Asthma And Pets - Are They Compatible?

Pets are leading contributors to asthma-related illness. Nobody said this was going to be easy, but before you jump to any conclusions, I am not going to insist that you give up your pet. Chances are you love your pet as much as you love your family. I do suggest, however, that you take a critical look at the potential health consequences of owning a pet. Before you can make a decision, we must first determine if you're allergic to your pet or a pet-related product. As I shared with you in the Introduction, my asthma began with a rabbit. In reality, the rabbit didn't aggravate my asthma at all—the cedar chips in the rabbit's litter box did. This is why discovering what triggers your asthma is so critical. Some pet owners may find that their pet has nothing to do with their symptoms; rather, their lungs react to a pet-related product. Other asthmatics may unfortunately discover that they would not have asthma were it not for their pet.

 

For most asthmatics, when it comes to pets, the major offender is either a dog or cat. While both can get an asthmatic into trouble, cats pose the most danger because feline dander is more allergenic. Cat dander is also smaller, therefore likely to stay airborne longer. Skin testing can help determine if you're allergic to your pet, especially if you have a strong reaction. Skin testing, however, is not always accurate.

 

You may need a trial separation from your pet. Though it may be emotionally difficult, leave your pet with a friend or pet-care professional for one month and completely remove all pet-related products from your home. You'll also need to eliminate residual dander by thoroughly cleaning your home and washing all clothes, linens, and carpeting. It is also vital that during this separation you follow the advice detailed later in this chapter regarding the total removal of asthma triggers from your home. A meticulously planned removal of all allergens, followed by a top to bottom cleaning of your home, has a greater chance of success than removing items one by one.

 

This is when keeping an asthma diary becomes critically important, so you can determine if your symptoms abate while your pet is away. If after four weeks your symptoms don't improve, chances are Fido isn't to blame. Conversely, if your asthma miraculously disappears while your pet is away, you will have a difficult decision to make. If you find that your pet is causing your asthma, you will have to decide what is more important—protecting your health or having a pet. For the sake of your own well-being, you may need to find your pet another loving home. On an intellectual level you understand this, but on an emotional level it's a different story.

 

If the thought of giving up a pet is unthinkable, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself. First, seriously consider keeping your pet and all pet-related products outdoors. If you cannot or will not keep your pet outside, then at least restrict your pet's access to as few rooms as possible. Designate one room as a "pet room," making sure this space is adequately ventilated, has an air cleaner or purifier, and is damp-mopped weekly, at a minimum. Make sure your home has several HEPA air cleaners, as these high-efficiency filters can significantly reduce animal dander. Insure that whatever your pet sleeps on and plays with is laundered or cleaned weekly. Keep your pet out of the bedroom and never let a pet sleep with you. As you already know, the bedroom is a dangerous place for asthmatics and your pet only makes the situation worse. Be sure to wash your pet twice weekly, since a clean pet leaves behind less dander; one study found that airborne dog allergens were reduced 84 percent by washing the dog twice weekly. There are products, such as PetWize Cat and Dog Allergen Control and skin moisturizers, that can be applied to your pet's fur to reduce dander.

 

Even though there are alternatives to pet problems, my professional advice is that it would be wise to put your pet elsewhere. While there are some asthmatics who are sensitive to only a specific allergen, most asthmatics are sensitive to multiple allergens and it is difficult to discover every asthma trigger. Keeping a diary remains critical and will hopefully help you identify and remove many triggers. There are, however, subtle triggers that we may not be aware of but can nonetheless cause trouble. This is why I strongly advocate removing pets from your home. Even if your symptoms did not improve during your pet's trial separation, you may still be allergic to animal dander. One study examined two groups of asthmatics: one with dogs or cats, the other without. According to the study, more people with pets had symptoms (abnormal peak flow, higher eosinophil counts, and greater bronchial hyperresponsiveness) and used steroids than subjects without pets. While a pet may not be entirely responsible for your symptoms, there's a good chance your pet is contributing to your asthma.

 

Think hard and make a basic life decision: Do I risk my health for a pet? I cannot make the decision for you; this tough choice is up to you.