birds articles

Simply put, there are no breeds of dogs or cats that are always allergen-free. Any warm-blooded animal with hair, fur or feathers is capable of causing allergic reactions in humans at home or at work – the list includes: cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice and rats.

Being allergic does not necessarily mean that you can’t have a pet or that you must give up one that you already have. Learning more about minimizing pet-related allergens and making some minor adjustments may help to solve your problem. It is frequently possible for allergic persons to live comfortably with a pet if they will make an honest effort and commitment to care for their pet and environment on a regular basis.

Recent studies indicate that you can significantly decrease the amount of pet-related and other airborne allergens in your home by taking certain actions which, depending on the degree of suffering, include grooming your pet regularly to help remove dead hair and dander, periodically cleansing your pet’s hair, fur or feathers, keeping the pet out of your bedroom, clearing the air with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, vacuuming with an allergy vacuum cleaner, and keeping house dust to a minimum.

Birds usually keep themselves fairly clean. Most will preen or thoroughly clean their feathers – even very long tail feathers when present – by pulling them, one at a time, through their bills. Some birds will artfully twist and contort themselves so their bills reach all body parts except their heads, napes and throats. In addition to grooming the plumage, birds also spread oil from their preen gland, located near the base of the tail, onto their feathers to help waterproof them.