| By Farah Chowdhry The term "Dander" refers to the small dead skin cells, urine, saliva and fur particles which shed from animals. Dander itself is very light, sticky and easily airborne where it can stay for hours until it settles on a surface where it can remain for months. In a contained area such as the home dander is most likely to accumulate and trigger an allergic reaction. There are many different animals which we can keep as pets but unfortunately for allergy sufferers all animals that have skin produce dander. However the amount of dander depends on the size of the animal; the larger the animal the more dander produced, and the younger and smaller the animal, the less dander produced. No dog should be considered as being non allergenic no matter how rigorous the grooming technique; they all have skin, fur and saliva which are the predominant causes of allergies from dogs. There are some breeds however, which produce less dander than others and sufferers should really consider choosing from one of these breeds. Airedales, Poodles and Schauzers make the best choices for pet allergy sufferers. All three of these breeds shed less dander, hair and have very little dog odour if groomed regularly than other breeds. However the coat of Airedales should be trimmed by a professional, as they require their hair to be 'plucked' or it will cause an increase in the amount of dander produced. Poodles and Schnauzers on the other hand do not shed there coat and can be clipped down to the bare minimum, therefore making this breed an excellent choice for allergen sufferers. No cat should be considered as being non-allergenic either as cat dander and hair is in fact more potent then dog dander. This is generally because cats are rarely bathed as they are almost self-sufficient as pets. A male non-neutered cat produces a lot more dander than average as dander is partially under hormonal control. Rabbits are said to cause more allergy problems than cats. They are also self sufficient as they clean themselves meticulously by licking their fur. This action in itself is the problem which causes an allergic reaction. The little deposits of saliva dry up and then flake off and become airborne. These particles can be inhaled which may trigger a response in a sensitized patient who has IgE antibodies to that particular protein. The main causes of allergies from a rabbit are saliva and urine. The onset of an allergic reaction to a gerbil may occur some years after a gerbil is acquired as a pet, but once an allergic reaction occurs, symptoms occur rapidly following contact with the animal. The main causes of an allergic reaction to a gerbil are from its skin and serum. This is due to the animal mainly being handled and played with by hand. A study has found that rats and mice mainly cause skin reactions in comparison to respiratory symptoms. Another study found that 10-30% of laboratory animal handlers found that they developed allergies to mice and rats. The main causes of rat allergy are urine, dander and saliva. Dander and saliva cause allergies when their dried flakes become airborne and are inhaled by sensitized patients. Urine on the other hand is picked up by the animals on their feet or other parts of their body. Therefore when these animals are handled you may develop an itchy rash due to a potent protein contained within the urine. This protein is said to increase as the animal ages and is more prevalent in male rats and mice. The main causes of allergies to hamsters are from their skin (dander) and hair. However this may be due to the bedding in which they reside, as all bedding contains dust and therefore may be the underlying cause of your allergy to hamsters. In which case it may be better to use other types of bedding such as shredded newspaper which doesn't produce dust however it will need to be changed more often than other types of bedding. Another way of avoiding an allergic reaction to your hamster is by giving them a dry bath using dust powder (usually for rabbits). This involves sprinkling the dust powder over the hamster's body and dusting it off, avoiding the eye area. A study conducted on the 'identification of specific allergens in guinea pig dust' found that the inhalant allergens from the guinea pig may be derived predominantly from material shed from the guinea pig coat after contamination with saliva and urine. Therefore you may want to opt for the nude or hairless guinea pig which has gained much popularity with allergy sufferers. For some horse riders going near their pride and joy may be really unpleasant because of an allergy. This allergy may be caused by dusty hay, horse feed, pollen and horsehair which may make you sneeze. In which case you should avoid grooming your horse yourself as the allergens may become airborne and exacerbate your symptoms. In the case that you have to groom your horse avoid enclosed areas and wear a mask to limit contact with horse hair and dander. By taking these simple precautions you help make your life more comfortable and start living with your allergies. | 
