Question

Hi!  We want a pet but my son is allergic to cats, dogs and birds.Hi! We want a pet but my son is allergic to cats, dogs and birds. Does anyone have any pets they would recommend for a 5 and 7 year old?  

Answer 1

Bearded dragon! My two year old loves hers! She’s an amazing addition to the family!  

Comments

So here is one of the beardies getting acclimated

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We actually have to purchase another beardie habitat. They were a package deal. Unfortunately they are territorial towards each other as adults. This one we named Nubs. He’s missing a toe and a portion of his tail probably due to fighting with Thorne. However upon handling them both they are pretty docile separately.  

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Here you can see Nubs tail. But he’s super chill ❤️

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@cariotta so cute!  

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And here is Thorne

Answer 2

Guinea pig or rabbit

Answer 3

Hedgehog Rats Read on their care and habitat needs at www. nessexotic. com, under exotic pets

Comments

Also bearded dragons consider

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@lauber we are getting a bearded dragon for my 9 year old!  

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I always suggest a new pet exam. Bring the kids along. You will learn so much about their needs, and their health. Call the office for appt when you get. 630 737-1281 Then if ever a medical need, you are set up. They need yearly exams as all pets do. Reptiles often hide medical issues til late in game so important for routine care.  

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We also have a great facebook page you can follow

Answer 4

Something that is easy and fun to watch is a Betta fish. Teaches some responsibility with feeding and easy for parents to take care of the small tanks.  

Answer 5

Beta fish?  

Answer 6

Bearded dragon

Answer 7

Red footed tortoise?  

Answer 8

Hampster. Easy to care for. They only live 3-5 years. So not as much of a commitment as other small pets.  

Answer 9

Beardies are super docile when hand raised, and easy to care for! Mine used to crawl up on my shoulder, bury her head into my hair and fall asleep :)

Answer 10

We had guinea pigs and a rabbit. Which I would not recommend! Poop too much!  

Answer 11

Fish! teach him the basics of being responsible for a pet

Answer 12

Allergies could be issue with guinea pigs and rabbits. So you would have to do a trial visit. Box turtles are a great option as well. Leopard gecko but smaller and not as calm and handable as beardies. But still an awesome pet.  

Answer 13

We ❤️ our guinea pigs

Answer 14

Bearded dragons literally like cats lol or crested geckos

Answer 15

Aren't they so cute! And eggs  

Comments

I want! So cute!  

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@boldfaced4 they are but their poop attracts mice ‍♀️

Answer 16

I would not recommend fish unless you are prepared for the work that goes into maintaining a tank. We have a Betta fish and it’s a lot more work than we anticipated. If are prepared to cycle your tank and get the materials needed to do so. You need to clean the tank weekly and big cleaning monthly. Betta fish also should be in a tank at least 3 gallons or more.  

Comments

@farthest1247 yes, it is definitely a lot more work than we anticipated. Thanks to my mother in law who on a whim bought everything for the kids ‍♀️

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@ricarda87 Burgess OMG - i have been climbing uphill since we got this Betta. It was my daughter's bday present. Regret. Regret. Regret. But he's still with us and seems happy as a clam - or Betta!  

Answer 17

Bearded dragon hedgehog lizards fish turtle bunnies hamster

Answer 18

Could you do a hypoallergenic dog?  

Answer 19

My son is also allergic to animals! We got an african dwarf frog last summer. They live in the water so are low maintenance

Answer 20

We also have a bearded dragon and my boys love her! Just do research first since pet stores often give poor advice on these little guys.  

Comments

@jurisprudent i hated buying the crickets every week . But my son did love having one

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@dona89757 The crickets are the worst. I finally gave in and started buying bsfl online. Still ugly, but they don’t end up escaping and getting all over my house. Looking forward to when she mostly eating greens.  

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@jurisprudent you can feed them super worms as well. That’s what I feed ours and he turned a year old last November.  

Answer 21

Another vote for bearded dragons! They do require a good amount of care though so it’s important to do A LOT or research, especially since there’s a lot of misinformation. If this is what you choose, feel free to message me with any questions!  

Answer 22

I personally would not recommend getting a beardie from a pet store. I got one about 2 months ago only to find out he was sick. Pet stores usually have no idea how to take care of them.  

Answer 23

If you do go with a reptile, check with Friends of Reptiles. They might help you decide. We had a bearded dragon for two years. Loved him, but we just didn't give him enough attention and felt that it would be better if he went to a home that really wanted to spend the time needed to keep him happy. I always felt so bad working in the office and having him in his terrarium, squirming around, wanting to get out! They like attention, need fresh food everyday, baths, and clean up of poop. They also like bugs/worms and need the protein, so be prepared to feed live stuff. They advertise as an easy pet, I did not feel that was so. Leachie geckos are really cool, too, but not sure how much work they are. I suggest a Betta in a 3 gal with a filter system (low flow). Had to clean out maybe every three months. I found that way easier to maintain than a beardie. Plus, they don't live as long, so time investment is not so involved.  

