Living With Pets May Protect Infants From Allergies

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By Amanda Gardner

MONDAY, June 13, 2011 (Health.com) — Children who live with dogs and cats are less likely to develop allergies to those animals later in life, but only if the pet is under the same roof while the child is still an infant, a new study suggests.

Compared to babies born into cat-free homes, those who grew up with cats were roughly half as likely to be allergic to them as teenagers, the study found. Growing up around a dog reduced the risk of dog allergies by about the same amount for boys, but not for girls—a finding that mystified researchers.

Being exposed to pets anytime after the first year of life appeared to have no effect on allergy risk, however, which indicates that timing may be everything when it comes to preventing allergies.

Though they can’t say for sure, the researchers suspect that early exposure to pet allergens and pet-related bacteria strengthens the immune system, accustoms the body to allergens, and helps the child build up a natural immunity.

Related links:

• 15 Hypoallergenic Dogs and Cats


• How to Reduce Pet Allergens at Home


• What to Do If You’re Allergic to Your Pet

“Dirt is good,” says lead researcher Ganesa Wegienka, Ph.D., summing up the theory. “Your immune system, if it’s busy with exposures early on, stays away from the allergic immune profile.”

This isn’t the first study to find that having a household pet may protect kids from allergies, but it is the first to follow children until they were 18 years old.

Previous studies have had mixed results—some have even linked pet exposure during infancy to an increased risk of allergy—so it’s too early to recommend getting a dog or cat just to ward off allergies in your infant, says David Nash, M.D., clinical director of allergy and immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

“In the end, we’ll probably find out that there are periods of opportunity when exposure to allergens, for some people, is going to have a protective effect,” says Dr. Nash, who was not involved with the new study. “But we’re a long way from figuring out who it’s protective for and when that optimal period is.”

By the same token, don’t give away your beloved family pet because you’re concerned the critter will provoke allergies. “I would not get rid of my dog if I was having a child,” says Wegienka, an epidemiologist in the department of public health sciences at Henry Ford Hospital, in Detroit. “There’s no evidence that you should get rid of a dog or a cat.”

Moreover, it’s possible that factors other than having a dog or cat in the house influenced the study participants’ risk of allergy. For instance, although the researchers took into account whether the children’s parents were allergic to animals, they didn’t ask about a broader family history of allergies or other health problems. So it could be that children who are genetically predisposed to animal allergies simply are less likely to grow up in homes with pets.

In the study, which appears in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Wegienka and her colleagues collected information from 566 children and their parents about the kids’ exposure to indoor pets and their history of allergies. In addition, when the kids turned 18, the researchers took blood samples and tested them for certain immune-system proteins (known as antibodies) that fight off cat and dog allergens.

The teenagers who lived with a cat during their first year of life had a 48 percent lower risk of cat allergy than their peers, and the teen boys who lived with a dog had a 50 percent lower risk of allergy. The authors suggest that infant girls may not develop the same immunity as boys because they may interact differently with dogs than infant boys, but that’s only a guess.

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Study: Living With Pets May Protect Infants From Allergies | TIME.com

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Children who live with dogs and cats are less likely to develop allergies to those animals later in life, but only if the pet is under the same roof while the child is still an infant, a new study suggests.

Compared to babies born into cat-free homes, those who grew up with cats were roughly half as likely to be allergic to them as teenagers, the study found. Growing up around a dog reduced the risk of dog allergies by about the same amount for boys, but not for girls — a finding that mystified researchers.

Being exposed to pets anytime after the first year of life appeared to have no effect on allergy risk, however, which indicates that timing may be everything when it comes to preventing allergies.

(More on Health.com: 15 Hypoallergenic Dogs and Cats)

Though they can’t say for sure, the researchers suspect that early exposure to pet allergens and pet-related bacteria strengthens the immune system, accustoms the body to allergens, and helps the child build up a natural immunity.

“Dirt is good,” says lead researcher Ganesa Wegienka, Ph.D., summing up the theory. “Your immune system, if it’s busy with exposures early on, stays away from the allergic immune profile.”

This isn’t the first study to find that having a household pet may protect kids from allergies, but it is the first to follow children until they were 18 years old.

(More on Health.com: How to Reduce Pet Allergens at Home)

Previous studies have had mixed results — some have even linked pet exposure during infancy to an increased risk of allergy — so it’s too early to recommend getting a dog or cat just to ward off allergies in your infant, says David Nash, M.D., clinical director of allergy and immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

“In the end, we’ll probably find out that there are periods of opportunity when exposure to allergens, for some people, is going to have a protective effect,” says Dr. Nash, who was not involved with the new study. “But we’re a long way from figuring out who it’s protective for and when that optimal period is.”

