Is Your Child's Beloved Pet the Cause of an Asthma Attack?
Measures you can take to prevent or minimize asthma attacks caused by pets.
That cute
little kitten or lovable dog that your child (or partner) can't live
without could be making them very sick. Sadly, as much as we love them,
cats and dogs are often major asthma triggers for asthma sufferers and
can send some to the emergency room. Contrary to what many people
believe, it is the dander (dry flakes of skin), not the hair of the
animal that actually is the cause of the problem. Your pet's dander is
shed continuously, but it is so small that it's difficult to see. The
dander is easily airborne and sticks readily to fibers- therefore it
goes everywhere and gets on just about everything. If you have rugs and your pet
comes inside the house, they are certainly full of it, so is your furniture and beds if they are allowed on them.
If you cuddle or play with your pet, it's all over your clothing too.
However, this doesn't mean that you have to get rid of Fido or Garfield.
There are a
number of alternatives that you can take. Steam cleaning rugs and
furniture in your home will help to remove the dander. Using a HEPA
vacuum cleaner is also good. If possible, getting rid of rugs is the
best solution. Make sure your pet stays out of the asthma sufferer's
bedroom. Wash all bedding, floors and walls to remove the dander. Then
use a HEPA air purifier at night in the bedroom with the door
closed.
Take your
pet to the groomer for a shampoo once a week or have a family member
wash your pet outside to ensure that the dander level is kept as low as
possible. Long haired pets should get clipped shorter. If your pet
loves to show their appreciation by licking, this should be discouraged
since their saliva will contain dander as well as proteins, which are
also an asthma trigger for many asthma sufferers.
If you don't
have a pet but your friends or relatives do, even a short visit to their
home can cause problems for an asthma sufferer, especially children who
can't resist playing with them. When you get home, get your child to
take a shower and wash their clothing too to remove the dander.
Living with
your beloved pet can be comfortable and symptom free when taking all of
these measures. However, if your situation is more serious and your pet
still makes you sick, then you may want to try a natural asthma
treatment.
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© Susan Millar - http://www.dramatic-asthma-relief.com
About the Author - Susan Millar is a former asthma and allergy sufferer. She is
a researcher and the author of "The Dramatic Asthma Relief Report, based on extensive research from internationally respected medical publications about genuinely effective alternative treatment for
asthma & allergies,
which helped her to eliminate her asthma and allergies. This book has helped many other sufferers worldwide to do the same.
