What is Pet Dander?

People have established cordial relationships with all types of pets worldwide. One thing, however, has forced these furry friends away from their human counterparts: a pet dander allergy!

Pet dander is the tiny patches of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds, and other species with fur and feathers. Like humans, pets also undergo a series of transitions when seasons and temperatures change. It’s pretty common for pets to shed tiny dead skin-and there are many reasons your pet could be experiencing pet dander.

Let’s find out more about pet dander, signs your pet has it, potential causes, and how you can manage it.

Pet Dander Signs: 

• Excessive licking, scratching, and biting of the skin
• Red/scaly skin patches
• Skin flakes, which may fall off and attach to your bedding and other household items
• Hair loss and foul odour in the affected areas that’s if the dander is severe.

What Causes Pet Dander?

Pet dander is triggered when your pet’s sebaceous glands overproduce an oil known as sebum. This oil plays a significant role in keeping your pet’s skin moist and healthy. Too much production of sebum leads to an imbalance, which in turn causes pet dander. 

Here are the potential causes of pet dander:

1. Allergies

Flaky skin is often a sign of allergy, especially if your pet is young and healthy. Seasonal or environmental allergies in pets cause dryness, irritation, and inflammation of the skin. Which means, more dead skin flakes are produced as a result.

2. Improper Diet

Unhealthy diet decreases the essential nutrients required for a healthy pet skin and coat. Pets may develop flaky skin, hair loss, and change in hair color if the food does not have adequate amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals, and energy.

3. Stress and Illness

Many pets will shed excessively when they are under stress. Some pets excessively lick or bite themselves when stressed or sick. This may even cause rashes that result in shedding of skin if their anxiety is heightened.

4. Under-grooming or Over-grooming

Under-grooming happens when pets are not able to groom themselves properly. Obese pets cannot groom well because they find it difficult reaching some of their body parts when grooming. This results in the development of skin condition and skin flakes.

Over-grooming occurs due to over-bathing. Many pets lose natural oils in their skins due to too much bathing. Bathing your pets too often can really dry out their skin and cause itching and flaking. Be careful not to bathe your dog excessively, because over washing your pet’s skin can cause pet dander.

5. Parasites

External parasites such as fleas and mites are a common reason for pet dander. They damage your pet’s skin and make it itchy. Pets who are heavily infested with parasites usually spend most of their time scratching, rubbing, and biting themselves. You may spot some red, flaky skin afterwards, which indicates an infection.

How to Manage

Excessive pet dander is treatable. Besides, you can easily strife to keep your pet skin under control once you discover what’s causing the problem. The following are some of the ways to reduce pet dander without getting rid of your pet.

1. Bathe Your Pet Occasionally

Routine grooming is the key to reducing pet dander and maintaining your pet’s healthy coat. Give your pet a good bath once in a while. Some pets require bathing more regularly than others, especially the ones with long hair. 

Brush your pets appropriately using Catit long-haired and short-haired brushes for cats and Furminator brushes for dogs. These combs aids in even distribution of natural oils that will keep your pet’s coat healthy and shiny. This also helps prevent pet dander.

You might as well try using Petkin Pet wipes to provide a more efficient way to keep your pet clean every day. Petkin Pet wipes are very effective in removing the accumulated surface dirt or filth. They are an excellent choice if you’re allergic to pet dander because they remove outdoor allergens from your pet’s skin, which often causes an allergic reaction in susceptible people.

Shampooing your pet occasionally is also another way to reduce pet dander. However, the quality of shampoo and its effectiveness differ. Some shampoo dries off the pet’s coat, leaving it in a bad condition than it was before. Make sure you use a shampoo that retains your pet’s natural oils. Avoid human shampoos because they are not formulated to suit a pet’s PH levels. 

Try oatmeal shampoos since- they are well-known to treat pet dander, moisturizes the skin, and offers your pet’s coat a friendly shiny fragrance.

2. Use Skin and Coat Supplements

The best pet supplements for extra skin support include omega fatty acids, biotin, and fish oil supplements. Offer your pet foods rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 supplements for skin support. Omega fatty acids helps maintain your furry friend’s glossy coat and healthy skin.

3. Offer Your Pet Some Vitamin E

Giving your pet vitamin E supplements may help improve the texture of their skin and coat. You can also try rubbing organic extra virgin coconut oil directly into your pet’s skin to soothe any irritation. Your pet may lick some of it- but that should not worry you since this oil can be used both internally and externally.

4. Eliminate the External Parasites

Prompt treatment of external parasites lessens your pet’s discomfort and may reduce the degree of pet dander. Use topical treatments such as Accurate Tick and Flea Spray for an all-round protection of your pets and their surroundings. This spray eliminates all kinds of parasites including mosquitoes, bugs, lice, maggots, ticks, and fleas.

You can also try Frontline Plus to completely protect your cats against external parasites. Frontline Plus kills all the 4 stages of flea cycle.

5. Consult With Your Vet

Consult with your vet if the above suggestions don’t seem to help your pet recover from dander. Depending on the root cause, your pet may prescribe a proper diet or vitamin supplements. Tell your vet about your pet’s current diet for better food recommendations.