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Allergies.
 Do you suffer from an allergy? Cats are often blamed for causing allergies, which is not always the case. If you have never owned a cat before and have young children, before obtaining a cat you should have a word with your GP. or Health Visitor to make sure that your children are unlikely to develop an allergy towards a cat.
The following article appeared in one of the daily newspapers.
For years, Eirlys Evans, has been devoted to her three cats, even though physical contact with them caused her sheer misery. Any part of her skin that touched the pets became red and itchy, and her eyes irritated so much that she could barely see. Even having the cats in the same room would set off an allergic reaction. Today, though thanks to a special solution called Allerpet, her allergy is totally under control.
"I can stroke the cats for as long as I like now without getting an allergic reaction," says Eirlys. "Before, I used to sneeze constantly and suffered itchy rashes all the time. It had got so bad that I was having to think about giving my pets away. Today, thankfully, that option is ruled out completely".
The solution, which costs around £8.95 for 355ml,could benefit more than six million Britons who suffer pet allergies. While it is sold in two forms - Allerpet C for cats and Allerpet D for dogs - each solution contains the same basic ingredient and is effective on any animal with fur or feathers. Sufferers should rub the lotion over the pet`s fur or skin, using a sponge or cloth, every week. Allerpet conditions the animal`s hide, helps neutralise pet allergens and stops them becoming airborne. Because it is non-toxic, should an animal lick any Allerpet off it`s skin, their health would not be harmed.
In trials at Utrecht University in Holland, Allerpet was tested on pet owners with varying allergic reactions. In 80% of cases, Allerpet reduced symptons to such an extent that their allergy was cured.
Press Release: Allerpet® Offers Relief For People With Pet Allergies
Nearly 40 Million People are Allergic to Dogs and Cats.
Received 06-19-03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gina DePinto (602) 664-1218
gdepinto@mail.farnam.com
PHOENIX, Ariz. – (June 16, 2003) Dog and cat allergies are nothing to sneeze at – just ask the 40 million Americans who suffer from them. Americans are crazy about animals, and the number of pets in homes has never been higher.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), the incidence of perennial allergies is on the increase. Still, the AAAAI also notes that people who own pets and suffer from allergies are not about to give up their dogs and cats to get relief from the hair and dander that cause their symptoms.
But, alas, there is relief from Farnam Pet Products and Allerpet®, a non-prescription, easy-to-use grooming emollient that cleanses a pet’s coat of dander, saliva and urine antigens – irritants that contribute to allergic reactions in humans. Allerpet breaks the allergy barrier between owners and their pets. This unique product relieves human allergies to pets by removing the allergy source. Allerpet is the only product recommended by veterinarians. Backed by more than three years of efficacy studies, Allerpet is odor-free, nontoxic and non-oily.
“This is great news for people who have had to battle bothersome allergies in order to enjoy their pets,” said Carrie Vega, product manager at Farnam Pet Products, U.S. distributors of Allerpet. “It’s even better news for people who thought their allergies would prevent them from ever owning a pet.”
Available in two formulas, Allerpet®/D is for dogs and Allerpet®/C is for cats and can be used on ferrets, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice and other furry pets. After a good brushing to remove dead hair, Allerpet is applied to the animal’s coat and does not harm the pet or leave a residue on furniture or clothing. The product is especially beneficial to pet allergy sufferers because it treats the cause, not merely the symptoms. Allerpet will not harm the animal, nor will it affect family members who are not allergic to pets.
For more information about Allerpet or Farnam Pet Products, in the United States call toll free at (800) 234-2269, direct at (602) 285-1660 or go to farnampet.com on the Internet. Founded in 1946, Farnam Companies, Inc., is a privately held company and a leader in the animal health products industry.
Farnam – We Make Life Better for Animals and Their People.SM
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Petal Cleanse
Petal Cleanse C {for cats} Petal Cleanse D {for Dogs}
Pets Provoke Severe Asthma!
In 2003, asthma specialists from Penn State Milton S. Hershey University in the US revealed that in a study involving 809 asthma sufferers, 72% of them suffered attacks when exposed to cats, 52% in response to dustmite and 38% in the presence of a dog. In fact, virtually every asthma sufferer was likely to have an asthma attack in the presence of either a cat or a dog.
Worse, although sensitivity to the dog allergen Can f1 was less prevalent than the reaction to cat, the presence of the dog allergen evoked the most severe depression in lung function.
