Pets & Asthma

It is a misconception that pets cause asthma. Asthma is a genetically inherited condition and attacks can be triggered by various agents such as house dust, dust mites, pollen, lint, stress, cold water and animal hair/saliva.

Many owners give up their pets upon the identification of an asthma sufferer in the family. However, studies have shown that although animal dander is a potential trigger in people who are asthmatic, it is often not the primary trigger.

Recent studies also show that children living with a dog or cat at home are less likely to develop asthma. This research supports the current thinking among allergists that exposing a child to dust, animal dander and other allergens at a young age will help him build up immunity that will reduce the chances of him developing asthma.

Animal hair and saliva are not considered to be major triggers and if a pet is suspected, it is recommended that the physician does proper allergy tests to confirm this before any decision is made to remove the animal. Only if tests prove that animal dander is a main trigger should steps be taken to reduce the risk of exposure, including removing the animal.

For asthmatics who are sensitive to animal dander but who still want to keep pet dogs or cats, they can follow some simple steps to reduce contact with dander and other allergens.

These steps include:

- Keep the house clean and well-ventilated
- Wash walls and floors periodically
- Vacuum regularly with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) filter vacuum cleaners to capture particulate airborne allergens
- Use HEPA filters in the bedroom
- Place allergen-proof covers over mattresses and pillows. Blankets and sheets should be washed every week in hot water
- Keep the pet out of the bedroom. Since the average person spends many hours in the bedroom sleeping, this measure will reduce exposure to the dander
- Bathe the dog and wet-wipe the cat (as many cats do not like water and can be hard to bathe) weekly to remove the dander that accumulates on the fur
- Have a non-susceptible family member brush the pet outdoors on a regular basis
- Wash hands after handling the pet
- Wear a mask when changing a cat litter


What is Animal Dander ?

To many people, animal dander means the hair or fur of a domestic pet. However, animal dander is not the hair or fur but really old skin scales which are constantly shed into the hair or fur. Older animals produce more dander than young ones because their skin tends to be drier. Animal dander is pretty easy to miss because it is extremely tiny (approx 2.5 microns with 1 micron = 1/25000 in.), light weight and can remain floating in the air for hours. In addition to coming directly from the animal, dander accumulates most frequently in carpets and upholstered furniture and easily becomes airborne when disturbed.

[Information gathered from various sites]