Answer 24

We have a Guinea pig. He’s pretty cute and rather easy to care for

Answer 25

Hi! i too have allergies to dogs and cats. but about 10 years ago we got a Schnoodle which is a "hypoallergenic" dog. There really are no hypoallergenic dogs, its more the type of hair vs. fur, and how much dander is put out by the dog. My allergies have been manageable, but not completely gone . Depending on how bad his allergies are, it might be something to consider.  

Answer 26

Scott Smith all animal expo or even gills and trills are good places to go

Answer 27

A skinny pig. Or a naked rat or cat.  

Answer 28

I have really bad allergies- I had to give my guinea pig away as a kid  I would be super cautious about guineas, rabbits, hamsters. anything with dander. Horses make my throat close. I have had NO problems with our hypoallergenic golden doodle - the tighter the curls, the less likely you would experience any issues. They also make great snuggle buddies!  

Answer 29

Bearded dragons are great pets low maintenance you only have to feed the twice a week

Answer 30

Friends of Scales Reptile Rescue

Answer 31

We have a leopard gecko. He’s super cute and easy to care for. My son got him at age 8 and 100% takes care of him on his own. He likes being held and played with too.  

Answer 32

A pet rock? A sibling?  

Answer 33

Goldfish or betta fish!  

Answer 34

A bunny

Answer 35

Fish tank

Answer 36

There are varieties of cats that are hypoallergenic. Ragdoll for one.  

Comments

@leshalesher ragdolls are hypoallergenic? I never would have guessed!  

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@styrax66269 yes they have hair instead of fur!  

Answer 37

I have allergies so chose to get a mini golden doodle for the kids and I don’t feel the allergy - works for us

Answer 38

A bunny. A friend of mine was in the same situation and discovered that you have have a bunny in the house. They can be litter trained.  

Answer 39

Bearded dragon or fish. Be careful with the bunny idea. I had no idea that I was allergic and developed asthma after getting a bunny. Had to get rid of it because I started wheezing anytime I went into the room with it.  

Answer 40

Leopard geckos make great pets. Kind of like the dog of the reptile world

Comments

@exequies8146 They’re so cute. We’re planning on a leopard gecko for our next pet.  

Answer 41

Labradoodle also

Answer 42

Box turtle

Answer 43

You can do fish or a turtle for a kid. Maybe you can invest on a bearded dragon as well.  

Answer 44

Bearded dragon!  

Answer 45

Just a heads up that Bunny dander can be cross-reactive with cat dander. We found that out the hard way at preschool and an ER visit for a severely cat-allergic child We've been looking into Berber Skinks lately

Answer 46

Leopard gecko! Easy care and inexpensive. I have one for my son and one as my classroom pet.  

Answer 47

Ball Python

Answer 48

Tortoise! We have a Greek Tortoise, very similar to Russian. they are simple upkeep and ours LOVES attention and affection! Eats fresh fruit and veggies and lives in a simple terrarium with UV and heat lamps.  

Comments

But, before you get a turtle, you need to know that they live for a very long time. You need to be able to go the long haul with them before you adopt them. AND, there is a risk for Salmonella (turtles are frequently carriers).  

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@heliozoan very true. mine has been with us for 18 years! Our vet has told us best way to prevent salmonella is keeping them clean and frequent hand washing, tortoises are less likely of a carrier that a water turtle as well.  

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And since they can live to be 100, I hope yours continues to be with you for many more! From the looks of it, you are an amazing turtle mama. I know, I couldn’t do it.  

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@heliozoan we got him for my oldest son when he was 4, I have held on to him for the college years and such but my oldest now has a daughter that I am sure he will eventually passed down to. he’s not leaving this family if I can help it! I would have never believed that a tortoise could be so affectionate and actually WANT to be around people. He is so social. and fast! As soon as he gets set down he is RUNNING away! But he comes when called so that helps but I’m still a nervous wreck when we are outside!  

Answer 49

I have always been partial to the rodents - hamsters (although they are nocturnal, and you want to hand train them when young) and at one point I had a guinea pig that we litterbox trained - she was adorable

Answer 50

We have a bearded dragon and it's not as easy as you'd think. You will end up doing most of the work, not your five-year-old. Turtle would be better

Answer 51

Ball Python.  

Answer 52

Beta fish

Answer 53

My daughter is allergic to cats, but we have a cat. It's her cat and we deal with it. I'm allergic to dogs and we have a pug. I take antihistamines and I'm okay. But the pets that all of us like and are not allergic to are our water frogs. They are far more entertaining than fish. I had birds growing up. But be forewarned; they are noisy and messy.  