Contrary to expectations, this study suggested that the dog hair and the dog allergen, Can f1, is even more of a threat to those who are susceptible to asthma than the cat allergen, Fel d1. With over 6 million dogs and nearly 8 million cats in the UK not to mention 37 million small animals, there is no question that the British are a nation of animal lovers! So what should the responsible pet lover do to prevent himself, herself or others from suffering the miseries of wheezing, sneezing, asthma or even worse ---- perennial use of drugs or a trip to Accident and Emergency. The answer is very simple ----- cleanse ALL PETS with a specialist pet cleanser.
Pet Cleansers & How They Work
There have been a number of cleansers on the market in recent years but many have been dismissed by medical professionals and allergy sufferers as ineffective. However, Bio-Life PetalCleanse is one that has been independently tested by both Allergy Specialists and Veterinary Surgeons in the UK, the USA, Germany, Benelux, Scandinavia, Israel and elsewhere across the globe.
In trials carried out in the UK, regular use by people who were allergic only to pets reduced the percentage who required medication from 100% to zero over a 4 week period. People who suffered from multiple allergies i.e. dustmite, pollen and pet required only 1.8 doses of medication per week at the end of the period as opposed to 3.02 doses at the start. The product is the only one in the UK to be awarded the British Allergy Foundation (Allergy UK) “Consumer Care Award” for efficacy. Similarly, trials in the USA revealed that product effectiveness was far superior to the alternatives on offer.
The product works by encapsulation. Cationic surfactants (negatively charged particles of carefully selected detergents) encapsulate and neutralise the positively charged particles of allergen which come from the saliva, sweatglands and urine of the pet. This prevents the allergens from coming into contact with the skin or becoming airborne and being inhaled from the air The product is very simple to use.
The owner brushes the pet to remove dead hair; pours 30 mls of the solution onto a cloth or a sponge and wipes the pet with and against the hair and finally towel dries. Used once a week, every week, it is sufficient to remove the allergens from the coat and most importantly prevents them from entering the air. As for the pet, the lotion contains conditioners and natural extracts that gives the coat condition and shine.
More informatiom is available from the Pet Allergy Helpline: 01608 686626.
Information supplied by:
Mary Lloyd
Bio-Life Europe Ltd
1-3 Upper Grove End Farm Business Units
Henbrook Lane
Brailes
OX15 5BA
Telephone: 01608 686625/6
Information Petal Cleansers
Pharmacists and healthcare professionals urged to tackle escalating problem of pet allergies
Speaking at Chemex in London, Mary Lloyd of Bio-Life International, called on pharmacists and healthcare professionals to wake up to the huge increase in the incidence of pet allergies throughout Britain. She urged the profession to take a serious look at safer preventative measures for this problem, rather than treating the symptoms with strong drugs that might have harmful side effects.
With over 14 million cats and dogs in the UK, plus 37 million small animals, there is no question that Britain lives up to its reputation as a nation of animal lovers. Sadly, statistics reveal that around 15% of adults and over 50% of children are allergic to pets. It is estimated that these allergies affect 14 million people in 6 million households in the UK alone and this number is set to double over the next 10 years in response to the increased propensity of younger generations to have immune deficiencies.
There are also disturbing research findings which suggest that allergy sufferers who take drugs to help them cope with their condition could be putting themselves at risk of other diseases such as osteoporosis, cataracts and glaucoma. Perhaps, even more disturbing is that a number of scientific papers are now suggesting a link between immune deficiency syndromes, immuno-suppressants and cancer so the rise in both allergies and cancer may not be unrelated.
In the 1920's the incidence of both allergy and cancer in patients was confined to just 2% of the population. Today the figure is near 30% of the population as a whole with the prediction that between 40% and 60% of the younger generation are likely to be affected in the future.
The claims come from Mary Lloyd of Bio-Life International. Lloyd, a scientist who has developed a natural treatment to control pet allergies by wiping the animal with a cationic surfactant based lotion, says that the prolonged use of immuno-suppressants, for the relief of allergies, such as antihistamines, or inhaled and topical corticosteroids can have damaging side effects , including adrenal suppression and growth retardation in children, or cataracts, glaucoma and skin thinning among the elderly.
Speaking to pharmacists and nursing professionals Lloyd said, "Obviously patients, with serious allergic reactions, should have supplies of antihistamines and corticosteroids for emergencies, but for the sake of their long term health, prevention is better than a cure. There is also a massive cost in providing these expensive drugs. It is estimated that the cost to the NHS of treating pet-related allergies alone is in excess of £480 million per year" Lloyd represents Bio-Life International, a healthcare company that has developed a range of natural products designed to treat the cause, not the symptoms of allergies in humans resulting from contact with animals. Their product Petal CleanseTM is wiped onto the animal to remove the allergens from their coats that cause the reaction in children and adults alike who come into contact with domestic pets and other small animals.
