Can I get a dog if I have asthma?

If you have asthma, there is no reason why you can’t share your home with a furry friend. Many people with asthma are able to have a dog in their home, as long as extra precautions are taken and the breed is chosen carefully. In this post, we will discuss the considerations one must take when getting a dog if they have asthma, and the importance of staying in touch with your doctor and pet’s vet. We will also talk about the best breeds that are suitable for asthmatic households, and how to create a healthy environment for both people and pets. Finally, we will discuss some of the benefits animals can bring to people with asthma. With the right kind of dog and the proper attention, having a dog can be a great part of an asthma management program.

What If I Have to Say Goodbye to My Pet?

If you do all of these things and your asthma flare-ups persist, you might need to find your pet a new home. You might experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness and rage. These emotions could be so intense that they interfere with your ability to focus, eat, or sleep. This is a normal reaction to losing something you value.

How you handle things depends on your personality. You might want to be so busy that you don’t miss your pet when you’re at home, or you might want to spend some time each day looking at pictures of the two of you.

There is no right or wrong way to deal with loss-related emotions. It might be beneficial to discuss it with close friends, family members, or a counselor.

It may take some time before your symptoms get better because it takes months for an animal’s allergens to leave the house.

Even if you no longer own a pet, you will occasionally come into contact with animals. If you visit a home with a pet, take any prescribed allergy medication and carry quick-relief medication with you.

How Can I Deal With Animal Allergens?

If your pet triggers your asthma, these tips might help:

Start taking allergy medicine or getting allergy shots in addition to your asthma medicine.

Keep your pet out of your room.

Play with your pet but try not hug it or kiss it.

Clean your room really well and get rid of any rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting.

Keep your room free of dust.

Have someone else wash and brush your pet every week (cats as well as dogs).

Make sure everyone in your family washes their hands after touching the pet.

Move the cage containing any small caged pets, such as a bird, gerbil, or other pet, out of your room. Make sure your pet is always contained in a cage. Have someone else clean the cage daily. Ensure that the animal’s cage is not near any drafts. A heating or cooling vent next to the cage could blow pet allergens into the space.

You are Allergic to the Dander

Many people believe that the allergic reaction is brought on by the hair or fur. The idea that an animal’s fur can actually cause allergies or asthma symptoms is a myth.

The allergy-inducing culprit is the pet dander. Pet dander is actually composed of minuscule skin fragments that cats, dogs, rodents, birds, and other animals shed. People who are allergic to the triggers are affected by these tiny particles.

All animals with fur produce dander. But it may be true that animals with longer hair are more likely to accumulate and carry more dander than those with shorter hair. So a pet with shorter hair might be a better option if you have asthma or other allergies.

Depending on how severe their symptoms are and how well they are managed, asthma sufferers may be more susceptible to developing symptoms when exposed to any dander.

FAQ

Which dog is best for asthmatics?

• Poodle. Poodles, who are frequently used as show dogs, make wonderful pets due to their amiable nature and playful nature.
• Bichon Frise. …
• Portuguese Water Dog. …
• Shih Tzu. …
• Yorkshire Terrier. …
• Labradoodle.

Can dog hair affect asthma?

Animal dander is frequently used as a trigger for asthma symptoms, including wheezing, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and asthma attacks. Dander, which is composed of proteins from hair, skin flakes, urine, feces, and saliva, is produced by both furry and feathered animals.

What pets are good for asthmatics?

• Bichon Frise. As a toy breed, Bichon Frise don’t produce as much dander and fur as other dog breeds, making them a good option for people with allergies or asthma.
• Poodle. …
• Portuguese Water Dog. …
• Sphynx. …
• Balinese.

How can pets affect asthma?

Pets can cause asthma or allergy symptoms to flare up because they have a protein in their saliva (spit), urine (pee), or dander (tiny flakes of dead skin).