Your pets may need an air purifier too

You may already know that high-efficiency air purifiers can help protect you and your loved ones from the allergy and asthma-triggering effects of pet dander and hair.

But have you thought about protecting your pet from allergies?

Experts estimate that as many as 15 percent of dogs, cats and other pets also suffer from seasonal allergies.

Though pets rarely have sneezing, coughing or runny eyes that can signal human allergies, they may instead be chewing at their feet or they may develop redness or inflammation of the ear flaps. Cats may develop scabs around the neck, face or rear.

One common form of seasonal allergy that affects dogs and cats is “atopy,” an allergic reaction to pollen and dust mites. Go to http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=75 to find out how toidentify the telltale signs of atopy and other pet allergies.

Birds, the third most common type of household pet, are also susceptible to allergies. The airborne triggers for bird allergies are largely the same as for other pets: dust, pollen, dust mites, mold and odors, chemicals and fumes. Feather loss is one sign of an allergic reaction in a bird.

Since May is National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month, there’s hardly a better time to assess whether or not your pets are suffering from allergies too.