My son brought a few friends over to meet our goats the other day, and they all had a great time hanging out.
Kids are always excited to meet the goats, and the feeling is mutual—they both love each other’s company!
My goats have always been very calm, nice and docile, but I always like to stick with them while they’re interacting just to be safe.
I noticed one of my son’s friends seemed to start coughing and sneezing a lot, so I took him aside and checked he was okay.
He seemed to be having an allergic reaction, so I wanted to be sure if this was possible.
So, are goats hypoallergenic?
No, is the short answer. Allergies to goats are fairly common, and they can produce the same degree of reactions as cats and dogs. Conditions like allergic rhinitis are common reactions to being near goats. You need to be careful of this when purchasing goats.
So, unfortunately, goats are not hypoallergenic and you should make sure you have no allergies in the family before you go ahead and buy goats.
Of course, most of the time, these allergies are entirely tolerable, but they can cause more serious problems in people with issues like asthma.
Let’s look further into this.
Can you be allergic to goats?
Yes, you certainly can.
Goats are well documented as producing the same kinds of reactions as cats and dogs.
They’re just less well known because goats are less commonly kept in the house.
It is mostly cat hair and dog hair that produces these reactions, and the same is typically true of goats.
The hair carries varieties of micro bacteria which are spread around when the goat sheds hair.
Some have no problem with these bacteria—some have major allergic reactions.
The main distinction when it comes to goats is the fact that they, as opposed to cats and dogs, are not typically kept in the house.
This certainly does make allergic reactions to cats and dogs a lot worse, when there is little to no ventilation.
Goats, however, are not really very good house pets—so, in that sense, you may be able to get away with it since they are not spreading allergens around where they will stick until cleaned.
So, you should ask yourself whether or not goats are good house pets—many do wonder this.
Are goats good house pets?
No, they are not. That’s the simple answer.
Goats are not good house pets, and they should not be kept indoors.
Keeping goats requires them to have a large outdoor space to roam, as well as an indoor space for them to sleep at night.
There is really no question about it—you can’t keep goats indoors.
Even where the goat’s welfare is a problem, the issue of the allergens is still present.
If your goats are roaming around indoors, anyone prone to a reaction will have it much worse because of the lack of ventilation.
If you keep goats outside, then you could even theoretically have them living in harmony with allergic people.
Let’s look at the allergies and reactions themselves.
What to do if you have an allergic reaction to goats
For the most part, the allergic reaction is nothing to worry about.
Typically, they manifest in the exact same way as do allergies to cats and dogs.
The affected will become sniffly, blocked up, their eyes may feel painful, and their face may swell where they have inhaled allergens.
Once you get away from the goat that produced the reaction, your symptoms should recede quite quickly.
If you are particularly sensitive, it may take a little while.
In which case, you could take antihistamines to speed up the process.
If you meet goats in an outdoor environment and have minimal physical contact, then any reaction is likely to be mild—keep an eye out for the signs, though.
So, for the most part, all you need to do is get away from the goat, and perhaps take an allergy tablet.
If you suffer from asthma, then you should always have an inhaler with you when interacting with a goat in case you suffer an allergic reaction.
Allergic reactions can be much more severe in those with compromised respiratory systems, so be extremely careful if you fit that description.
Are they ever deadly?
Are allergic reactions to goats deadly?
It is extremely rare, and for the most part, reactions are going to be quite mild.
In most of us, who are otherwise healthy, it will manifest only as minor sniffles, swelling, perhaps a headache.
As I said, though, what you need to be extremely careful of is those with respiratory problems.
Allergic reactions to goats, just as with cats and dogs, can be seriously harmful for those with asthma or similar conditions.
Don’t take any chances if you have conditions of that kind. Always meet goats in outdoor environments, and if you experience any adverse reactions, try to limit your interactions with goats.
So, though we aren’t as aware of allergic reactions to goats as to other, more commonly kept pets, they are indeed just as prone to producing these reactions.
If you’re thinking of getting goats but you’re unsure if anyone is allergic, you would be best to meet some goats for an extended period, if you can.
This will establish whether there is a reaction.
Even though the reaction might be quite mild, you’ll still need to think carefully about it.