Everyone deserves to have a pet at some point in their lifetime; however, many people suffering with Eczema remain afraid that the wrong type of pet will cause them undue pain and horrid appearances of their skin.
Whether considering adopting a pet or purchasing a new one from the store, there are a few types of pets that work excellently for people with Eczema. Let’s take a closer look at which pets will work best for those who have Eczema.
Dogs
You really want a dog, man’s best friend, but the hair will drive your eczema crazy. If you choose to purchase a dog, simply select a breed known for short fur, that rarely sheds and does not want to sit in your lap all day and night. Also, you should consider getting a dog for outdoors, but beware that bring pests, dirt, and trash into the house can irritate your skin condition.
Cats
Cats have been historically known as being among the cleanest animals on earth, right? Wrong, the cat litter box becomes a hot-bed of bacteria, odors, and the cleaning products used for the cat litter pan can quickly create dry skin rashes. If you do choose to purchase a cat, you will need to invest in some elbow length gloves to protect yourself when you need to clean the litter box.
Also, wear a mask or handkerchief when you pour out fresh litter as the dry dust can irritate your mucous membranes. Beware of feral cats with claws, and if you do want a cat, consider having it de-clawed. A cat’s scratch introduces harmful bacteria to the skin and will cause your eczema to become inflamed within minutes.
Reptiles
Some may find reptiles too creepy to have as a pet, but they make excellent pets for those with eczema or other types of dry skin rashes. Oh the irony of reptilian skin being alright for sufferers of eczema, I know, I know. The lack of fur allows for easier handling without the risk of irritation, and they can be kept in a large terrarium without worrying about droppings around the house.
Furthermore, a simple solution of vinegar and water cleans the terrarium easily, and reptiles produce little to no odor.
Birds
So long as the bird does not have the protective powder-down layer, feathers that produce excess dust in place of preening oil, parrots and other birds make excellent pets for those with Eczema. However, they do require a large amount socialization and care.
They have a tendency to throw their food from the cage, and you will spend a large portion of your time cleaning around them. However, you cannot use any cleaners aside from the above-mentioned vinegar and water mixture because birds possess extraordinarily delicate respiratory systems. If you’d like to have a bird for a pet, simply avoid the following types of birds due to the presence of the powder-down.
- Cockatoos
- Cockatiels
- Birds currently molting
Fish
Fish also make excellent pets for people with dry skin conditions since they require little hands-on care. The only true problem you need to worry about will be when you clean the aquarium. On occasion, you will need to add chemicals, decontaminating powders, or de-chlorinating liquids to provide the best water for the fish, and this poses the potential for a breakout.
Before you clean the aquarium, purchase some elbow-length gloves to scrub the aquarium down once per week, and you won’t have any problems. After all, you won’t be sticking your hands into the water every day.
Having Eczema does not have to limit your happiness, free will, or ability to have pets. However, knowing a little more about what type of pets will work the best with your skin condition will help prevent excessive patches of dry, scaly skin.
+Dr.Lee Eberting is a board certified dermatologist that has dedicated her practice and research to develop skin care treatment options for conditions such as: eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. You find out more at cherylleemd.com
