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Pets and the Allergic Child
Can These Two Safely Coexist?
By Lisa B. Samalonis
If a pet comes into the home and it becomes obvious that the child is allergic, the best thing to do is to get rid of the pet, says Dr. Spooner, who acknowledges that this is easier said than done. "One could banish the pet to the outdoors, but what would be the point of that?" he says. "The child would still not be able to have contact with the animal. It's a very hard situation. You can get allergy shots to desensitize you to pet dander but many allergists reserve this involved – and expensive therapy – for people like veterinarians whose livelihood depends on exposure to dander."
Dr. Derek Johnson, assistant professor of pediatrics and director of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Temple University Children's Medical Center in Philadelphia, agrees that while it is a difficult dilemma, the best thing may be to remove household pets.
Despite common myths, washing the pet does not prevent the dander or skin from causing allergies. It can take up to six months to a year for the cat allergen levels to start to decrease after a cat has been removed. Therefore, it is crucial to keep the pet out of the allergic child's bedroom, Dr. Johnson says.
If the pet remains in the house despite a child's allergies steps can be aken to separate the child and pet. "Door closers help ensure the bedroom door stays closed at all times so the pet can't get in to sleep on the bed," Dr. Johnson says.
