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Solutions for Kids Who are Allergic to Pets |
 One of the great joys of growing up is having a pet. If you mention the family dog or cat even among a group of senior citizens, they will probably be able to tell you stories of their first pet along with dozens of adventures they had as a child with that pet. A pet fills an important place in the life of a child by giving unconditional love and in many cases being willing to play with the child without ever getting impatient.
But things get complicated when your kids show evidence of being allergic to pets. For many children, the idea of having a pet is such an important thing to them that they are almost willing to put up with the suffering that the symptoms of a pet allergy can bring. But there are ways around the problem that happens when your kids are allergic to pets. The key it so to think through the problem and then explore the diversity of pet options to find a pet that can be your child's best friend without making him or her terribly ill.
Dogs and cats are the most popular pets for children by far. And there is a good reason for that. These animals are highly intelligent, personable, affectionate and they love to play with children. But by and large dogs and cats are furry creatures and the dander that hides in their fur can become a big health problem for kids who are allergic to pets.
One solution for kids who are allergic to pets is to do a little study of the problem to find out what pets cause those allergy symptoms to occur. It is very likely that if your child is allergic to pets, he or she might be allergic to dogs but not to cats or vice versa. When you get specific about what animal is setting off your child's pet allergy, then you have an option to bring the other kind of pet into the home.
It might take a little clever parental psychology to get your child to accept the other kind of pet. But once that transition is made, a child who is allergic to pets may be able to enjoy a wonderful pet kitten instead of a puppy and do so in good health.
Also, keep in mind that if your child is allergic to pets, he or she might not be allergic to every type of animal in a species. Your son or daughter might be allergic to some dogs but not to all dogs. Similarly, a pet allergy to cats may not be triggered by all cats.
There are many breeds of hypoallergenic dogs that can be great pets for your children and not trigger any problems that kids who are allergic to pets might have. Short hair dogs or cats are less prone to set off allergy symptoms as well. By looking for the right kind of pet, you may still be able to find a dog or cat for kids who are allergic to pets and give your child that wonderful childhood experience of pet ownership that is so important.
Finally, there are lots of fun pets that you can let your child enjoy other than dogs or cats. A hamster is a great pet for kids because they are furry and docile. But allergies to hamsters is not nearly as common as allergies to dogs or cats.
For a pet that is entertaining to look at and talk to, a fish or reptile that lives in an aquarium could do the trick. A trip to the pet store can give you lots of ideas for diverse kinds of pets your child may enjoy that will not become a threat to your son or daughter's pet allergies.
Like many problems in parenting, it takes some creativity to find alternatives when your child is allergic to pets. It also takes some coaching ability to get your child to see an alternate pet to that cute puppy or cuddly kitten could be a fine pet for him or her.
The best approach is to be honest about your child's pet allergy and to get the youngster involved in picking out the best pet for your family. And while mom or dad may not enjoy snuggling a hamster as much either, at least you are still enjoying having a domestic animal in the house that doesn’t set off health problems that pet allergies bring with them.
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