Do Birds Cause Allergies? | Pet Bird

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Doctor Hess: A lot of people will choose a bird as a pet because they're allergic to cats and dogs and to the dander, which comes from the saliva, of these mammals when they clean their coats. Many people who are allergic to cats and dogs are not necessarily to allergic to birds, not necessarily allergic to feathers. Birds can be a great alternative to somebody who really can't have a dog or a cat or a rabbit or another fuzzy, furry creature.

There are some birds, however, that do have a little bit more allergenic potential. Some birds actually produce powder down, which is a powdery substance on their skin and feathers that is released into the environment and is a little more dusty. You want to talk about those birds, Sarah?

Sarah: Absolutely. Cockatoos are classic for this. Those big, white, beautiful fluffy birds will often leave big, white, beautiful, fluffy dander all over every surface in whatever room that they live in. In fact, we often recommend that people maybe have air filters in their house or even in the room with the bird because even for the bird to breathe in all that dust, it's not good for them. A lot of people can be irritated by that much dust. We do recommend that if you're going to have a bird and you are allergic to a lot of dust, a lot dander, that maybe a bird like a cockatoo or other very dusty birds aren't such a great idea.

Doctor Hess: Cockatiels can be dusty too.

Sarah: They're great birds.

Doctor Hess: Regardless, you really want bathe the bird as often as you can. People are afraid to do that sometimes in the winter, but we tell them they get wet all year round when they're outside. It keeps down the dust and the dander. It keeps your cage cleaner. It keeps your house cleaner. Bathing them, avoiding those really high powdery species if you are allergic, and just checking with your own doctor to see if you are an allergic person. You might want to check that out before you go out and get a bird as a pet.

[Cebuana]

I'm very allergic to the cockatiel I bought two days ago :( I hope his new owners aren't allergic and give him lots of love. He was cute as hell!

[maryelizabeth]

I have 6 parakeets and I have been having issues with allergies I keep the cage clean i clean it twice a week but I have know noticed I'm keeping a sore throat and sneezing and coughing like crazy. I'm so sad that I think I might have to get rid of my babies they bring me such joy in my life as I suffer from depression and the sounds they make helps to keep me clam. I'm devastated my heart is broken I even asked the lady at the pet store and I told her about my allergy problems and she said I would be okay. Im not happy at all they won't take baths on their owns so I spray them with a warm spray bottle every day so they can get their bath. I don't know what to do.

[syrenawebb]

the parrot rescue nearest to me had to relocate their two Moluccan & Umbrella Cockatoos to a different rescue facility because the lady had such severe allergies even with maximum allergy meds, she would still have worsened asthma and frequent nosebleeds. she went and got a test done at the allergy clinic and she happens to be allergic to umbrella and moluccans, but she does alright around their other birds like Macaws, and Amazons :) & yes, and an air purifier is a MUST if you have more than one bird. even medium sized birds make a lot of dander dust.

[animallover]

Anyone know what types of birds produce lower amounts of dust?
How are conures?

[ben]

I have a cockatoo and when I touch the body ( not the fluffy feathers ) there will be powder

[tweetysworld]

Cockatoos, cockatiels and african greys are powder down parrots, I am sadly allergic to my cockatiel and I will need to give it away sadly but I will get a parrotlet soon, the best birds for allergics are Eclectus and toucans cause they don't have any dust.

[madraj]

What check can I do to check if I or a family member may be allergic. I am thinking of getting a cockatail. I use to have them as a child but that was over 20 years ago.

[roxythedog]

that green cheek just took a feather out xD

[budgiegirl]

I have two parakeets and they are giving me Dust mites and my mom had asthma from it so she got really sick but she got better but it’s still Bad and i been getting sore throats when I wake up and i mit haft to get rid of my baby’s 😢😔

[Brock-Lesnar-WWE]

I start sneezing and runny nose everytime i have a budgie.. Once i was ill for over 2 weeks without knowing why

[sapphiresushi]

What are the best birds for people with allergies? I don’t have any but my mom does.

[morrganics]

Wait my mum is allergic to chicken feathers/ the ones used in pillows. We were thinking of getting a cockatoo but, we need to know if she will be ok first! Can anyone tell me if she will be allergic to the Australian Cockatoo's feathers?

[evelynmiletinova]

All the Pet Bird videos in a nutshell:
So, you want to do this? Well, definitely don't do this. blah blah blah What do you think, forgotten person with a conure?

[Vivotic]

I have 2 cockatiels when I let them go on my arm I get red marks

[nicotadina]

what allergies that we can get in budgie or parakeet

[nicotadina]

mam sir can the parakeets and budgie have allergies that we can get ?

[maraelijahalbarracin]

im very allergic to birds fethers idk why but still on to me is it rare? or common?
COMMENT BELOW

[edaguila]

Always keep your chicken or bird cage Clean ....I clean my Chicken Cage 5 times a day and Especially before I sleep and When I wake up ....Cleanliness is Always the Key...

[wasifrock]

I'm allergic to cockatoos.my skin itches really bad in Summers but still I'm keeping my bird in my room.i love my bird.

[JasonEyermann]

I have a love bird for 2 years. But in the last year I have really itchy eyes sore throat and other problems. I use antihistamine eye drops that work. So maybe it’s my bird :(