Bird allergies are the number one in allergies that are pet related. And yet, over 6 million households in the United States own one or more pet birds. If you are one of those who has opened your home to a bird and suffer with bird related allergies, here are 5 facts about what you can do that will help.
Do all birds cause allergies? All birds and other warm-blooded animals have the potential of triggering allergies. It is often the protein in the dander, or dead skin, saliva, urine, and feces that can causes the adverse reaction thus causing sneezing, coughing, watery, eyes, runny nose, and congestion. These symptoms don't happen for everyone who has a bird, only to people whose bodies, for whatever reason, have sensitivity to the allergen. And if you are allergic, short of finding a new home for your bird, you must take proactive steps to mange their constant production of the allergen.
Will bathing my bird help? Bathing your bird will help remove the amount of dander available to go airborne when your bird preens, shakes, flies, flaps its wings or plays either inside or out of the cage. But before you get started with a bath regimen, be sure to consult your avian vet for a recommendation of frequency of baths, and products to use.
Will the furnishings I choose for the bird's room make a difference? Dander is invisible to the human eye, but it can attach to big particles like feathers, bird dust, upholstery curtains, carpet, and even the walls. Try trading carpet for linoleum, tile, or some other hard surface that is easy to clean. Area rugs that can be washed or cleaned can be used to soften the effect. Replace curtains with vertical blinds that trap fewer particles and are easier to clean. And use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter that will trap rather than spread particulates as you vacuum.
Will cleaning really make a difference? It will make a huge difference in the health of both you and your bird. The paper at the bottom of the cage with droppings should be replaced daily with fresh paper. Water should be changed as often as necessary to keep it fresh and to prevent mold from growing (and spores from becoming airborne), and to prevent your bird from becoming ill from ingesting mold. The floor should be vacuumed daily, the walls and floors should be mopped weekly, and the cage should be totally cleaned at least once a month. The cleaner you keep the bird room, the more you reduce the number of allergens that are likely to cause you and your bird problems.
Can anything get rid of airborne dander? Dander is an ongoing problem because its production is a very normal process of any healthy bird. But you can reduce dander to a low enough level to avoid a flare up of symptoms by using a high efficiency particle arresting (abbreviated as HEPA) air purifier. These high powered cleaners are designed to remove particulates as small as .3 microns, and since bird dander is larger than that, it is easily trapped with this filter.
Cleaning the air will also remove other airborne triggers such as household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pollen, bacteria, and viruses that can also irritate those with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.
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