By the same token, don’t give away your beloved family pet because you’re concerned the critter will provoke allergies. “I would not get rid of my dog if I was having a child,” says Wegienka, an epidemiologist in the department of public health sciences at Henry Ford Hospital, in Detroit. “There’s no evidence that you should get rid of a dog or a cat.”

(More on Health.com: What to do if you’re allergic to your pet)

Moreover, it’s possible that factors other than having a dog or cat in the house influenced the study participants’ risk of allergy. For instance, although the researchers took into account whether the children’s parents were allergic to animals, they didn’t ask about a broader family history of allergies or other health problems. So it could be that children who are genetically predisposed to animal allergies simply are less likely to grow up in homes with pets.

In the study, which appears in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Wegienka and her colleagues collected information from 566 children and their parents about the kids’ exposure to indoor pets and their history of allergies. In addition, when the kids turned 18, the researchers took blood samples and tested them for certain immune-system proteins (known as antibodies) that fight off cat and dog allergens.

The teenagers who lived with a cat during their first year of life had a 48 percent lower risk of cat allergy than their peers, and the teen boys who lived with a dog had a 50 percent lower risk of allergy. The authors suggest that infant girls may not develop the same immunity as boys because they may interact differently with dogs than infant boys, but that’s only a guess.

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Pets and Allergies

Hello out there! I am still alive and well…

We’ve spent the last few weeks on another adventure with Sissy. We now have a new to us vet with a special interest in nutrition and digestive issues, a new diet (for the dogs, thanks much) and we might finally be making progress on Sissy’s life-long problem with her anal glands. Along the way, our friend AllyBand her dog Sam introduced us to allergy testing for pets. Her vet used The Spectrum Group, but I’d love to hear any experiences you’ve had with similar services and/or other types of allergy testing for pets.

(See that super-pink belly?! That’s not ideal… no wonder the girl always wants someone to rub her belly.)

I’ll be asking New Vet about the blood testing on Monday when the girls go in for follow-up on Sissy and a “meet and greet” plus annual exam for Gretchen. I’ve had a dog with seasonal allergies and he spent his last years on assorted allergy pills, but this is a whole new adventure for me. How many of you have had pets with allergies, and what sorts? How did you manage them?

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Helping Pets Live a Healthier Life!

Many people look for natural allergy relief for dogs because they worry about the side effects common to more aggressive medications such as steroids. Pet owners have a right to be concerned about side effects such as heart and kidney damage, but finding natural allergy relief that works for all dogs can be difficult.

Some holistic veterinarians suggest essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6. Regular use of these supplements reduces histamine response to allergens and conditions the skin to reduce itching. These can be effective treatments for some pets, but they work in less than half of the animals that take them. These also have to be taken continuously or the allergy symptoms will quickly return.

Prevention vs. Treatment in Natural Allergy Relief for Dogs

Other forms of natural allergy relief for dogs focus on relieving the symptoms after they appear. Weekly baths with colloidal oatmeal shampoos and natural skin lotions that reduce the inflammation and painful itching are a wonderful way to treat allergies once they strike, but what about preventing allergies?

The only way to prevent allergies in dogs is to minimize exposure to allergens. Our article on Allergy Control for Pets can give you some tips for minimizing exposure and controlling the environment your dog is in. The only purely natural allergy relief for dogs that works year round is prevention – and the best continuous form of prevention is the PetAirapy system! By filtering out or neutralizing pollens, dust mites, molds and other contaminants, the PetAirapy system prevents your dog from inhaling allergens in your home.

I guess our moms were right – an ounce of prevention really IS worth a pound of cure! And the PetAirapy filtration system is the most effective preventative, natural allergy relief for dogs available.

A friend of mine, Lori, used to have a Black Lab that she repeatedly took to the veterinarian because she was looking for a treatment for her skin allergies. Unfortunately, it took months of trial and error and suffering before her Labrador Retriever found relief. The vet explained to her that skin allergy treatments for pets were, in part, a guessing game that didn’t always work. He admitted that there was no single, effective form of treatment for pets with skin allergies, although there were several different types of treatments that sometimes worked.

