Animal Dander

Animal dander is the skin, saliva, dandruff, and urine from an animal, not the animal's hair. The commonly held belief that shorthaired dogs are less allergenic than longhaired dogs is a myth. So is the legend that poodles don't cause allergies, al­though they may have less dander because they're washed and groomed more frequently than other breeds.

Sixty percent of American households have pets, and one in four persons scratch-tested for allergy will react positively to dog and cat dander, especially the latter. Light, airy cat dander tends to linger long after the animal has left the scene. Dogs are somewhat less potent. Also, some people may be sensitized to a single type of dog but able to tolerate other breeds.

Puppies and kittens have no old skin to shed and therefore less dander. This may explain why some children can tolerate baby animals but not mature ones. Cats and dogs often roam through grassy areas where pollen clings to their fur, leading some people to assume they're allergic to pets when they're ac­tually reacting to the pollens—or in some cases tiny insects— that live on their pets.

Horses and farm animals provide strong allergens, and our feathered friends aren't always friendly, although it's the dan­der on their feathers that causes problems. Animal allergies carry over to all related products: fur coats, horsehair uphol­stery, down comforters, and wool and mohair sweaters.

WHAT YOU CAN DO. Ventilate your house. Desirable as en­ergy efficiency is, an insulated home retains forty times more pet allergen than a noninsulated home. Air filters help slightly, but pet emanations are remarkably durable and can stay in fur­niture, carpets, draperies, and heating ducts for as long as six months.

Just because you love your pet and want to keep it in the house, don't be taken in by junk solutions. One book on "nat­ural" health treatments claims that if you feed cats vitamin E in their food, they won't be allergenic, and allergic people won't react to them anymore. Total poppycock.

A better solution is to make your bedroom off-limits to pets. Better still, keep pets out of the house altogether and always groom them outdoors. Bathe them with mild shampoo at least once a week to reduce dander, and be sure to wash your hands after touching or petting them.

Cats are notoriously allergenic; the highest concentration of allergens is on their necks. A study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that washing cats every week elimi­nates almost 80 percent of the airborne allergens.

If you or your children are sensitive to cats, dogs, birds, or other furry or feathered creatures, consider replacing the pets with tropical fish, turtles, lizards, and yes, even snakes.