In her presentation Lloyd also called upon pharmacists to really get behind the campaign to raise awareness among sufferers of the causes of these allergies, and the ways in which they can be alleviated. The experience of her own company suggests that there is massive ignorance among pet owners of the source of their unpleasant allergic reaction.
Bio-Life has set up its own Helpline (01492 596660) which currently receives some 5000 calls a year from pet owners suffering from allergies. Typical symptoms are asthma, eczema, runny nose, streaming eyes and hives. Anyone who thinks they have an allergic reaction to their pet can ring the Helpline for advice and details of their nearest stockist of Petal CleanseTM.
Press information issued by Bio-Life International Press Office.
For further details contact: Julian Reader on 020 7731 8199
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Outright
Outright C for Cats. Outright D for Dogs.
If you or someone you know is allergic to pets but would like to be around one, this product may be the answer for you. Outright Allergy Relief from Dogs helps to reduce dander and other allergens that cause people to have allergic reactions around dogs. Simply apply weekly to your dog or cat as directed and watch your allergies go away. This product is a non-toxic formulation of proteins and natural conditioners that help control dander by sealing the hair shaft, neutralizing the allergen (dander) and removing dead hair and is PH balanced. 470ml containers.
If you develope an allergy, and have pets, please try these, before having to part with your beloved pet.
Available From Chemists, and some Supermarkets are products, which the humans can take to stop allergies. Please read the label carefully, before taking any of these medications, as they might not be suitable for everyone.
People who are allergic to cats are actually allergic to cat saliva or to cat dander. If the resident cat is bathed regularly the allergic people tolerate it better. Studies now show that the allergen in cats is related to their scent glands. Cats have scent glands on their faces and at the base of their tails. Entire male cats generate the most scent. If this secretion from the scent glands is the allergen, allergic people should tolerate spayed female cats the best.
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Dust Mites
Cats Doubted as Cause of Childhood Asthma.
Medical News Archive Archive
Oct. 20, 2000 -- The number of children with asthma has increased dramatically in recent years, and the underlying causes for this increase are puzzling. For years researchers believed that early exposure to allergens around the house such as dust mites or cats might not only cause allergic reactions but also could lead to childhood asthma. New findings from a German study fail to support that theory.
In the study, published in the Oct. 21 issue of The Lancet, researchers from Humboldt University in Berlin and Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, studied almost 1,000 children from birth to age seven. They checked to see how many allergens were present in the home, whether the children had developed allergies, and whether they had developed asthma. At age seven, about 10% of the children had experienced wheezing in the past year, and 6% had been diagnosed with asthma. However, there was no direct relationship between early exposure to indoor allergens and the prevalence of asthma or wheezing.
"This study seems to put to rest the idea that the onset of asthma is caused by exposure to one or two allergens in early life," writes Roni Grad, MD, in an accompanying editorial. Grad is associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham.
But although allergens don't seem to be the underlying cause of asthma, it is still very important to control them, because once someone has developed asthma, allergens can definitely trigger an asthma attack. Grad advises parents of children with asthma to do everything they can to keep their home clean.
And for asthmatic parents, who don't yet know whether their children have the same condition, "there is a genetic factor in asthma. Parents with this condition are more likely to have children who also develop asthma, so they, too, should emphasize a clean environment within the home," Grad says."
Keeping a home clean and allergen-free is especially difficult with pets around. Cats are a problem for those with allergies and asthma because of a particular protein found in their saliva, Anthony Montanaro, MD, tells WebMD. The cats lick themselves and when their saliva dries, this protein floats into the air. As a result, families with asthma probably should not keep cats as pets. Montanaro is professor and chief of the division of allergy and immunology at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.
Dogs are a problem, too, because of their pelt and fur, he says. If you do have dogs, keep them out of the bedroom, and keep them in rooms with hard-surfaced floors.
Montanaro has further advice for people living with asthma. "Your lungs are exposed to bedroom air more than any other environment, so pay special attention to creating a clean environment there," he says. "Cover pillows and mattresses with allergen encasements. That means a cover specifically designed to keep allergens out of air you and your children are breathing."
Wall-to-wall carpets are another problem, since they are a major reservoir for dust mites and animal danders. Ordinary vacuuming just moves the dust around. It's better to have a hard floor with area rugs that can be removed and thoroughly cleaned.
