that means she might have a dog allergy.
Here’s what I’ve found out about dog allergies so far. Dog allergies are increasingly common.
Dogs can be allergic to, among other things, pollen, food additives, mites, flea bites and insects. Allergens that are inhaled, eaten or that get on dog’s body cause the immune systems to produce a protein called IGE, which releases histamines. The no. 1 dog allergen, called Can f 1, is primarily found in dog saliva. Then there’s dog albumin, a protein found in the blood. Even dogs that are considered allergy-free can suddenly come down with them.
Here’s what you want to be on the look-out for with your dog. A dog that sneezes or scratches itself, not surprisingly, possibly has an allergy. Similarly, a dog that licks its feet or rubs its face on the carpet probably has an allergy as well. This is your dog’s way of trying to relieve the itch associated with the allergy. Flees, hair loss and scabs and sores are also red alerts for allergies.
Regular dog baths, at least once or twice a week, helps reduce much of the allergens released from the animal. It’s also a good idea to wipe the dog with a wet cloth or hand towel daily. You also need to read the ingredients in canned dog food. One solution is to buy hypoallergenic dog food from the vet’s. Typically you can only buy this kind of specialty dog food from the vet’s. Another is to use homemade dog food.…

Dog Shelter

Cat Allergies Air Cleaner – 5 Features That Spell Effectiveness

If your adorable cat makes your eyes water whenever he is near, you are probably allergic to its dander. Using an air purifier with the following 5 features indicates its ability to minimize your allergy symptoms

HEPA Filtration—Dander protein is one of the most potent allergens known. Dander is microscopic in size but it packs a powerful punch to those with allergies. Sneezing, congestion watering eyes, coughing and a constricted throat can all result when dander levels are high.

A HEPA (or high efficiency particle arresting) filter is recommended by doctors as a necessary part of any allergy management plan. It is able to effectively eliminate airborne particulates as tiny as .3 microns in size with a micron being described as one millionth of a meter.

This type of filter will easily remove dander as well as allergens such as bacteria, viruses, mold and mildew spores, dust, and dust mites. It is because of its efficiency that this technology is used in hospitals to insure clean air.

Carbon Cloth Filter—While cat-related pollutants may be the primary source of your allergy problems, flare-ups are often caused by a combination of triggers including smoke, odors, and airborne chemicals and scents from household, personal, and cleaning products.

Originally invented by the British Military as protection against chemical warfare, this type of filter serves a dual purpose. Not only can it remove gaseous allergy triggers, but gives additional protection against particles because it is woven like cloth.

24 Hour Operation—Keeping allergen levels low helps you avoid the triggers. It is essential that any cleaner be able to run safely and effectively all the time. That is the only way to insure that irritants never rise to a level that will trigger an attack. This literally keeps the dander down!

To do this your cleaner need to be equipped with a split capacitor motor. Look in the technical specifications or the owner’s manual to confirm that this is the type the purifier has.

360 Degree Intake—A unit that can pull air in from all sides is a huge advantage. This means you can place it any where that is best for your situation. Rather than need to be put in the center of the room you can put it as close as 6 inches to any surface and have it still function at 100% efficiency.

Casters—You’ve probably been told to keep your feline friend out of the bedroom. But if this is a long standing tradition you may not be heeding the advice you’ve been given.

A purifier with wheels that can roll effortlessly over any surface is a huge advantage. This would allow you to roll the cleaner into your bedroom at night which would help keep the allergens low and allow your friend to stay in the bedroom with you. Just a thought.…