Within any home with a pet, an effective air purifier can significantly reduce the levels of pet-related dander and hair—along with other aggravating allergens and pollutants—bringing relief to those experiencing symptoms of allergies, which typcially impact the sinuses and irritate the eyes.  

“HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are certified to remove particles that are as small as 0.3 microns, and should remove small particulate matter when properly used and maintained,” Melanie Carver, Chief Mission Officer of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, shared with The Spruce Pets. Particulate matter includes pet dander, mold, bacteria, chemicals from cleaning products, dust, and other items commonly found in a household.

To identify the best air purifiers for pet parents, we’ve tested 47 different air purifiers under a variety of conditions, collecting detailed data in both our New York City and Des Moines testing labs along with sending top-performing models to volunteer testers for long-term trials in real homes.

Our overall favorite air purifier is the Winix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier. It’s ultra-quiet, highly effective, and the layered filtration system has a straightforward replacement process. We also found a few others that we like and might be a better fit for your space, budget, and needs.

Other Options We Tested

Hamilton Beach TrueAir Air Purifier: This air purifier was previously our best budget pick based on home testing and research, but after testing in The Lab, we determined there were better-functioning options available at this price range. While we were impressed with the whisper and quiet settings available on this air purifier, which registered a 48.1-decibel reading, its filtration capabilities were not strong on the lowest setting, which still registered 275.7 PM 2.5 after five minutes in the zipped greenhouse.

Pure Enrichment PureZone: We included this purifier as our previous best portable pick but found better options after additional testing in our Lab. While this air purifier is lightweight and has a handle for easy transport, it did not perform well in our greenhouse PM 2.5 test. After running on its lowest setting for five minutes, the purifier measured 829.2 PM 2.5, compared to the 999.9 level prior to turning on the purifier.

How We Tested

We tested 47 air purifiers across our labs in Des Moines and New York City putting them to the task of tackling pet dander and odors.  First, we studied their setup, considering any additional parts that had to be added to the purifier, and we timed the process of getting the purifier out of the box and running.

Then we considered the design of each air purifier, looking at features like oscillation, type of filters included, timed settings, smart capabilities, and color options. Next, our testers measured the noise level of the air purifiers on their highest and lowest settings using a decibel meter. Our testers also evaluated all of the features available on the air purifiers and took time to evaluate their ease of operation and accessibility, especially if an app was available.

To test effectiveness, we set up zippable indoor greenhouses and burned incense, and released artificial pet hair to simulate a polluted air environment, then measured the PM 2.5 (particulate matter) in the air prior to turning on the air purifier and after having the air purifier on for five and 10 minutes. This test was run initially with each air purifier at its lowest setting and then again with the air purifier at its highest setting.

Some air purifiers we tested had VOC (volatile organic compounds) filtration capabilities, so we conducted a similar test using the greenhouses and releasing moth balls in the chambers for 15 minutes before measuring the level of VOC gasses in the chamber and turning on the air purifier. Between tests, we also made sure to air out the tents using fans for five minutes before moving on to different purifiers. 

With all of these previous evaluations and tests in mind, we then asked our testers to look at the price of the air purifier and assess its overall value. We then narrowed down our top performers and sent each one to a tester for use in a real home with real pets for continued evaluation over the course of several months with periodic check-ins on ease of use and filtration maintenance needs.

What to Look for in an Air Purifier

The air purifier space has scientifically proven features to consider and technology-based enhancements that you may or may not find useful (app control, voice commands, remote control) along with extraneous attributes added by manufacturers in an effort to differentiate their products. 

Key Terminology

HEPA: The U.S. Department of Energy set the definition and standards for HEPA filtration, which stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, HEPA certification is given to filters capable of removing at least 99.97 percent of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. 

CADR: Stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and is a score calculating how quickly an air purifier is able to remove contaminants, such as dust, pollen, and smoke, from the air in a room. The CADR of your air cleaner should be equal to at least two-thirds of the room’s area. For example, if your room is 100 square feet (10 feet x 10 feet) a minimum CADR of 67 is needed.

Some manufacturers provide three categories for their CADR, such as our Best Overall choice, the Winix 5500-2 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier with a CADR of 243 (dust), 246 (pollen), and 232 (smoke). Others offer an average score, like VEVA 8000 Air Purifier with a CADR of 120, while some air purifier manufacturers do not provide CADR ratings for their models.

