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Pets and the Allergic Child
Can These Two Safely Coexist?
By Lisa B. Samalonis
Over-the-counter medicines can be used to help with allergies on a regular or as needed basis to combat pet allergies. For occasional visits, say to a grandparent's house where there is a cat or dog, over-the-counter antihistamine medications, such as Benedryl or Claritin, are often helpful.
Janice Young, a mom from Marlton, N.J., says that she owns two cats and while no one in the family has ever been allergic, a good friend is. "Our friend has to visit during the nice weather (and we dine on the patio), or he takes prescription medication before he leaves home," she says.
"Over-the counter antihistamines such as Benedryl can make a child or adult sleepy," Dr. Johnson says. "Other newer generation antihistamines, like Claritin and Alavert, do not cause sedation." He notes that the most effective medical allergy treatments are prescription intranasal steroids or prescription nose sprays. Allergy shots are also available and are effective but may take several years of therapy.
The Humane Society notes that pet owners are quick to relinquish their animals when they don't think they have alternatives. According to the Society, for people who have non-life-threatening allergies and also own a pet a combination of approaches – control of symptoms using medicine, good house-cleaning methods and immunotherapy (allergy shots) – is most likely to succeed in allowing an allergic person to live with pets.
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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. "Fish can be a nice alternative to pets with dander-shedding skin," says Dr. Andy Spooner, associate professor and director, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, in Memphis.