What a shame for pets! I know my friend felt horrible watching her precious pet scratch, chew, rub her face in the carpet and whimper from the pain and itching while the veterinarian scrambled to find an effective treatment for her canine atopic dermatitis. Among the various skin allergy treatments for pets that were tried were:

• 
  Medicated baths. These are a good way to temporarily relieve the itching, dryness and discomfort of skin problems in pets. These can also moisturize the skin and temporarily control the unpleasant odor that often accompanies skin allergies in pets. Some medicated baths also contain antiseptic properties if the area is infected. These are only temporary solutions, however, and usually last a few days to a week at the most before the skin problems return.


• 
  Colloidal Oatmeal baths are also sometimes recommended for dogs with skin problems because it soothes the itching and reduces inflammation. Again, this is only a way to relieve the discomfort, and doesn’t cure the problem.


• 
  Steroids are one of the most effective treatments for skin problems in dogs, unfortunately they can only be used for short periods of time. Why? Because they can lead to secondary infections, seizures and even diabetes when they are used long-term.


• 
  Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids are recommended for many dogs who are prone to chronic skin problems. These are supplements that can be taken every day and have very few side effects. However, only about 25% of the dogs and cats who take them daily respond to them.


• 
  Antihistamines are one of the best ways to treat pets with skin problems. They alleviate the itch and reduce the inflammation, allowing the body’s natural defenses combat the problem. When these do work, they are very effective, but antihistamines only work for about one-third of the pets who take them!

Eventually my friend’s sweet Labrador recovered due to a combination of medicated shampoos, antihistamines and steroids that cost well over $ 1,300 before her dog felt better! And within a few months, the allergies returned! It turned out she was allergic to pollen and dust mites!

I wish I could have told her about PetAirapy’s “one-two punch” approach to preventing allergies before her Lab passed away! By filtering out airborne particles and combined with UV light that kills molds and other spores, my friend could have made her home much more comfortable for her Labrador, but she’s just ordered the PetAirapy system for her home because she has another dog, Soldier, who suffers from allergies! Lori has promised to keep me posted on Soldier’s progress once the PetAirapy system is installed.

It’s a shame that all of the research into pet skin care hasn’t resulted in a lasting cure for pets with skin allergies. I guess it goes to show that the causes of allergies in pets are complex and difficult to manage. Perhaps this is because there are so many different breeds of dogs and cats and so many possible causes of allergic dermatitis. Whatever the reason, pet owners should know that there aren’t any sure-fire treatments for dogs with skin problems – in some cases, the treatment is as bad as the allergy, and can even make your pet sick. So you need to be pro-active in preventing skin problems in dogs and cats you love. Using the PetAirapy filtration system is the best way I know to keep your pet healthy and keep you breathing easier!

More pets are developing canine atopic dermatitis every year, which means every year more dog owners are coping with pets who are itching, scratching and miserable due to severe skin discomfort. These animals have often begun to suffer during seasonal periods such as spring and fall, but over the years the active phase of atopic dermatitis in dogs usually becomes longer until the pet is often suffering year-round.

(more…)

Two of the biggest concerns facing pet owners today are respiratory health problems such as kennel cough and pet allergies, which more pets are suffering from every year. Fortunately, the PetAirapy company has just launched an amazing new system that addresses both of these concerns and is making it available for both business and in-home use.

(more…)

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Herbs for Seasonal Allergies in Pets

Herbs for Seasonal Allergies in Pets

May 14, 2009

tags: allergies, cats, dogs, hayfever, herbs, natural, pets, remedies

Cedar, an Australian cattle dog has red, runny, eyes. He itches too. Probably because of a sudden rise in

Nettle (Urtica spp.)

mold or pollen, an event that always follows a spring snowmelt. Regardless, he’s suffering, and I need to do something.

The cat is sneezing again too— just like she does every spring. Come to think of it, I’ve been waking up with sore, red eyes too— and I am sneezing a lot. Yep… hay fever season is upon us.

A large percentage of dogs, cats, and probably most other animals suffer, at least to some degree, from seasonal allergies— just like humans. Airborne pollens and molds are probably the most common culprits, but the list of possibilities is practically endless. Finding and removing the exact allergens that cause your pet’s misery can be virtually impossible. It doesn’t matter where you live either — with spring comes a plethora of potentially allergenic particles— particles that are everywhere— in the wind, and in the water dish.

So what to do? A trip to the veterinarian may yield a prescription for an antihistamine or, if symptoms are severe, a corticosteroid drug. Although either one can be effective toward shutting off the symptoms of seasonal allergy, neither will help correct the underlying immune system dysfunction that causes the problem. And in the case of corticosteroid drugs (such as Prednisone) the side effects of extended use can be far worse than the allergy itself.

