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Owning a pet is enjoyable but it also comes with many responsibilities, including taking care of your pet’s and your health, a study confirmed by Dyson.
Pet owners’ cleaning habits risk allergies
The Dyson Global Dust study found that pet owners in India are very aware of insects and pollutants on pets. But only one out of four pet owners clean their homes every day. This means they and their families could be at risk from allergies caused by pets.
A study in MDPI Open Access showed that animals can carry bacteria that spread infectious diseases to humans. One example is Bacillus anthracis, a rod-shaped bacterium that causes a deadly disease called anthrax in animals. Humans can also get infected through contact with animals, which can lead to health risks.
The study shows that people are getting better at cleaning their homes, including often-missed spots like mattresses and sofas. Half of the people are aware of the importance of cleanliness. But many people don’t know that dust can contain skin particles.
The study points out that pet hair, dander (tiny pieces of skin), and skin particles can be harmful to health. These can cause allergies in pet owners and children who are around pets.
The research found that 42 percent of pet owners in India let their pets sit on the sofa. This spreads not just hair, but also dander, which can carry viruses and cause allergies.
Few pet owners prioritize cleanliness
Only 28 percent of pet owners fully take care of cleaning their homes. Just 21 percent regularly clean items used by their pets. 41 percent of people believe that pets and household dust can cause allergies. Three out of 10 people in India are unsure about letting their dogs sleep on the bed or bedroom floor.
Monica Stuegen, a microbiology research scientist at Dyson, mentioned in the study that pet owners should focus on cleaning their pets. This is because many tiny particles that aren’t visible can still cause health issues.
She says that many people believe pet hair is the main issue because it’s the most noticeable. But it’s not surprising that people don’t know about other tiny particles on their pets because they’re so small.
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