'dusty' birds and asthma/allergies

[Oviraptor]

Has anyone here ever dealt with having a dusty bird (african grey, cockatiel, toos') and a spouse/family member who suffers from asthma or allgergies? Did you have to rehome your birds? Are there some products that lessen the amount of allergens in the home?

The reason why I am asking this is because my gf and I have been noticing that when she comes over her asthma starts to act up a little bit. She loves my cockatiel Lucky and likes to play with him, but we think that the dander from his feathers could be why she starts coughing.

[mmr]

I have a U2 and my sone has severe asthma. Luckily I have about 5 hepa filters and an april air hooked up to our furnace. Plus I sweep, dust and give her a bath daily so when his asthma is acting up it isn't from her!

I have the hepa's right next to her cage, one in my son's room, livingroom, our bedroom , etc.

Also when I sweep and dust he has to leave or go in a room with the door shut till everything settles, but it isn't just too dust he has a problem with. He has allergy induced asthma so pollen, dust, dust mites, mold etc he has a reactions to.

Birds are the only animal that he is NOT allergic to. Maybe she is allergic to birds!

[Oviraptor]

Originally Posted by mmr

I have a U2 and my sone has severe asthma. Luckily I have about 5 hepa filters and an april air hooked up to our furnace. Plus I sweep, dust and give her a bath daily so when his asthma is acting up it isn't from her!

I have the hepa's right next to her cage, one in my son's room, livingroom, our bedroom , etc.

Also when I sweep and dust he has to leave or go in a room with the door shut till everything settles, but it isn't just too dust he has a problem with. He has allergy induced asthma so pollen, dust, dust mites, mold etc he has a reactions to.

Birds are the only animal that he is NOT allergic to. Maybe she is allergic to birds!

Could be! I'll have to look into one of those filters.

She is also allergic to dogs too, but she is also a dog owner. She has had him for 7 years and he does shed alot, but I guess she just became 'immune' to it because he doesn't affect her athsma at all.

[macawlover]

I have a grey, and I also have asthma. His cage is in my room, and I haven't noticed any asthma attacks arising just when I'm near his cage. He doesn't have much dander at all for a grey, so I guess it just depends on the bird.

[Nazir's]

I just received a Cockatoo two days ago due to the owners suffering badly from allergies and having to rehome the bird due to it. I certainly wouldn't recommend a dusty bird for anyone who suffers (even if just slightly) from allergies.

[wildirish]

I have mild allergies to dust and bad allergies to mold. I run filters and have a hepa filter vac and clean alot LOL!

[Sashagirl]

I have asthma and 8 years ago had 5 Cockatoos and several Cockatiels that started to affect my asthma so I had to rehome them.Now here it is years later I have other birds including several Greys and they don't seem to have any affect on my asthma.Within the last few days someone gave me a Cockatoo.I'm hoping I don't have the same reaction that I did 8 years ago.We do have a home for him anyway.

Marcia

[mmr]

my son is allergic to every animal I think but birds. Too's and Tiels are the worse animals to have around people with asthma as they have "too dust". Other birds it is just dander. Hepa filters help tons and sweeping and dusting IS KEY. So far my son has been hospitalized 5 times since November but it isn't from the too. It is cold air and asthma, or double Pneumonia, and his allergy shots were causing the flare ups as well. Since then we stopped the allergy shots and he has done great! Plus we pulled up all the carpet in our house which has helped tremendously.

People can become immune to their pets dander. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and they don't bother him one bit. We have also had them before he was born. The allergist said that his system is immune to OUR pets. But when we go to my mom's he gets really bad around her pets! Just an Fyi

[Oviraptor]

Thanks for the info, folks. I will have to look into buying a hepa filter before her and I move in together. I will also be cleaning dilligently as well. We really love Lucky and don't want to have to rehome him, so we will do what we can. Thanks!

[Oviraptor]

Oh, mmr, what model of hepa filter do you have if you don't mind me asking?