So, what to do?

First and foremost, clean up the diet. If your purchasing choices are driven more by cost than by quality, chances are you are compounding the problem by throwing poor quality food ingredients into the mix. You may even be feeding ingredients that are causing your pet’s allergy. Regardless, poor quality meat and grain bybroducts, artificial flavorings and preservatives and things like soy protein may be compromising the natural immunity of your pet. So make changes. Buy good food—— recipes that feature whole meats (“chicken”, beef”, “duck”, etc.) and real vegetables as top line ingredients— not meat byproducts or cheap grain fillers.

Second but equally important: start supplementing your companion’s diet with fish and vegetable oils that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids right now. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential components in the animal body’s regulation of inflammatory response to any allergen that enters the body system. Without enough Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet, the body’s inflammatory response to an invading allergen cannot be properly regulated, making the whole problem much worse than it should be. In my opinion, the best essential fatty acid supplements use fish oil as the primary ingredient— and the best fish oil is that which comes from the whole bodies of wild harvested cold water fish. Avoid products that are made from farm raised salmon or other cultivated sources, as they might contain potentially carcinogenic contaminants, like PCBs, or residual amounts of antibiotics and growth hormones that are used to farm the fish.

Finally, to help alleviate some of the symptoms, you might want to try adding a few herbs to your pet’s daily regimen. The following herbs are safe for dogs, cats, and most other mammals, and are all part of my favorite “Spring Tonic” tincture formula for hay fever.

NETTLE (Urtica spp.)
At the top of my list of anti-allergy success stories is nettle leaf. Many people and their animals find symptomatic relief from daily use of this herb, especially when its use is commenced at the earliest onset of hay fever season. One of the predominant theories of how nettle works is centered on the release of histamine. Histamine is a protein produced by the body that contributes to the body’s inflammatory responses. If histamine is released by the body too quickly or in too much abundance, symptoms such as swelling, sneezing and coughing are more likely to occur. Nettle’s chemistry includes an interesting assortment of proteins and histamine-like compounds that herbalists (like myself) believe may slow the body’s own release of histamine, thus lessening severity of allergy symptoms.

EYEBRIGHT (Euphrasia officianalis)
Herbalists have used eyebright herb for centuries to help relieve inflammation of upper respiratory mucus tissues. Eyebright is also thought to help support and strengthen various liver functions, meaning that it helps with the body’s elimination of systemic waste that may otherwise compound the allergy scenario.

BURDOCK (Arctium lappa/minor)
Burdock has been used since ancient times as a safe, gentle liver tonic. In both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (where it is known as “gobo”) burdock has been long regarded as a specific remedy for various forms of chronic dermatitis. It is thought to work by supporting the liver in the elimination of protein byproducts and other metabolic waste that may otherwise cause allergic reactions if left in the body. The idea: get the allergenic stuff out of the body before inflammation is triggered.

LICORICE ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra/uralensis)
I regard licorice root as perhaps the most broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory herb available. In addition to strong liver-support attributes, this herb contains an assortment of phytosterol constituents that may serve to supplement the body’s natural production of cortisone; a hormone that serves to further slow and regulate the body’s inflammatory response. It is also anti-tussive and expectorant, meaning that it will help make your pet’s coughs and sneezes less violent and more productive.

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How to Help Pets with Flea Allergy Dermatitis

By Linda Cole

Responsible pet owners know how important it is to make sure their pets are treated for fleas. Unfortunately, some pets have an allergic reaction to a flea’s bite even with flea medication on them. Some reactions can be quite severe. I have a dog that has an allergic reaction to flea bites. Left untreated, a pet will whine and chew their skin raw, which isn’t good for them and can drive you and your pet crazy. My dog has flea allergy dermatitis, also called flea bite allergy.

The first and most important step in helping a pet who has an allergic reaction to fleas is to make sure they are treated with a quality flea control medication monthly. Start treatment at least one month before flea season starts and continue it until at least one month after flea season is over. Talk with your vet to determine which flea treatment would be best for your pet.

Fleas don’t actually live on our pets. Most of their life is spent lounging somewhere in the home. Some people assume that if they don’t see fleas on their pet, they don’t have a flea problem, but that’s simply not true. If you don’t find fleas on your pet at the time you inspect them, it doesn’t mean your pet or home is flea free. If it’s flea season and you have pets, a community of fleas could be hanging out in your home and yard, and using your pet as their own personal diner.

