Pets are often important members of the household, providing
companionship, security and comfort to their owners. However, certain
pets can sometimes cause significant problems for family members who
have asthma or other allergic diseases. People with allergies to
animals should not have certain types of pets. Determined pet owners
can take certain precautions to minimize allergen exposure and
safeguard the allergy patient's health.
The most common household pets — fur-bearing mammals such as dogs and cats — are the most common cause of animal allergies.
Allergic reactions to pets are caused primarily by the animal's dander (dried flakes of shed skin), saliva and urine.
Short-haired
pets are not less likely to cause allergic problems than are
long-haired animals. A long-haired animal, however, can collect other
allergens such as pollen, dust and mold.
Cats are
responsible for the majority of animal allergies. To reduce dander and
remove dried saliva, cats should be washed once a week with plain water
or a mild veterinary shampoo. This practice should begin when the cat
is very young.
Bird, gerbil, hamster and mouse droppings can also trigger allergic symptoms.
The
best types of pets for an allergic patient are pets that don't have
hair or fur, shed dander or produce excrement that creates allergic
problems. Tropical fish are ideal, but very large aquariums should be
kept covered to reduce the amount of water vapor in the air which may
increase the concentration of molds and dust mites in the house.
Keep
pets outside or limit them to a few rooms in the house to reduce
exposure to pet allergens. At the very least, pets should be kept out
of the allergic family member's bedroom.
Patients with
asthma or other allergic diseases should avoid hugging and kissing
their pets, and should keep them out of their beds at all times.
Central
air cleaners might help remove airborne pet allergens in the home.
However, certain allergens (such as those found cat dander) do not
remain airborne for long.
An allergist-immunologist
should be consulted if symptoms of wheezing or shortness of breath
occur after exposure to pets, or if there is a chronic or progressive
feeling of breathlessness, loss of energy and fatigue.