Answer 54

Russian Tortoise. So easy! They are happy in the tank but can be taken out into the yard to roam if the temp is warm.  

Answer 55

We loved having a rabbit before we had a dog. You can litter box train it so it isn't as much poop to clean. I dumped it out everyday so it never smelled. But they really need to be out of their cage a lot. They have a better quality of life and will be more happy to be held if you have a space where they can hop around and socialize. We used to set up a little gate to block off a space for it to be "free" for a while.  

Answer 56

Schnauzers are non allergen and do not shed. I grew up with miniature schnauzers and they have the sweetest disposition and personality. Of course that also is dependent on the family as well. Good luck!  

Answer 57

We've had a bunny for 8 (or 9! ) years. Literally the softest animal ever! My kids have allergies to dogs, cats and horses but no problems with the rabbit. Super easy to care for and can be litter trained. PM me if you want more info.  

Comments

I second this suggestion - rabbits make wonderful pets!  

Answer 58

Guinea pig

Answer 59

We have a bearded dragon and he’s quite fun. My daughter takes him out on his harness on hot days and “walks” him around the yards. She also brings him into Dog Patch pet store when we go in to purchase crickets for him (those are his dinner).  

Comments

@ricarda87 Hirsch he still eats crickets? Ours refuses because he has to chase them LOL. He gets super worms and other worms. idk my husband does that part. I happily feed him greens in the morning lol

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Haha! Ours eats crickets, mealworms, dark leafy greens and blueberries.  

Answer 60

Is it all dogs! Some dogs have hair instead of fur, like a morkey

Answer 61

Guinea pig or hamster

Answer 62

I would say stick to a reptile type of animal since all the allergies. Bearded dragons and geckos are good ones.  

Answer 63

Turtle! Pretty easy and fun you can bring them outside in the summer and they are slow so you dont have to worry about it running away. Plus they just eat healthy lettuce so that will make you eat more lettuce too  

Answer 64

Shichon, hypoallergenic breed, so friendly, great with kids! We have 2! Our boys are your ages

Answer 65

Bearded dragon! It takes a little work but once you have the hang of it and do the research they are amazing! We named ours Thor but I call him baby dinosaur lol. He is sassy and lazy. He does like his home in a social area. Not sure of other beardies but he gets cranky if he can’t watch the dogs lol

Answer 66

Bunny! Ours had babies a few weeks ago and they will be needing a new home in a few weeks! LMK if you are interested!  

Comments

@oxtail Smith I would love a bunny but I don’t think he can be by anything with fur ☹️

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@oxtail Smith are you selling these baby bunnies still?  

Answer 67

Hypoallergenic dog

Answer 68

Guinea pig

Answer 69

Hedge hog

Answer 70

Fish in a tank!  

Answer 71

I loved guinea pigs and bunnies, however they do better in pairs and are a lot of cage cleaning. Which got expensive for litter. Also allergies can still be an issue. Turtles live along time! And depending on if they need to be in water can get smelly. Bearded dragons are usually very docile. But can live along time. Great choice. Rats make great pets too but watch for allergies and mess. Animal Care Center Plainfield has a great exotic doctor

Answer 72

Thank you all so much for your responses! I think a bearded dragon would be best for us.  He can not be by any dog or cat.  

Comments

@squeteague273 we just got a bearded dragon as well. He's pretty cool.  

Answer 73

Can check if allergic to poodles. Supposed to be ok even if allergic to dogs.  

Answer 74

Hamster, bunny, guinea pig, turtle, ferret

Answer 75

My daughter loved lizards! Pretty easy. ate crickets, then got a bearded dragon and was in Love!  

Answer 76

Fish and please be carefully with suggested hypoallergenic dogs, that doesn't mean it solves the problem, many people have allergies not only to a dog's dander, fur but also to saliva so those can still cause allergies/personal exp.  

Answer 77

Lizards, turtles, fish

Answer 78

How about getting a picture book of Illinois birds and he can spot them and learn about them? I bought books at B&N even one with birds sounds. It’s a fun family activity too!  

Answer 79

I have a friend looking to rehome her hamster for free bc of their cat. Lmk if you want to conect w her

Answer 80

We got a guinea pig. BUT I was not told prior how much they poop. OMG. They are pooping machines.  

Answer 81

Fish. starting with one beta fish . could be fun and educational

Answer 82

I am very allergic to dogs and cats. I have a poodle and totally fine. And I cut his hair to look more like a regular dog (don’t shave the face down) The key is to go 100% poodle, I am allergic to many of the -oodle mixes.  

Answer 83

My husband and my children are allergic. We have always had Westies and no problem. We were told years ago that terriers and poodles are safe for allergic people. Maybe check this out?