To help a pet who has flea allergy dermatitis, it’s important to treat the pet and the home at the same time and try to eliminate the little pests completely. The best way to control fleas in the home is to have a pest control service spray monthly during flea season; inside and outside. By having an effective flea control on the pet and with an aggressive attack on fleas around the home, you have a good chance of getting rid of the fleas.

Pets who suffer from flea allergy dermatitis are so sensitive that just one or two flea bites can cause them to chew on themselves constantly, and won’t stop even when their skin has become raw. You don’t have to have an infestation of fleas for your pet to be miserable. It’s not the flea bite itself that drives a dog or cat crazy, it’s the saliva of the flea that causes all the itching. Flea bite allergies are the most common type of allergy found in cats and dogs.

Signs of flea allergy dermatitis are constant scratching, chewing, licking and whining. Their skin may be red or even raw from constant scratching and chewing. You can feel bumps on their skin when you run your hand over the area they’ve been chewing on, especially along their back at the base of the tail and along the tail. You may notice an area where your pet scratched and chewed so much, they have a bare spot or thinning hair in the area. They can develop hot spots on their face or other parts of their body, and you are apt find flea debris in the area. The debris looks like little pieces of dried blood because that’s exactly what it is. Flea bite allergy can cause secondary infections if left untreated, so it’s up to us as responsible pet owners to make sure to tackle a flea problem aggressively and use all of the weapons available to us during flea season.

Keep your pet’s bedding clean. Vacuum regularly where your pet sleeps, along baseboards, and move furniture so you can vacuum under it. Remove couch and chair cushions and vacuum thoroughly underneath them. Dispose of the vacuum bag after each vacuuming and if your vacuum has no bag, dump the dirt out into a small trash bag and seal it before throwing it away. You don’t want any of your captured fleas to escape back into the home.

If your pet shows signs of having any adverse reaction to fleas even with flea medication on them, talk with your vet. They can recommend a flea control product that might work better for your pet and they can also advise you on other products you can use to help relieve their itching. You want to make sure to use flea control that kills adult fleas and has an insect growth regulator (IGR) which will kill immature fleas before they have a chance to mature into adults.

Flea allergy dermatitis can drive both you and your pet crazy. Start your fight against fleas before they have a chance to attack your pet or invade your home.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

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Pets and Spring Allergies

Tag Archives: dog spring allergies

Posted on May 21, 2013 by petsaddlife

Spring has sprung and so have the flowers and warmer weather. For most pet parents, it’s the perfect time of year to take your pets for walks, hikes, or even days at the beach. But before you enjoy the great … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged dog spring allergies, pets add life, spring allergies | Leave a comment

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Helping Pets Live a Healthier Life!

Many people look for natural allergy relief for dogs because they worry about the side effects common to more aggressive medications such as steroids. Pet owners have a right to be concerned about side effects such as heart and kidney damage, but finding natural allergy relief that works for all dogs can be difficult.

Some holistic veterinarians suggest essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6. Regular use of these supplements reduces histamine response to allergens and conditions the skin to reduce itching. These can be effective treatments for some pets, but they work in less than half of the animals that take them. These also have to be taken continuously or the allergy symptoms will quickly return.

Prevention vs. Treatment in Natural Allergy Relief for Dogs

Other forms of natural allergy relief for dogs focus on relieving the symptoms after they appear. Weekly baths with colloidal oatmeal shampoos and natural skin lotions that reduce the inflammation and painful itching are a wonderful way to treat allergies once they strike, but what about preventing allergies?

The only way to prevent allergies in dogs is to minimize exposure to allergens. Our article on Allergy Control for Pets can give you some tips for minimizing exposure and controlling the environment your dog is in. The only purely natural allergy relief for dogs that works year round is prevention – and the best continuous form of prevention is the PetAirapy system! By filtering out or neutralizing pollens, dust mites, molds and other contaminants, the PetAirapy system prevents your dog from inhaling allergens in your home.

I guess our moms were right – an ounce of prevention really IS worth a pound of cure! And the PetAirapy filtration system is the most effective preventative, natural allergy relief for dogs available.

A friend of mine, Lori, used to have a Black Lab that she repeatedly took to the veterinarian because she was looking for a treatment for her skin allergies. Unfortunately, it took months of trial and error and suffering before her Labrador Retriever found relief. The vet explained to her that skin allergy treatments for pets were, in part, a guessing game that didn’t always work. He admitted that there was no single, effective form of treatment for pets with skin allergies, although there were several different types of treatments that sometimes worked.

