Can Someone With Allergies Have Pets?

28 octobre 2025

3 min de lecture

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Up to 60 % of people suffer from allergies, most often appearing as an allergy to pets. It can be frustrating when only one member of the family has an allergy, while everyone else is dreaming of a cat or a dog. Is it possible to have a pet in this situation?

Points clés

Up to 60 % of people suffer from allergies, most often appearing as an allergy to pets.
What causes allergies?
Is it possible to predict if you will have allergies?

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Auteur de l'article

Dr. Helene

Allergist–immunologist

What causes allergies?

It is believed that allergies are primarily caused by pets' hair. However, this is not entirely true. The most common allergen is the protein found in saliva as well as down, feathers, skin particles, or products of pets or parasites that live on wool (such as mites and fleas). Due to their small size, allergens are easily carried through the air, settle on home textiles and carpet lint, and from there penetrate into the respiratory tract. Some people even have allergies to certain foods. A single contact may be enough to show a variety of symptoms:

Tearing, swelling, and itching of the eyes
Sneezing and stuffy nose
Scratchy and itchy throat
Coughing
Skin manifestations including itching and urticaria

Is it possible to predict if you will have allergies?

Unfortunately, you are at higher risk for allergies if your blood relatives have them. If you've had an allergic reaction to cats, there's a good chance you'll have a reaction to dogs as well. If you have asthma or any lung disease, you should not have a pet. However, if your allergies are not as severe, you have other options.

Choose wisely

Hypoallergenic animals, contrary to myths, do not exist. However, some species provoke don’t cause the same allergic reactions in humans that other species do.

Reptiles are not a bad option for allergy sufferers—no dandruff, fur, or toxic excretions!

Lizards, turtles, snails, and aquarium fish are also good options. But it's worth remembering that if their living conditions are too humid mold can form, which leads to allergies.

Chinchillas have no sebaceous and sweat glands, so they are usually a safe bet. Bald guinea pigs are too.

If you're dreaming of a cat, go for one of the following breeds: Sphinx, Peterbald, Cornish, and Devon Rex. Surprisingly, the saliva of the very fluffy Siberian cat rarely causes allergies.

Among dog breeds, consider Chinese Crested, Zwergschnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, or Poodle.

Consider not only the breed but also the temperament of the animal. Calm pets are less likely to spread allergens.

Safety precautions

Before you buy a pet, consult a doctor and take skin allergy tests. Clarify what medications should be taken in case of an attack. Since allergies often only manifest themselves after the second contact, try to spend as much time with the pet as possible before you buy it so that you do not have to hurriedly re-home it later.

After the pet has moved into your home, follow these guidelines:

Cleaning and caring for the pet should not be done by the allergic person.
Wash the pet's bedding at least once a week.
Damp-clean daily.
Use air purifiers
Keep the pet out of the bedroom, especially out of the allergy sufferer's bed.
Wash all curtains in the house regularly.
Use special anti-allergy shampoos for bathing pets.

Remember that there might be complications along the way. As a consolation, we remind you of the "hygiene theory," which states that children who have early contact with pets are more resistant to infections and less likely to suffer from allergic diseases.

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