So I cuddle every night with my short haired mutt, and sometimes I nap in the afternoon cuddled with my golden retriever. They shed like crazy, and my bed and shirt are always covered in fur. I sometimes get sneezing fits when it gets too much, and id have to take antihistamines.
My mom told me to stop cuddling my dogs since she’s heard of people having fur build up in their lungs. Because they cuddle every night with their dogs who shed (like I do).
I’m not really sure if it actually happens… or maybe it’s just my mom finding me weird for cuddling my dogs to sleep. She has admitted before that she’s not really a pet-person since she finds dogs scary and dirty. She’s always scared they’d bite my face. So yeah…
Is it an actual thing that happens? If so how’d you get all that fur out?
I’m not an expert, per se, but I think we covered enough anatomy in our first year of medical school for me to answer with some modicum of authority.
The structures of the bones, hairs, and membranes of your respiratory tract are able to prevent microscopic particles and single-celled bacteria from making it into your lungs. Pet hair cannot get into your lungs passively, and your sneezing is from the microscopic dander irritating those structures. Your mom seems to be grasping at straws or retelling old wives’ tales to express her personal distaste for the animals. The worst that can happen here is an allergic reaction, which doesn’t seem to be applicable to you.
I know a person like that. When out of arguments, she always has „a friend whose friend’s sister’s daughter/son has a friend who knew someone who died because of enter_the_subject_of_conversation”
Unlikely. Your nose hair is designed to filter the fur from going into your lungs. If your pet sheds a lot, you may want to get a pet comb to brush them.
I’m no expert on the human anatomy but I’d say dog hairs are too big to make it that far. Maybe pet dander could find its way if it’s fine enough but hairs would probably get caught somewhere either in your nose or throat beforehand.
If it were the case we’d probably be full of hairs by the time we’re in our mid youth. Or I’m completely wrong and our lungs somehow rid of hairs or other larger debris naturally!