What a shame for pets! I know my friend felt horrible watching her precious pet scratch, chew, rub her face in the carpet and whimper from the pain and itching while the veterinarian scrambled to find an effective treatment for her canine atopic dermatitis. Among the various skin allergy treatments for pets that were tried were:

• 
  Medicated baths. These are a good way to temporarily relieve the itching, dryness and discomfort of skin problems in pets. These can also moisturize the skin and temporarily control the unpleasant odor that often accompanies skin allergies in pets. Some medicated baths also contain antiseptic properties if the area is infected. These are only temporary solutions, however, and usually last a few days to a week at the most before the skin problems return.


• 
  Colloidal Oatmeal baths are also sometimes recommended for dogs with skin problems because it soothes the itching and reduces inflammation. Again, this is only a way to relieve the discomfort, and doesn’t cure the problem.


• 
  Steroids are one of the most effective treatments for skin problems in dogs, unfortunately they can only be used for short periods of time. Why? Because they can lead to secondary infections, seizures and even diabetes when they are used long-term.


• 
  Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids are recommended for many dogs who are prone to chronic skin problems. These are supplements that can be taken every day and have very few side effects. However, only about 25% of the dogs and cats who take them daily respond to them.


• 
  Antihistamines are one of the best ways to treat pets with skin problems. They alleviate the itch and reduce the inflammation, allowing the body’s natural defenses combat the problem. When these do work, they are very effective, but antihistamines only work for about one-third of the pets who take them!

Eventually my friend’s sweet Labrador recovered due to a combination of medicated shampoos, antihistamines and steroids that cost well over $ 1,300 before her dog felt better! And within a few months, the allergies returned! It turned out she was allergic to pollen and dust mites!

I wish I could have told her about PetAirapy’s “one-two punch” approach to preventing allergies before her Lab passed away! By filtering out airborne particles and combined with UV light that kills molds and other spores, my friend could have made her home much more comfortable for her Labrador, but she’s just ordered the PetAirapy system for her home because she has another dog, Soldier, who suffers from allergies! Lori has promised to keep me posted on Soldier’s progress once the PetAirapy system is installed.

It’s a shame that all of the research into pet skin care hasn’t resulted in a lasting cure for pets with skin allergies. I guess it goes to show that the causes of allergies in pets are complex and difficult to manage. Perhaps this is because there are so many different breeds of dogs and cats and so many possible causes of allergic dermatitis. Whatever the reason, pet owners should know that there aren’t any sure-fire treatments for dogs with skin problems – in some cases, the treatment is as bad as the allergy, and can even make your pet sick. So you need to be pro-active in preventing skin problems in dogs and cats you love. Using the PetAirapy filtration system is the best way I know to keep your pet healthy and keep you breathing easier!

More pets are developing canine atopic dermatitis every year, which means every year more dog owners are coping with pets who are itching, scratching and miserable due to severe skin discomfort. These animals have often begun to suffer during seasonal periods such as spring and fall, but over the years the active phase of atopic dermatitis in dogs usually becomes longer until the pet is often suffering year-round.

(more…)

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Helping Pets Live a Healthier Life!

Many people look for natural allergy relief for dogs because they worry about the side effects common to more aggressive medications such as steroids. Pet owners have a right to be concerned about side effects such as heart and kidney damage, but finding natural allergy relief that works for all dogs can be difficult.

Some holistic veterinarians suggest essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6. Regular use of these supplements reduces histamine response to allergens and conditions the skin to reduce itching. These can be effective treatments for some pets, but they work in less than half of the animals that take them. These also have to be taken continuously or the allergy symptoms will quickly return.

Prevention vs. Treatment in Natural Allergy Relief for Dogs

Other forms of natural allergy relief for dogs focus on relieving the symptoms after they appear. Weekly baths with colloidal oatmeal shampoos and natural skin lotions that reduce the inflammation and painful itching are a wonderful way to treat allergies once they strike, but what about preventing allergies?

The only way to prevent allergies in dogs is to minimize exposure to allergens. Our article on Allergy Control for Pets can give you some tips for minimizing exposure and controlling the environment your dog is in. The only purely natural allergy relief for dogs that works year round is prevention – and the best continuous form of prevention is the PetAirapy system! By filtering out or neutralizing pollens, dust mites, molds and other contaminants, the PetAirapy system prevents your dog from inhaling allergens in your home.

I guess our moms were right – an ounce of prevention really IS worth a pound of cure! And the PetAirapy filtration system is the most effective preventative, natural allergy relief for dogs available.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad