Your kids have been begging for a pet and you agree that a pet would be a great addition to the family. However, you also worry about the effect it would have on those with asthma and allergies. Believe it or not, there are pets that will not make you sneeze every time they walk in the room. Here are two pets perfect for those with asthma and allergies in Longview, Texas.

Bichon Frise

No pet is completely hypoallergenic, so it comes down to picking the pet that will affect your allergies the least. Dander is one of the main causes of allergies when sensitive persons are around dogs. Dander or dead skin flakes, falls off of many dogs or is shed with fur. If you’re looking for a dog, ones with tight, curly fur like a Bichon Frise are less prone to leaving dander behind because their curly fur catches it.

While it’s great that the Bichon Frise’s fur catches dander, that means that the dog must be cleaned and groomed often in order to prevent knotted or matted fur. However, the fun, happy personality of the Bichon Frise easily makes up for the extra work.

Balinese Cat

If it’s a cat you’re looking for, consider the Balinese. Cats are generally much more likely to cause allergic reactions because they groom themselves so much. It’s not just dander that causes allergies, but also the saliva of cats, which is spread all over the fur and dander when they groom themselves. Balinese cats don’t produce as much of the allergy-causing proteins within their saliva, so when they groom themselves, it’s irritant free.

General Tips

It will take some additional measures to keep your asthma and allergies under control. Make sure to clean up after pets, especially when they’re shedding. Also, consider installing an air purifier with your HVAC system. Air purifiers will effectively remove allergens as air is moved throughout your home.

For more information about increasing your indoor air quality or to have a new air purifier installed, give JD’s A/C a call at (903) 759-7483.

Image provided by Shutterstock