Why am I allergic to my pet?

Imagine coming home after a tiring day, looking forward to that comforting cuddle with your furry friend. There's truly nothing quite like the warmth and affection of your cat or dog. But what if you could enjoy those moments of connection without the constant battle against allergies? Picture snuggling with your beloved pet and breathing freely, without watery eyes, a stuffy nose, or that persistent tickle in your throat. Unfortunately, for many pet owners, this dream is often interrupted by allergy symptoms. If you find yourself frequently dealing with watery eyes, nasal congestion, or a recurring throat irritation, it's a strong sign that pet dander and hair are likely circulating in your home's air, impacting your comfort and well-being. Symptoms include:

Sneezing

Runny Nose*

Itchy or Watery Eyes

Coughing*

Tickle in Throat

Common Pet Allergies

Pet Dander

Pet dander consists of tiny, often invisible, flecks of skin that are shed by animals with fur or feathers, such as dogs, cats, rodents, and birds. These microscopic particles can become airborne and easily spread throughout a home, triggering allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Source:American Lung Association - Pet Dander

Pet Hair

While pet hair itself is not usually the primary allergen, it acts as a carrier for other substances that can trigger allergies. Pet hair can collect and transport dander (tiny skin flakes), dust, pollen, and other irritants. When these particles come into contact with or are inhaled by sensitive individuals, they can cause allergic reactions and discomfort. Therefore, managing pet hair is important in reducing allergen exposure.

Source:Pet Allergens | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Pet Saliva

Pet saliva can cling to various surfaces like carpets, bedding, furniture, and clothing. When dried, this saliva can become airborne and easily inhaled. Cat allergens, found in their saliva, stick to their fur during grooming and due to their lightweight nature, these allergens can stay suspended in the air for extended periods.

Source: Mayo Clinic - Pet Allergy Symptoms and Causes

It’s time to live in clean air harmony with our pets. Whether it’s sneezing from your cat or itchy eyes from your dog, there are effective ways to ease these bothersome symptoms. Managing pet allergies—whether feline, canine, or general—typically includes minimizing exposure to allergens, keeping your living space clean, sticking to a regular grooming routine, and enhancing air quality with a HEPA air purifier.

While some individuals experience only mild symptoms, others may find pet allergies significantly interfere with daily life. In this guide, we’ll explore how air purifiers can proactively reduce allergens before they impact you or those you care about.

Explore Purifiers

How can an Air Purifier help with Pet Allergy Symptoms?

An air purifier with a HEPA filter is a very effective way to manage pet allergies by filtering out the irritants that may cause allergic reactions.

Filtering out Allergens from the Air +

Pet allergies are commonly triggered by allergens such as pet dander, hair and saliva. Air purifiers use various filtration technologies to reduce these allergens from the indoor air.

HEPA Filtration: The most important technology in an air purifier for allergy sufferers is the HEPA filter. HEPA filters are designed to filter out 99.9% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. This includes most common allergy triggers like pollen, dust, and smoke. Since pet dander particles typically range from 2.5 to 10 microns, they can easily be filtered out by HEPA filters.

Activated Carbon Filter: In addition to HEPA filters, PuroAir air purifiers have activated carbon filters that can absorb odors, and some gases. While not primarily designed for allergen removal, activated carbon can help reduce odors associated with pets, or damp conditions, which may worsen allergies

Reducing Indoor Pet Allergen Exposure +

While pets bring allergens into the house, an air purifier can provide a cleaner environment by continuously filtering the air and reducing allergen buildup.

Air Circulation: An air purifier's fan promotes air circulation within a room, effectively drawing allergens into the filter for purification. PuroAir air cleaner models are equipped with multiple fan speed settings that adjust to the detected levels of pollution or allergens, thereby optimizing filtration performance.

24/7 Air Filtration: Air purifiers operate around the clock to support clean air by filtering out allergens. During peak allergy season, when pollen is abundant, running an air purifier consistently helps purify the air and reduce the accumulation of allergens on surfaces throughout the home. This includes reducing the amount of cat hair or dog dander from the air, for example.

Maintaining a Cleaner Home +

Using an air purifier for pets leads to a cleaner home environment by filtering out many allergens. This is highly advantageous for individuals with seasonal allergies, as it stops allergens from settling on surfaces and being stirred up again.

Helping Reduce Exposure to Common Irritants: By filtering out allergens from the air, air purifiers may help reduce symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and coughing that are often triggered by exposure to pollen or other allergens.

Cleaner Air in Specific Areas: Placing air purifiers in frequently used rooms like bedrooms, living rooms, or home offices can provide targeted relief. Selecting an air purifier designed for the room's size ensures optimal performance.

How Grooming Plays a Vital Role +

During shedding season, typically in the fall and spring, pets like dogs and cats lose their old fur to make way for new fur. The increase in hair loss may also increase the amount of pet hair and dander in the air.

Consistent grooming plays a vital role in reducing dander within your home's air system. To further minimize airborne fur indoors, try brushing your pet regularly—preferably outside—to remove loose hair. Additionally, bathing your dog or cat can significantly reduce allergens and dander from their coat. Your pet may not like taking a bath, but your sinuses will thank you! This is especially important to remember for all dog and cat owners - short-haired or hairless animals can also contribute to dander in the air. Per Benadryl, “there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic pet”.

Source:https://www.benadryl.com/allergies/hypoallergenic-dogs-cats-facts

Improving Overall Indoor Air Quality +

Pet allergens are just one of many irritants that can affect air quality. Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a crucial role in triggering allergic reactions, as poor IAQ can intensify allergy symptoms. By filtering out dust, pet dander, smoke, and other pollutants, air purifiers enhance IAQ, helping to create a more comfortable space for allergy sufferers.

Beyond allergen reduction, air purifiers offer an additional benefit: odor reduction. Specifically, PuroAir air purifiers are equipped with an activated carbon filter layer. This specialized layer effectively absorbs a wide range of odors, including those often associated with pets. By passing air through this filter, unpleasant smells from litter boxes, pet accidents, or general pet odors are significantly reduced, leaving your home smelling fresher and more inviting. The 3-layer filtration system makes PuroAir one of the best air purifiers for pet odors and dander.