Austin loves watching TV with his dog, Max. They hang out on the
sofa together for hours on rainy days. Sometimes, Austin lies with
his head right on Max's soft furry belly. What a pillow!
But Austin just found out he's allergic to animal
allergens
. That means he's allergic to stuff animals produce. This stuff
is found in:
- animal dander, or skin flakes (kind of like animal
dandruff)
- animal saliva (spit)
- animal urine (pee)
Because he's allergic to this stuff, spending time with Max
is probably making his asthma worse. Lots of kids with asthma are
allergic to animals - and not just furry animals. Feathered
animals, too, can cause allergic reactions.
Animal hair or fur by itself isn't the
problem, but hair and fur can collect dust mites (tiny bugs),
pollen (from plants), mold (like the stuff that makes your basement
smell), and other stuff that causes allergies. And any animal that
lives in a cage - from birds to gerbils - will have droppings that
get mold and dust mites on them.
Finding out that you're allergic to animals can be sad
because, if your asthma is really bad, you may have to find a new
home for your pet. Because that's such a tough thing to do,
your doctor might suggest that you try allergy medicine or
shots
first. Those, in addition to your regular asthma medicines, can
help control your
asthma flare-ups
.
You also can take steps to keep your bedroom free of allergens
and reduce the allergens in your home. They are:
- Keep your pet out of your room. If possible, keep your pet
outside.
- Even if it's a small pet, like a bird or gerbil,
don't keep the animal in your room.
- For caged animals, have someone else clean the cage.
- If there's a pet in your classroom, let your teacher know
about your allergies.
- Play with your pet, but try not to hug or kiss the
animal.
- Wash your hands when you're done playing with your
pet.
- Get rid of any rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting in your
room.
- Clean your room so it's free of household dust.
- Have someone else wash and brush your pet every week (cats as
well as dogs).
If you try all these things and are still having lots of asthma
flare-ups, you may need to find another home for your pet. This may
make you feel a lot of different feelings. At first, you may feel
nothing at all. Or you may feel like crying. You may feel lonely or
mad. All of these feelings are OK.
You may want to talk to your parents about how you are feeling.
They might be feeling sad and missing your pet, too. Talking
might help you start feeling better. You might decide to write a
poem or make a scrapbook to remember your pet.
It takes months for all of the allergens to leave the house, so
your allergies might not get better right away. Even if you
don't have animals at home, you'll probably still come in
contact with them from time to time. When going over to a
friend's house where there is a pet, be sure to take your
allergy medicine
before
going over. Also, bring your asthma
inhaler
along, just in case.
If you're missing your pet, it may take a long time before
you want a new one. But someday, if you do, your best bets are
turtles, snakes, lizards, or fish. They're less likely to cause
allergies.
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: June 2007
Originally reviewed by:
Stephen J. McGeady, MD
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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