Rhinos & Rhinitis: The Best Pets For Children With Allergies

There are many concerns we all have when it comes to adopting a pet, and apart from the practicalities of a pet in the home, the other aspect that can be a big concern is if you or your children have an undiagnosed allergy to animals. Lots of people have allergies to cats, and while an allergy can be treated with antihistamines, these don't necessarily treat the problem but mask the symptoms. So if you have children with allergies, and they want a pet, are there any specific ones that are best for your house? 

A Hypoallergenic Cat

There are various breeds of cats that can help. In fact, it's not the cat hair that people are allergic to for the most part, but it's actually proteins that are secreted by the skin, known as the Fel D1 protein. The best types of cats include the Cornish Rex, Russian Blue, Siberian cats as well as the Norwegian cat, also known as the Norwegian Forest Cat. But no cat is completely hypoallergenic, so it's important for anyone with allergies to check their symptoms around a specific breed of cat.

Fish

Of course, this is the first pet for many people, but it's a very good one if you have children with major allergies. The fact is that they are in water, so there is no airborne contact, which will minimize any sort of allergies. The one thing to be aware of though if you plan on handling the fish a lot, is that you could get fish handler's disease, where contact with the fish against a cut causes a red circle to develop and results in itchiness and burning.

Reptiles

All reptiles have no fur, but, of course, they have scaly skin. When it comes to having reptiles as pets, there is no chance of an allergic reaction as they like the proteins to cause these reactions. It should be noted that the main concern with reptiles in terms of illness is that you could get exposed to salmonella. This is very rare, but some reptiles have salmonella as part of their bacteria in the intestines. Salmonella can cause lots of problems for your children, as their immune system isn't fully developed yet. And this is why healthy practices, such as washing your hands, can help prevent a lot of these illnesses.

Short-Haired Dogs

This is a case of trial and error, finding the best breed of dog for your children. And why are short-haired dogs aren't always the best option, the fact is that because short haired dogs have a lot less hair, the chance for an allergy is reduced greatly. The best approach when looking for a short-haired dog is to spend some time with a pediatrician and ask the relevant questions, and what medication your child should have to hand if they were to have an allergic reaction. The best approach is to visit the breed of animal and spend time, roughly an hour, to check if an allergic reaction develops.

While having a pet can be a fantastic addition to any household, the potential allergic reactions mean that you really need to do your research and check you and your child's ability to be exposed to these animals.