Pets can be great additions to families, but when is the right time to introduce a pet to children? Dogs and cats are popular choices, but what about hamsters, fish, birds or reptiles? Are there better pet choices if family members have allergies? What can you do to decrease exposure to pet allergens? What infection risks from pets should parents know about? How can we teach children to avoid getting bitten by pets, and what should you do if they do get bit? We discuss these issues and more as we explore the world of children and their beloved animals in this episode.

This episode written by Drs. Dean Blumberg and Lena van der List. We thank Dr. Samantha Goggin at UC Davis Children's Hospital for suggesting this topic. We also thank Dr. Victoria Dimitriades, a Pediatric Allergist and Immunologist at UC Davis Children's Hospital, for reviewing pet allergies, although Drs. Dean and Lena take responsibility for any errors or misinformation. Originally released on 11/23/2020. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.

Supplemental information:
Tips for Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli...
Dog Bite Prevention Tips: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli...
Treatment for Animal Bites: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli...
Cats and Children with Asthma: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli...
Illness Caused by Hamsters and Mice: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli...
Pet Birds and Psittacosis Infection: https://www.healthychildren.org/Engli...

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Kids Considered™ is a UC Davis Children’s Hospital podcast, featuring two pediatricians who discuss child health topics of interest to parents in plain, non-medical language. New subjects are considered in every episode, discussing issues that apply from healthy pregnancy to birth to teen years. We have different styles of practice and viewpoints, but our goals are the same: we want to optimize children’s health and development, and help parents understand current recommendations and why policies are the way they are. Hosted by Dr. Lena van der List and Dr. Dean Blumberg.

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