Activated Carbon Filter: These filters use activated carbon (also called activated charcoal) to filter out odors, such as the smell of smoke, and gases, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from household products, from the air in a space. They cannot remove fine particles like mold, dust, or pollen from the air so should be used in conjunction with a HEPA filter.

Pre-Filter: Often the first filtration layer capturing larger airborne particles including pet hair and dust. It should be noted that an air purifier is not designed to be as powerful as a vacuum for the removal of pet hair from a space.

UV Light: Select air purifiers, like the Bionaire True HEPA 360 UV Air Purifier (our Best for Allergies selection) have an internal chamber with a UV light to kill airborne bacteria.

Strength

Some air purifiers are more powerful than others, and just how much power you’ll need will depend on the size of the room, how many pets you have, and what, if any, allergies your family members experience. Most air purifier product descriptions include a recommended cubic footage, indicating whether it’s appropriate for large or small rooms.

“Filters are also marked with a CADR (clean air delivery rate), which describes the cubic feet per minute of airflow through the device,” Dr. Payel Gupta, Medical Director of Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and ENT at LifeMD, told The Spruce Pets. “Be sure to match the filter’s CADR with the size of the room where you plan to use the filter.”

Be sure to check the coverage area to be sure it meets your needs.

Cooling Features And Design

Besides cleaning the air, some air purifiers come with additional features, including odor and temperature control. Most also have multiple fan settings, so you can crank it when you’re out of the room, or use a quieter setting at night. You may also want to consider the look of the air filter if it’s going to be in a visible spot. Some come in a variety of colors, so you can choose one to complement your decor. 

Sound Levels

While some love the white-noise hum of typical air purifiers, others are annoyed by it. Fortunately, there are machines that are ultra-quiet and others that allow you to adjust the volume. On some models, you can preset runs to operate at different volumes during different times of the day. 

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This roundup was revamped by Anna Mejorada, an editor for The Spruce Pets who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. Anna keeps the air in her home clean with a Dyson HP07 Hot+Cool Air Purifier and Fan. The filter is easy to replace and the device can be controlled via remote control.

A previous version was written by Emma Phelps, a writer for The Spruce with several years of experience researching products and writing roundups. We also interviewed Melanie Carver, Chief Mission Officer of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Dr. Payel Gupta, Medical Director of Allergy, Asthma, Immunology and ENT at LifeMD, and Allergy and Immunology medical expert, Niha Qamar, MD, for their insights.

If you suspect your pet has allergies, it can feel overwhelming to figure out what course of action to take. The good news is that the more you understand about allergies in dogs and cats, the better you can help your furry friend feel better.

Read on to learn more about allergy testing in dogs and cats. 

Types of Allergy Testing

If you have discovered that your pet has allergies, allergy testing can be a helpful tool to try to identify what they are allergic to and how best to treat them. Allergy testing and its related treatments are long-term strategies and will not provide your pet with immediate relief, however. If your pet is in the middle of an intense flare-up, you may need to use other treatments to bring them relief first before pursuing allergy testing.

Elimination Diet

Some pets are allergic to ingredients in their food, and knowing that can help you find a food that is free of those allergens to control your pet’s symptoms. When a food allergy is suspected, your veterinarian will recommend a strict elimination diet trial, which entails feeding your pet an allergen-free diet exclusively for at least six weeks. If your pet’s signs resolve during this time, that suggests they do have a food allergy. This should be confirmed by doing a challenge where they are re-introduced to their allergen to see if their original symptoms return. If they do, that is considered confirmation of the food allergy. Your pet will need to eat a complete and balanced diet free of their allergens long-term to prevent future flare-ups.

Intradermal Testing

Pets with environmental allergies may be allergic to plants, dust, or other allergens in your home or local environment. Sometimes this can be a seasonal allergy that only seems to occur in spring or summer when certain plants are in bloom, or it can occur year-round if the allergen is always present. Testing for environmental allergies is helpful to determine what allergens your pet reacts to, and helps to create a targeted treatment plan.

The gold standard for environmental allergy testing is intradermal testing, where tiny amounts of allergens are injected under the skin to look for a reaction. This is usually done by a veterinary dermatologist. If you discover that your pet has specific environmental allergies, you may not be able to completely remove allergens from their environment, but you may be able to reduce certain exposures.

When to Consider Allergy Testing

Allergy testing is extremely important for understanding your pet’s condition and finding the most effective treatment for them. Without allergy testing, you are only able to treat your pet’s symptoms each time they have a flare-up up but can’t effectively bring them consistent, long-term relief.