So if the environmental allergens aren't causing the spike in childhood asthma, what is? The Lancet study authors list several proposals, such as lack of severe or repeated infections, obesity and lack of physical exercise, decreased family size, or changing dietary habits.
In any case, though, the causes of the increasing prevalence of asthma remain a mystery, Montanaro says. "It is probably due to a complex interaction between [genetics] and the environment."
Grad points to a study from Southeast Asia. Children in different localities had similar rates of allergies, but widely different rates of asthma. "In addition to learning about the factors that make people become allergic, we also need to learn why some of those people become asthmatic and the rest don't," he tells WebMD. "There may be environmental factors related to living in those communities. It may be related to lifestyle or diet. Additional research on these issues is needed."
By Elaine Zablock.
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Pet Dander
More than 70 percent of U.S. households have a dog or cat. Pets provide companionship, security and a sense of comfort. Children often learn responsibility and lessons about life and death from pets. However, people with allergies should be cautious in deciding what type of pet they can safely bring into their home.
Pet exposure may cause sneezing and wheezing.
An estimated 10 percent of the population may be allergic to animals. A higher rate of 20 to 30 percent of individuals with asthma have pet allergies.
Pets can cause problems to allergic patients in several ways. Their dander, or skin flakes, as well as their saliva and urine, can cause an allergic reaction. The animal hair is not considered to be a very significant allergen. However, the hair or fur can collect pollen, dust, mold and other allergens.
What are the most common pets?
The most common household pets are dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, rabbits, mice, gerbils, rats and guinea pigs. Larger animals such as horses, goats, cows, chickens, ducks and geese, even though kept outdoors, can also cause problems as pets.
The number of pets in the United States is estimated at more than 100,000,000. This large number also increases the likelihood of accidental exposure to animals by the allergic patient when visiting homes, farms, etc.
Both feathers and the droppings from birds, another common pet, can increase the allergen exposure. The allergic patient should not use feather pillows or down comforters. If a feather pillow is used, it should be encased in plastic. An encasing with a zipper is recommended, so none of the feathers can escape.
Bird droppings can be a source of bacteria, dust, fungi and mold. This also applies to the droppings of other caged pets, such as gerbils, hamsters and mice.
What do allergists recommend?
The best types of pets for an allergic patient are pets that don't have hair or fur, shed dander, or produce excrement that creates allergic problems. Tropical fish are ideal, but very large aquariums could add to the humidity in a room, which could result in an increase of molds and house dust mites.
A frequent misconception is that shorthaired animals cause fewer problems. It is the dander (skin scales) that causes the most significant allergic reactions - not the length or amount of hair on the pet. As stated previously, allergens are also found in the pet's saliva and urine. In addition, dogs have been reported to cause acute symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the eye, and hay fever after running through fields and then coming back into contact with their owners.
Those pets that are known to cause significant allergic reactions should be removed from the home of the allergic patient to avoid possible progression of symptoms. A "trial" removal of a pet for a few days or even weeks may be of little value since an average of 20 weeks is required for allergen levels to reach levels found in homes without pets.
Can pet allergies be managed?
If the family is unwilling to remove the pet, it should at least be kept out of the patient's bedroom and, if possible, outdoors. Allergic individuals should not pet, hug or kiss their pets because of the allergens on the animal's fur or saliva.
Indoor pets should be restricted to as few rooms in the home as possible. Isolating the pet to one room, however, will not limit the allergens to that room. Air currents from forced-air heating and air-conditioning will spread the allergens throughout the house. Homes with forced-air heating and/or air-conditioning may be fitted with a central air cleaner. This may remove significant amounts of pet allergens from the home. The air cleaner should be used at least four hours per day.
The use of heating and air-conditioning filters and HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) filters as well as vacuuming carpets, cleaning walls and washing the pet with water are all ways of reducing exposure to the pet allergen. Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are now available. However, in a patient with severe symptoms resulting from animal dander exposure, a HEPA filter is not an effective solution.
Litter boxes should be placed in an area unconnected to the air supply for the rest of the home, and should be avoided by the allergic patient.
Some allergic patients may have severe reactions, such as wheezing and shortness of breath, after exposure to certain pets. Also, a chronic, slowly progressive feeling of shortness of breath, loss of energy and feeling of fatigue can result from long-term exposure to birds and their droppings. This type of disease is known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and can result in severe disability. In the event of these severe cases, removal of the offending animal is mandatory.
How are pet allergies diagnosed?
