I'm allergic to cats & dogs. My daughter wants a hamster. Will I be ok?

Question

She has shown responsiblity and truly deserves a pet. We have a beta fish and hermit crabs already, but she wants something to cuddle and love.
Are hamsters highly allergic to asthmatics?

Answer 1

Limit your daughter to one hamster, in her room. If she's still a little young, I would wait, as hamsters need cage cleaning often, and if the hamster fur bothers you, you'll have a time cleaning the cage with her!

Also keep in mind that hamsters can be very, very sweet and nice, but I've had a few in my life that have been horrible. Make sure to only get one, if you end up getting two, and they are both males, there's sure to be a fight (my fiance and I lost a hamster to a severe bite wound infection in March, the bite given by our other hamster). When they get sick too, they also require vet attention. Our $4.00 hamster cost us almost $100.00 in vet bills from that bite wound, and he did not survive.

Sorry to rant and rave, I had hamsters growing up, and did not realize the hassle they were when owning more than one until I grew up and bought some myself. (Sorry, Mom!)

Answer 2

Usually people who are allergic to animals are allergic to their dander. There is a possibility that you may have a reaction with the hamster, but if your daughter keeps it in her room and keeps its cage clean, you should have less of a chance of having any reactions to it.

I'm allergic to all animal danders. It's pretty bad. I'm on medication because I have a cat. I've had her for 7 years and am still allergic to her. I had a rat who was pretty cool and I had no reaction to it at all.

Answer 3

Best way to know is to go spend some time at the pet store (or a friends house?) holding the hamsters. Take some good sniffs close to the cages, etc (the store workers should be more than willing to help you determine if you're allergic... if they're not... go elsewhere). I've never known anyone allergic to hamsters (although I'm sure some people are). I have a friend who is deathly allergic to guinea pigs and mildly allergic to cats, but she's fine with hamsters.

Answer 4

I'm going to have to go with the person that said get a rat! I'm allergic to cats & dogs and hamsters sometimes make me break out in hives. I have 11 rats and they don't bother me. Your best bet is to go to a pet store and handle a hamster (or a rat!! they are AWESOME pets). Good luck!!

Also, for bedding, use CareFresh. The wood shavings kind makes me sick.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I'm allergic to cats & dogs. My daughter wants a hamster. Will I be ok?
She has shown responsiblity and truly deserves a pet. We have a beta fish and hermit crabs already, but she wants something to cuddle and love.
Are hamsters highly allergic to asthmatics?

Answer 6

Is your daughter allergic or just you. If it is just you I would say you should be fine. Keep the cage out of your room. I wouldn't handle the little thing often. A lot of times the bedding they are on can be worse for you allergies than the small animal itself. I have some allergies and wood shavings make my hands and arms itch. If you decide to do it, use a bedding like carefresh which is made of shredded recycled paper. Keep the cage clean and you shouldn't have any problems.

Answer 7

you may want to have a air purifier just in case. your daughter sounds exactly like me when i was younger. we had tons of fish and 3 hermit crabs. i wanted a hamster so badly and when we went to pick one out from teh pet store 2 out of the 5 bit me and another bit my mom. the sales keeper then said "all hamsters bite and theres no way you'll get past that." i was heart broken. but then for christmas my mom got me a pet rat. i was so excited. turns out that rats are more sociable, smarter, and cuddlier than hamsters. you should consider one. they really are great pets even though they have horrible reputations. you can get them at any pet store. youll be saving a life from a snake too. well hope what ever pet you get your not too badly allergic too. good luck!!!!

also the chinese crested dog is great because it is bald so you wouldnt be allergic to that. there cute too!!

Answer 8

No but hamster are dirty little creatures. If you want a clean smart rodent- get a rat. They also have hairless rats for people with extremely bad allergies. I actually recommend one for a friends daughter and she thought I was nuts until the doctor told her it would be a good pet. Her daughter is allergic to everything!
Hamster will go anywhere and everywhere in their cage- including their food bowl... while rats like a very clean area and will only go in one corner of the cage. They are also very clean- they clean themselves like a cat. Rat also can be train to be called by name or sound. We use to have one that came to kissy sound.

Answer 9

The only hamster that is safe on your part will be the Golden Hamster. They are safe and your daughter can play with them with out the fear of being bitten.My sister and brothers are all chronic asthmatics. So yes it is safe, and dog wise there is one dog that NO ONE can be allergic to because its fur is hypoallergenic, and that is the Toy Poodle and the Miniture Poodle, my ex girlfriend has one and she is also a chronic ashmatic. If you don't believe me about the poodle's fur being hypoallergenic, then call your local vet's office and ask.

Answer 10

go to petsmart and spend some time picking one out, I doubt you are alergic to them, its the dander on cats and dogs that cause the allergies. petsmart has a great selection, don't get a dwarf thiough too small too fast, only one pet per cage, they sell nice crittertrail cages, complete for 25 - 40 dollars. just get a bag of food and some aspen or super shavin's for bedding, liw dust and oils, so hamster dosn't get a respiratory problem. they only sell females in Va where I live, I bought 2 recently, and get a plastic exercise ball about $4 so it can run around your place protected.