Only about 10% of the general population has pet allergies, but at least 30% of people with asthma are allergic to animals. So if your child has asthma, it's a good idea to consider whether your pet could be producing allergens that are triggering asthma symptoms.

Contrary to popular belief, your animal's fur probably isn't the culprit. Allergies are caused by the body’s reaction to a protein found in the animal's dander (dead skin flakes), saliva, urine, and feathers. Though pet hair itself isn't the problem, this protein can cling to the fur when an animal licks itself. Also, an animal's fur can collect dust mites, pollen, mold, and other allergens. And any animal that lives in a cage (from birds to gerbils) will produce droppings that can attract mold and dust mites.

You may hear people say that certain breeds of dogs or cats, particularly those that don't shed, don't trigger their asthma, but all warm-blooded animals shed allergy-causing proteins and are capable of causing an allergic reaction.

If you're wondering whether your child is allergic to your pet, it might be a good idea to have him or her tested for allergies. If your child turns out to be allergic to your pet, you'll have to decide whether you'll keep it or find a new home for the animal. The best course is to remove the pet from your home, though this isn't usually the easiest or happiest solution. Your child, other kids in the family, and even adults in the family may have a tough time with this decision.

In some cases, your child's doctor may say that it's OK to keep your pet if your child receives medicine or allergy shots. If you go this route, you'll also want to take measures at home to limit your child's exposure to the animal, such as keeping the pet out of your child's bedroom and play areas. Hard as this is to enforce, try to teach your child not to hug or kiss the animal. Vacuum and dust regularly and avoid rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting, especially in your child's room.

Unfortunately, such measures may not be enough - because animal allergens are airborne, heating and ventilation systems will spread allergens throughout the house, even if the pet is confined to one room. Keeping the pet in the yard may not be a total solution either because some allergens will eventually be carried in on clothing.

If you decide to keep your pet, it might also be a good idea to:

• Buy an air cleaner. HEPA air cleaners can really help, especially for cat allergies. Vacuums are available with HEPA filters as well.
• Keep your child away from the cat's litter box, and place the box away from air vents.
• Have someone other than your child wash and brush your pet every week (this is advisable for cats as well as dogs).
• Encourage everyone in the family to wash their hands after playing with your pet.
• Keep your pet out of the child's bedroom and away from rugs and upholstered furniture. You may need to shut the doors to certain rooms or use baby safety gates to keep cats and dogs out.

If you have a bird, gerbil, or other small caged animal, keep the cage in a room other than your child's bedroom. Make sure the pet stays in its cage at all times, and clean the cage daily - without your child's assistance. You'll also want to let your child's teacher know about your child's allergies if there's a caged pet in the classroom.

If you do decide to find another home for your pet, be sure to talk to your child about his or her feelings. You'll want to assure your child it's not his or her "fault" - and make sure siblings don't blame the child. Losing a pet, even if it is only to another home, may be difficult for everyone in the family.

Remember, too, that even if you remove the pet from your home, you may not see improvements in your child's asthma symptoms for a while. After a pet is removed from the home, it can take up to 6 months to reduce the allergen levels to those of a home without pets. Even if the pet is removed, your child may still need to use the asthma or allergy medications that he or she used previously.

When your child is invited to a house with a pet, he or she should take any prescription allergy medicine before going and should (as always) bring along his or her asthma rescue medication as well.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: June 2007
Originally reviewed by: Stephen J. McGeady, MD