Pets and Allergic Children
For many parents, pets are a lot like their children. They take care of their every need, pamper them, and treat them like one of the family. When you have a child with allergies, deciding whether or not to keep a pet can be excruciating.
Some children with allergies do fine with pets. Those with food allergies are probably not predisposed to pet allergies. Even those with nasal and skin allergies may be able to live and play with a pet with no problem. But some children, even those who have never had any signs of allergies, get rashes, watery eyes or runny noses in the presence of a cat or dog.
Exposing Your Child to Pets for the First Time
Studies have suggested that children who live in homes with pets from birth are less likely to have allergies of any kind. Researchers believe that early exposure to allergens present in pet dander may help the immune system get accustomed to them, preventing allergies from developing. But for older children who have never had pets, it's hard to know how their immune systems will react.
If you're considering getting a pet, try taking your child to the home of a family that has pets. If you know someone who keeps both cats and dogs indoors, exposing your child to such an environment could quickly rule out or confirm pet allergies. Or if you have a specific type of pet in mind, take your child to a home that has such a pet. Look carefully for signs of allergic reactions, not just while he is in contact with the pet, but for several hours afterward. Skin rashes may not be apparent until the next day.
The fact that your child had an allergic reaction, however, doesn't necessarily indicate that the pet caused it. There could be something else present in the home that he is allergic to. Talk to your child's doctor about having allergy tests done. If your child has had an allergic reaction to anything, allergy tests can help pinpoint it, making treatment easier. If you find that it was the pet that caused the reaction, it's best not to have one in your home, but you may find that pets do not pose a problem.
If Your Child Is Allergic to Pets
Most children are allergic to one specific type of pet. If this is the case with yours, you can simply get a different kind of pet. Keep in mind, however, that rodents and birds can cause allergic reactions too. If you want to get such a pet, it's important to take the same precautions as you would with a cat or dog.
There are no pets that are known not to cause allergic reactions. Fish and reptiles do not shed dander, so they are generally safe for those with allergies. But there is the possibility that one could be allergic to their saliva or other bodily fluids.
If you already have a pet when you find out that your child is allergic to it, the best course of action is to find the pet a new home. But if you are emotionally attached to the pet, it may be possible to keep it. If possible, consider keeping it outdoors. If it stays indoors, you'll need to run a HEPA filter to remove pet dander from the air, vacuum frequently, and bathe the animal at least once a week. It's also a good idea to keep it off of the furniture and launder draperies regularly.
Pet allergies in children are pretty common, but they often outgrow them. If you can't have a pet now, you may be able to keep one with no problem in a few years.
