Pets, Eczema, and Allergies

There is little else that brings a smile to the face of a child than a family pet. Animals are known to be extremely therapeutic for children, and they are a great way for kids to learn compassion, responsibility, and nurturing. Most every kid loves being around dogs, cats, and other family pets, but what can you do when allergies are an issue? For many children, dander, shedding, and skin oils from pets can aggravate allergies and eczema. The good news is that there are things you can do to help keep you pets and your kids happy and healthy all year long!

Dander

The biggest offender when it comes to kids with pet allergies tends to be dander. Dander is created when your pets skin sheds old layers, and as hair sloughs off layers as well. Dander is often too small to see, but when it is visible it usually resembled dandruff.

Dander causes skin irritations, allergies, and immune responses in many people because it is an animal-based complex protein material that can often be interpreted by our bodies as a threat. We know that dander is harmless, but sometimes our bodies overreact.

In order to minimize how much damage your pets dander does, try this…

• Bathe your pet regularly using a delicate, hypoallergenic wash. The more you wash, the less dander builds up and ends up on furniture, carpets, and in the air.

Fur & Oil

Animal fur is an irritant by nature. The good news is that with a little weekly maintenance you can help remove fur from the list of allergy-causing issues in your home. Here’s how…

• Brush your pet regularly. Use a fine-tooth comb that gets the undercoat and the top layer.
• Bathe your pet regularly to cut down on hair oil buildup.
• Train your pet not to use the same linens, furniture, or bedding that your child does. Sharing blankets, pillows, and upholstery with a pet is a great way to get a lot of allergens in a very concentrated form.

Keeping pet allergies to a minimum is all about controlling fur, oil, and dander. Grooming, short hair cuts, shampoo, and brushing are all great ways to keep your pet healthy and happy while cutting back dramatically on how many allergic reactions they cause in your child.