Allergy-causing substances (allergens) can be found in animals’ hair, dander, urine, feces, and saliva. They can be carried on clothes and can stay in carpets and furniture for months, even after an animal no longer lives there.

Allergy symptoms include itchy eyes and skin, sneezing, nasal congestion, wheezing, and rash. Allergies can also trigger an asthma attack, ‘Allergic and Environmental Asthma’.

WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP A PET IN THE HOUSE

Some parents fear that having a pet in the house may raise the risk of their kids becoming allergic to cats and dogs. Did you know that keeping a pet may just do the opposite?

Early childhood exposure to cats, dogs, and other animals has been shown to lower the risk of developing allergic reactions later in life. Researchers followed a group of children from birth until age 18. They looked at the participants’ blood sample and found out that those who’d lived with an indoor dog during their first year of life had at least half the risk of becoming allergic compared to those who did not live with a dog.

Other studies have shown that being exposed to a variety of allergens early in life can lead to overall better health. Exposure to cats’ and dogs is no exception.