Pets that have chronic or recurrent signs like itchy skin, ear infections, and/or digestive problems may have underlying allergies. Your vet may want to eliminate other common causes for these conditions like fleas, skin mites, skin infections, intestinal parasites, and more by doing other tests and/or treatments first. If your pet does not improve after these initial treatments, your vet may be able to rule out those conditions and home in on allergies as a likely cause.

If a food allergy is suspected, testing your pet through an elimination diet trial is very important as both a diagnostic test and a treatment. Pets that improve dramatically on a limited-ingredient diet are likely to have a food allergy, and a long-term specialized diet will also be the most effective way to treat them. If environmental allergies are suspected, intradermal testing can help to identify possible allergens for immunotherapy treatment. This is an important step in creating a targeted treatment plan.

Does Allergy Testing Work?

Allergy testing is highly effective when properly executed. For example, testing is most useful once a pet is already diagnosed with allergies, and if their signs are not well-controlled using other treatments. To diagnose your pet’s allergies, will usually rule out other conditions first that could cause similar symptoms.

However, there are multiple factors that can interfere with getting accurate results.

Contaminated Elimination Diet

When it comes to doing a food trial, it is critical to select an appropriate diet that is truly allergen-free. Most over-the-counter diets are not appropriate because even if they claim to have limited ingredients, they are prepared using equipment that is also used for other diets, resulting in contamination. A prescription limited-ingredient diet, or a home-cooked diet designed by a veterinarian, is going to be the best option to ensure there is no contamination with allergens.

Additionally, food trials require pet parents to be very compliant about feeding their pets nothing but the prescribed diet. If a pet sneaks into another pet’s food, or grabs something off the kitchen table, or even gets a treat that contains other ingredients, it can interfere with the accuracy of the trial.

Inaccurate Test Results

For pets that need intradermal testing, it is important to seek out a board-certified veterinary dermatologist who is highly trained in administering this test and interpreting the results. Pet parents must also follow directions closely regarding how to prepare their pet for this test. Usually, allergy medications like steroids and antihistamines need to be discontinued for a few weeks prior to the test. If this is not done, it can interfere with the accuracy of the results.

Blood testing does not usually require medications to be discontinued in advance, but there are differences in the accuracy of various testing companies. That means the overall accuracy of blood testing tends to vary in general

Treating Pet Allergies

There are many ways to treat pets with allergies. Many times this involves a combination of medications aimed to reduce itchiness, inflammation, and/or suppress the immune system’s reaction to allergens. At other times, topical treatments and oral medications can be used to promote healthy skin and treat secondary infections that may develop.

Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, is used to slowly desensitize pets to their allergens. Customized allergy shots are created based on what a specific pet is allergic to, and it can take up to one year to see results. Therefore, these pets will need additional treatments to manage their signs while undergoing immunotherapy. 

Many of these treatments are effective, especially for pets with milder forms of allergies. However, they can also cause unwanted side effects, become costly, and require daily administration and time-consuming treatments. However, the relief your pet will feel on the right treatment plan will be worth it.

OK, fellow dog moms and dads: let’s talk about allergies. You already know the struggle: shedding fur, allergens, dust and hidden dirt can quickly turn your home into a cleaning battlefield.

I’ve just learned about a new vacuum that’s really different from the typical pet vacuums (of which we have several). The Jimmy Anti-Mite Vacuum Cleaner BX7 Pro is a handheld vacuum designed to tackle allergens and pet dander in fabrics, combining powerful suction with UV light to effectively remove mites, dust, and allergens from furniture and bedding.

And, yes, even if you vacuum regularly and get that fur up, the dander and mites are still down in the upholstery in your home, from your mattress and couch to your dog’s favorite bed.

What are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are microscopic creatures that thrive in warm, humid environments and feed on dead skin cells shed by humans and animals. (I know…gross…)

Dust mites are found in all homes but in pet households the presence of fur, dander, and increased humidity from activities like bathing, dog drool and outdoor play creates the perfect breeding ground for these tiny pests.

Dust mites commonly inhabit pet beds, upholstery, carpets, pillows and even mattresses, leading to allergens that can trigger respiratory issues, skin irritation, and allergies in both humans and pets.

What Makes the Jimmy BX7 Pro Different?

