References: Washing of Pets

These citations on the effects and limitations of washing dogs and cats are provided for allergy specialists and other medical professionals. A full understanding of the role of animal dander allergen avoidance requires a critical reading of the complete text of these and other studies on animal-dander allergens, the effect of allergen-avoidance, and allergic conditions including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

Cat shedding of Fel d 1 is not reduced by washings, Allerpet-C spray, or acepromazine.

AUTHORS: Klucka CV; Ownby DR; Green J; Zoratti E

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA

SOURCE: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 1995 Jun; 95(6): 1164-71

CITATION IDS: PMID: 7797784 UI: 95318392

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:

No published studies have compared the effectiveness of several treatments proposed to reduce cat allergenicity. Cat washing studies demonstrating efficacy involved very small sample sizes or infrequent washings. Allerpet-C (Allerpet, Inc., New York, N.Y.) is a widely advertised topical spray, and acepromazine, a tranquilizer advocated as efficacious in subsedating doses, have never been scientifically studied.

OBJECTIVE:

We compared the effects of cat washing, Allerpet-C spray, and acepromazine with that of no treatment on the shedding of the primary cat allergen, Felis domesticus 1 by cats.

METHODS:

In a blinded, comparative, controlled study, we measured the amounts of Fel d 1 shed during an 8-week treatment period with a sample of 24 female mongrel cats randomly assigned to four groups; one group received weekly distilled water washings, one received weekly Allerpet-C spray applications, one received daily oral acepromazine, and one had no treatment (control). Thirty-minute twice-weekly air samples were collected from each cat with a laminated plastic-acrylic chamber and air sampler.

RESULTS:

One-sample, two-sided t tests comparing baseline to final-week measurements revealed no significant change in Fel d 1 within each group (mean change +/- SD: washing; 487.6 +/- 1896.4 mU per 30 minutes, p=0.63; Allerpet-C spray, 429.2 +/- 871.6 mU per 30 minutes, p=0.46 acepromazine; 620.6 +/- 1031.2, p=0.52 per 30 minutes). Furthermore, analysis of covariance revealed no significant change in Fel d 1 levels between groups (p=0.72).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data do not show significant reductions in Fel d 1 shedding as a result of any of these treatments. Therefore we cannot recommend them to patients allergic to cats.

Evaluation of different techniques for washing cats: quantitation of allergen removed from the cat and the effect on airborne Fel d 1.

AUTHORS: Avner DB; Perzanowski MS; Platts-Mills TA; Woodfolk JA

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: University of Virginia Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, Charlottesville 22908, USA.

SOURCE: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 1997 Sep; 100(3): 307-12

CITATION IDS: PMID: 9314341 UI: 97457997

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this study was to examine the quantity and distribution of the major cat allergen, Fel d 1, on cats and to evaluate the efficacy of washing, both in removing allergen from the cat and reducing airborne allergen levels.

METHODS:

Airborne samples were collected on four glass fiber filters in a 30 m3 room, before and 3 hours after serial washing of eight cats (45-minute sampling at 18 L/min for each filter). Aliquots of hair and bath water were also collected and assayed for Fel d 1 content.

RESULTS:

Extracting cat hair with tap water or pet shampoo for 3 minutes removed mean levels of 191 and 245 microg of Fel d 1 per gram of hair, respectively; the quantity of allergen on samples of cat hair ranged from 1 microg/gm to more than 1770 microg/gm. The highest concentration of allergen was found on hair from the neck. Estimates of the total Fel d 1 on the cat, based on shaving the whole cat, ranged from 3 to 142 mg (mean = 67 mg). Washing cats reduced airborne allergen 3 hours later. Washing three cats at weekly intervals for 5 weeks in a veterinarian's office produced a mean decrease of 44% in airborne Fel d 1 (n=15, p<0.02). Washing three cats by immersion for 3 minutes at weekly intervals for a 1-month period produced a mean decrease in airborne allergen levels of 79% (n=12, p<0.001). However, after repeated washing, the airborne levels before the next wash were not consistently decreased. The quantity of Fel d 1 removed by immersion varied from 1 to 35 mg.

CONCLUSIONS:

Cats carry large quantities of Fel d 1, only a small proportion of which (approximately 0.002%/hr) becomes airborne. Washing cats by immersion will remove significant allergen from the cat and can reduce the quantity of Fel d 1 becoming airborne. However, the decrease is not maintained at 1 week.

Washing the dog reduces dog allergen levels, but the dog needs to be washed twice a week.

AUTHORS: Hodson T; Custovic A; Simpson A; Chapman M; Woodcock A; Green R

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.

SOURCE: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 1999 Apr; 103(4): 581-5

CITATION IDS: PMID: 10200004 UI: 99216454

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:

Many asthmatic patients allergic to dogs refuse to part with their dog, and it is essential to develop techniques for lowering exposure with a dog in the home.

OBJECTIVE:

This study investigated the effect of dog washing on the subsequent recovery of Can f 1 from dog hair clippings and on the airborne allergen over a 7-day period.

METHODS:

Dogs, which had not been washed for at least the previous 3 weeks, were washed with a hand-held shower and proprietary shampoo. Hair clippings and dander samples from 25 dogs were collected before and immediately after washing. After these initial studies, 16 dogs had a small tuft of hair clipped from the collar or spinal area before washing and then daily for the next 7 days. Air sampling was performed in 5 homes, and the air samples were collected (airflow rate, 9 L/min) over an 8-hour period per day on 10 consecutive days (3 days of baseline sampling before washing and then 7 consecutive days after washing). Can f 1 level was measured by using 2-site ELISA.

RESULTS:

Washing significantly reduced recoverable Can f 1 from clippings (84% reduction: from 73 microg/g to 12 microg/g [geometric mean]; P<.0001) and from dander samples (86% reduction: from 347 microg/g to 50 microg/g [geometric mean]; P<.0001). There was a significant reduction in Can f 1 levels in dog hair over the observed 8-day period (F=18.4, P<.0001). By using a multiple comparison test, this observed significance was found to be due to the difference between the baseline levels and those on days 1 and 2 after washing, with no difference in the baseline Can f 1 compared with days 3 to 7. Airborne Can f 1 levels showed a downward trend, which reached statistical significance when the data were grouped into 3 sampling periods as follows: baseline (ie, mean of 3 days before sampling) was compared with days 1 to 4 after washing (41% reduction, 95% Cl 13%-60%) and days 5 to 7 after washing (61% reduction, 95% Cl 2%-84%; P=.014).

CONCLUSIONS:

Washing the dog reduces recoverable allergen from dog hair and dander. The dog needs to be washed at least twice a week to maintain the reduction in recoverable Can f 1 from its hair. Washing the dog achieves a modest reduction in the level of airborne Can f 1 in homes with a dog.

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