If you’re needing to know all about allergy-friendly pets, you’ve come to the right place. My son has been begging for a dog, but he has some terrible allergies, which makes it hard to even think about getting a pet. However, there are some allergy-friendly pets out there and I’m here to point you in their direction. Here is how to find the best pet for your family if you or your kids have allergies.
How to find the best pet for your family if you or your kids have allergies
No Pet is 100% Allergy-Free
Just as a heads up, even the New York Times will tell you that no pet is 100% allergy-free. In other words, they can be allergy-friendly, as in, they have lower allergy aggravators, but they’re not completely allergy-free. Don’t feel dejected just yet though, because this doesn’t mean pets are out of the question. You still have pet options that rate very low on the allergy aggravator scale.
The Best Allergy-Friendly Pet Options
Here are a few pets that are scientifically (and through experience) considered very allergy-friendly.
Hedgehogs – They don’t have fur, they’re small, and they can be a lot of fun. I mean, they’re not as easy to cuddle as a cat or dog, but many people greatly enjoy life with a hedgehog.
Shorthair or Hairless Cats – There are many cat breeds that have really short hair or no hair. These are considered more allergy-friendly pet options due to less shedding and dander.
Smaller Dogs with Shorter Coats – Getting a smaller dog with a short coat means less shedding and hair in general. Dogs tend to shed less than cats as well. They also potty outside, although cats tend to be cleaner due to their cleaning rituals.
Rat/Mouse/Hamster/Gerbil – These all still have fur, but since they’re so small, they’re not bad shedders, don’t have a large put off of dander, and their hair can be short as well. There are even hairless guinea pigs as an option.
Reptile – Many people get freaked out by this option. However, a snake or even a bearded dragon make wonderful pets and come with no fur, which is often the instigator of allergies.
Check with the Doctor First
Before getting a pet for a household suffering from allergies, speak to your doctor. If you think you’ve settled on a pet already, this is even better. Let them know you’re looking at getting a pet and if you have a specific one in mind, let them know. They often can do specific allergy tests for that animal to see the allergy level someone might have to the specific animal. For example, say you’ve decided on a guinea pig. They can test to see how bad the person suffering from allergies might react to a guinea pig before you go through the process of buying one.
Where to Find These Allergy-Friendly Animals
All the animals listed can be found in a pet store near you. If you’re looking for a specific type of cat or dog, rescues and humane societies always have plenty of adoptable pets available. Allergy-friendly pets aren’t hard to find, but don’t think that you’re free and clear until you’ve either talked to your doctor or had a test run. Just remember that pets aren’t disposable, so be smart when choosing a pet and don’t just run into it blindly.
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