If you love birds, discovering that you are allergic to them can be devastating. Regardless of whether you are a first time owner of a parakeet or a 10 year owner of an African Grey, they become part of your family and your life.
Finding ways to literally live with your bird and your allergies is crucial. Here are 5 things you can do to reduce symptoms and be able to enjoy your bird.
Redecorate---See, this isn't turning out to be so bad after all. The purpose of this possibly fun solution is to minimize the places where dust, feather, and dander can collect. Get rid of carpet, upholstered furniture, and drapes.
Opt for surfaces that can easily be damp wiped and are more likely to shed particles rather than holding on to them. Tile, linoleum, wood, throw rugs, aggravate flooring are great choices for your aviary. Leather, slip covers that can easily be removed and washed, blinds or shutters are all great choices as well.
Clean Regularly---A routine cleaning of the cage, floor, and furniture where you bird lives will reduce the number of pollutants in the room and those that can possibly go into the air. Always take the cage outside to clean, make sure vacuum bags and all other particles that result from cleaning are put outside immediately. This gets rid of them for good.
Clean Smarter---Clean with water whenever possible. Damp mop floors rather than sweep. Use a damp cloth to gather particles from surfaces. Use a vacuum cleaner that will not send particles back into the air.
Give Bird Baths---If your bird likes water, providing a bowl separate from drinking water that allows it to shower water on feathers and skin can reduce the amount of dander available to fly into the air.
There are also shower perches available that be can easily be installed in the shower to give you another opportunity to spend time together. Make sure the perch is off to the side and the pressure is set on mist rather than stream. Talk with an avian vet before launching your water plan.
Clear The Air---Airborne dander is generally the number one cause of allergies triggered by your avian friend. Nothing will take away all of the dander and shedding these small particles of dead skin will continue as long as you have your bird.
Constantly removing the allergens with a HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filter has long been recognized as one of the least invasive yet most effective ways to reduce airborne irritants. This type of filter will remove bird-related particles and other more normal indoor particulates as well.
It will also remove normal household allergens that trigger flare-ups like dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, dander from other pets, bacteria, as well as viruses. By design this type of technology will remove 99,997 out of every 10,000 airborne particles that are .3 microns in size or greater.
Using these strategies won't completely eliminate your allergies. There is no cure. But they will allow you to enjoy your bird and increase your quality of life because of it
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