The avid pet owner may claim that exposure to his or her pet does not cause their allergy symptoms. This, however, should be viewed skeptically, since pet ownership is an emotionally charged subject. Also, many allergic pet owners are rarely away from their pets, so an accurate reporting of pet-related symptoms may not be possible.
Skin tests or special allergy blood tests are helpful for diagnosing allergy to animals, but are not always accurate. To gain confirmation about a pet's significance as an allergen, the pet should be removed from the home for several weeks and a thorough cleaning done to remove the hair and dander. It should be understood that it can take weeks of meticulous cleaning to remove all the animal hair and dander before a change in the allergic patient is noted.
Are allergy shots effective for pet allergies?
Allergy shots (immunotherapy) may be indicated for cat or dog allergies, particularly when the animal cannot be avoided - as might be the case when the patient is a small animal veterinarian. They are typically given for at least three years and decrease symptoms of asthma and allergy. Usually after about six months of weekly injections allergy symptoms improve and less medication is required.
Allergy shots are most effective and safe when administered under the supervision of an allergist-immunologist. The response is highly individual and depends on environmental avoidance as well as the initial sensitivity of the individual.
What can I do when visiting people with pets if I am allergic?
The approach to visiting households with pets for an allergic individual is to take appropriate precautions including administration of medications prior to visitation. Your allergist-immunologist can provide information on medications for your animal allergy, such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, decongestants or appropriate asthma medications.
For patients who have severe symptoms on animal dander exposure, the pet should removed from the house at least day before the visit, and the host household should be cleansed of animal allergen to the extent practical.
Sent to us by Gerry Wylam
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Cat Allergy
Cat allergen, the allergy-causing material from cats, is not actually cat hair but instead a protein present in the dander and saliva of cats. The allergens become airborne as microscopic particles which, when inhaled into the nose or lungs, can produce allergic symptoms. Although individual cats may produce more or less allergen, there is no relationship between the pet’s hair length and allergen production. There is also no such thing as a non-allergenic breed.
Cat allergen is particularly sticky and is carried on clothing. It is almost impossible not to be exposed to some level of cat allergen. Of course, the levels of exposure will be much higher where cats are present, and these levels are more likely to cause allergy symptoms.
Cat allergen, the allergy-causing material from cats, is not actually cat hair but rather a protein present in the dander and saliva of cats.
What it Does to Sufferers?
An estimated 6 million Americans are allergic to cats and approximately one third of them have cats in their homes. Allergic reactions to cats can range from inflammation of the nose and eyes to asthma attacks. Although the most effective treatment is removal of the pet, recent scientific studies have shown that steps can be taken in homes with cats to significantly decrease one’s exposure to cat allergen.
Where are cat allergens found?
Animal allergens are of course found mostly in homes where pets are present. What is surprising, however, is that these allergens are also found (in lesser amounts) in places where pets have never been present, such as schools, workplaces, and other public spaces. Animal allergen is brought to these places on the clothing of pet owners. Dander allergens are sticky, and they adhere to other surfaces. Dander on a smooth surface, such as a wall, can be easily wiped off, but dander in soft materials, such as carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and clothing, can persist in that fabric for long periods of time. That is why, unless special steps are taken, pet dander can remain in a home for up to six months after the pet has been removed.
Yes, your dog may be allergic to your cat! Male and long-haired cats put out more allergen than female and shorthaired cats. The allergen is known as FelD1 (pronounced feldy-one by those in the know). This protein is found in cat saliva, and to a lesser degree, in their anal sacs. When the cat licks himself, the saliva dries and flakes off, then floats away.
Cat allergen is very lightweight, and very sticky. It sticks to walls, furniture, carpet and drapes. It's also a very potent allergen, and it's persistent: it'll stay active in a home environment for at least 10 years.
Best bet: bathe the cats regularly (monthly, if they'll tolerate it). I take my cats into the shower stall with me, and use a handheld shower. Allerpet® C, and DanderSeal® are products which are supposed to seal the allergen to the body, but nothing beats a bath.
Another great product is Allersearch X-Mite powder. Sprinkle the powder on the carpet and furniture, let it sit a few hours, then vacuum it up. The powder contains tannic acid (from tea) to denature the cat allergen down at dog level. (It may stain white carpet and fabric, so be careful.) There's also an Allersearch spray for surfaces (not cats). A cat-allergic friend sprays the area around his chair when he visits cat families. That keeps him safe for several hours.
HEPA air filters have also been shown to trap a large amount of the cat allergen which floats through the air. (In our tests, the best is the Cloud 9® Sterile Aire®. Aller-caire has the best prices.)
Sent to us by Gerry Wylam.
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