The Best Dog Breeds for Allergy Sufferers
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CLEVELAND , Ohio - (September 23, 2009) - About 15 percent of the U.S. population suffers from some type of pet allergy. Despite the sneezing and wheezing, dog owners often don’t have to give up their pets to live in allergy-free harmony. There are several strategies for coexisting without irritation. Check out these tips from www.cleanhomeideas.com to learn more.
Keep Your Allergies at Bay, Not Your Pup:
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Shampoo your dog weekly. This can remove up to 84 percent of the allergens in a dog’s fur. Also, use a dog shampoo, not a human shampoo or liquid dish soap. The wrong soap can dry out the dog’s skin, causing scratching and the release of even more dander in the air.
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Feed Sparky a good quality dog food and consider coat supplements (available from a pet store or your vet). This will also help to keep your dog’s coat healthy and dander to a minimum. Brushing your dog’s coat outdoors once a week will reduce shedding and help to circulate the natural oils in your dog’s skin. If at all possible, have a non-allergic member of the household take on this task.
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Maintain a dog-free zone, especially in the bedroom. If possible, remove carpet from the bedroom and use only throw rugs that can be washed in hot water. Also consider hanging blinds instead of curtains or drapes, as these attract dander and dust.
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Use a high quality HEPA filter on your furnace and AC unit.
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Vacuum frequently with a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum. For best results, install a central vacuum system in your home, which can be completed by a qualified installer in an afternoon with surprisingly little disruption or mess.
The portable central vacuum system hose connects to outlets in the walls. It carries dust, dirt and fine allergic particles away from living spaces and into an air-tight compartment in your basement, garage or even a closet. While even a high-quality vacuum cleaner will redistribute some of these contaminants back into your indoor air, a central vacuum system removes virtually all of them.
While no dog is truly non-allergenic, The American Kennel Club identifies the following breeds as best choices for allergy sufferers. Different breeds seem to affect people in different ways, so the only way to know if you will have an allergic reaction to a breed is to spend time with it. Have the allergic person visit the breeder and sit down among the dogs for a while to allow their body time to react. It’s always better to invest this time up front than to have to face the heartbreaking decision of returning a pup to its kennel.
Best Dogs for Allergy Sufferers:
If your allergies persist, ask your veterinarian or doctor about other alternatives. For more tips on controlling allergies, visit www.cleanhomeideas.com.
About www.cleanhomeideas.com:
The site is sponsored by H-P Products, Inc., a Louisville, Ohio-based manufacturer of central vacuum system floor care products, including the VACUFLO® and Dirt Devil® lines of central vacuums.