As I mentioned, this is a hand-held vacuum and, like other hand-held vacuums, it sucks up dirt and pet hair easily from upholstery.

But that’s where the similarities end. This little vacuum uses UV sterilization to combat pet allergens. The BX7 Pro’s UV-C light sterilizes surfaces, eliminating up to 99.99% of bacteria and mites, creating a healthier environment for you and your dog.

The vacuum also uses vibrations with high-frequency tapping to loosen mites, dust and dander that’s embedded deep in fabrics.

And ultrasound destroys the nerves of the mites as the unit heats to 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) to kill the mites themselves. Like hanging sheets and duvets out on a clothesline, the heat gives your mattress, pillows and upholstery a little sunbath that would otherwise be inconvenient or, in some cases, impossible.

That all sounded great–so I decided to put it to the test. I had some questions:

• Would the ultrasound be disturbing to dogs’ sensitive ears?
• Is the vacuum loud?
• Is it able to tackle all the dirt I know our house’s fabrics can throw at it? This demands a large capacity dustbin.
• How heavy is this? Vacuuming upholstery can mean holding a unit up to vacuum the back of the couch.

There was only one way to know. It was time to put it to the test!

Let’s Try it Out!

One thing that stood out to me immediately is the width of the intake port. The suction port is over 9.5 inches wide–so much broader than a traditional handheld vac. A wider port means faster vacuuming!

Another feature I noticed was the LED detection system. It calculates the number of dust mites in the fabric and will show red (dirty) or blue (clean).

Partially red and blue means keep cleaning until the bar turns blue.

This indicator light is one of my favorite features. It lets me know when I need to keep vacuuming and when it’s time to move on.

You can use the vacuum in any of three modes:

• Vacuum + UV
• Vacuum + Tap
• Vacuum + Tap + UV

The indicator light makes it easy to see which setting you’re on.

And as for my questions?

Was the ultrasound disturbing to dogs’ sensitive ears? The dogs didn’t pay any more attention to the Jimmy BX7 Pro than they do to any of our other vacuum cleaners.

Was the vacuum loud? The vacuum operates at 78 dB(A) which is about equivalent to a hair dryer. It’s not super quiet–but it didn’t make me want to reach for earplugs either. The loudest settings are the ones with Tap turned on.

Was the dustbin able to hold a large capacity? Yes! The cup can hold half a liter of dust. It’s clear so it’s easy to see when it’s time to empty. The dustbin is washable. I was shocked by the fine, fine dust the dustbin contained when I emptied it! I had already vacuumed the dog bed for the day–so this was EXTRA dust and mites that my regular vacuum had not picked up.

Was it heavy? The unit weighs just over 8 pounds; I didn’t have any problems using it on our upholstery including the backs of the couch and chairs. It was very easy to pull along flat surfaces like the dog beds, mattress and couch cushions.

What Did I Think?

I give the Jimmy Anti-Mite Vacuum Cleaner BX7 Pro a big paws up–it really is a must-have for dog parents, especially if anyone in your household has allergies.

While it is not designed to replace your standard vacuum for floor cleaning, it’s perfect for your bed, dog beds, couches, car interiors, and anywhere else your pup loves to lounge!

Pros for Pet Parents

• Removes stubborn fur, dust mites and dander from pet beds and furniture
• UV and heat technology eliminates allergens and odors
• HEPA filtration ensures cleaner air
• Easy to maneuver
• Spacious dustbin

Cons for Pet Parents

• Not designed for cleaning hard floors. This is a very specialized vacuum. The BX7 Pro focuses on fabric surfaces, so you’ll still need another vacuum for floors.
• Corded design limits flexibility. I didn’t have a problem with the cord (it is over 16 feet long) but know that you will need to use it while plugged in. The Jimmy BX7 is exclusively cord powered because of its large motor and suction. (Jimmy does make a cordless model, the JIMMY BD7 Pro Cordless.)

Where to Buy

The Jimmy BX7 Pro Anti-Mite Vacuum Cleaner is available at:

For more information, visit the Jimmy website.

We were supplied with a Jimmy BX7 Pro Vacuum for our review. All opinions are entirely our own; our review was not previewed by Jimmy and we were under no obligation to make any of the above statements.

Paris Permenter is the award-winning co-author, with John Bigley, of over 30 pet and travel books including The Healthy Hound Cookbook and Texas with Dogs, both available through Simon and Schuster. Paris is also a member of the Dog Writers Association of America.

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