Pets on planes allergy study endorsed by CMA

The Canadian Medical Association has endorsed a motion by doctors from Newfoundland and Labrador that urges the federal government to study whether small pets should be allowed in the passenger cabins of airplanes.

Air Canada is the most recent airline to allow people to keep their small cats and dogs near them when they're flying. WestJet also allows the practice.

The president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, Dr. Brendan Lewis, brought his motion to the floor of the annual general meeting of the CMA in Saskatoon this week. He said he is worried that people with allergies may suffer from sitting near cats and dogs.

"Patients who are severely allergic to this type of thing," he said, "find that even if they're sitting a good distance away from where the animal is located, can still have some reaction. It's even more notable for patients, for example, if they have allergic rhinitis or asthma which is brought on by animal dander."

Lewis said the House of Commons standing committee on health is the best body to study the issue to decide if there should be regulations about domestic animals on board airplanes.

The Canadian Lung Association has also been urging Ottawa to put a stop to pets travelling in airplane cabins.