How to Reduce Dander With Shampoo

Dander is dead skin flaked off of a cat or dog. It falls off your pet's body and is found throughout the house, sticking to carpets, curtains and upholstery. Dander, aside from being unhygenic to have throughout your home, can stimulate allergic reactions like coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes or eczema. Too much pet dander can progress into asthma. Controlling your pet's dander with shampoo is one of the most important steps in reducing it.

Things You'll Need

  • Dander shampoo for dog or cat
  • Gloves
  • Dog or cat dander cleansing wipes
  • Dander shampoo or spray for carpets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy an animal shampoo specifically for dander reduction. There are several reputable brands out there that you can get by a quick visit to the pet store or ordering online. Make sure you purchase a brand that is specifically made for the type of pet that you have, a dog or a cat.

    • 2

      Wash your pet once a week with the dander shampoo. Weekly baths can reduce the amount of dander in your pets fur by as much as 84 percent which means that eventually there will be 84 percent less dander falling off their bodies and sticking to things in your home. To be on the safe side, always wear rubber gloves when washing your pet.

    • 3

      Consider purchasing cat or dog "fast bath" cleansing wipes. These wipes act as a "busy lifestyle" alternative to dander shampoo and a proper bath. Realistically, you may not always have the time to wash your dog once a week, and these wipes act as a means of superficially removing the dust, dander and fleas residing in your pet's hair.

    • 4

      Consider shampooing your carpet, or spraying it with dander control carpet spray or shampoo. While these products won't reduce dander from your pet, they will eliminate it from your carpet. Such cleaning agents will cleanse and deodorize the dander embedded in your carpet and kill any fleas or mites living there as well.