Hypoallergenic Dogs?
By Heather Legg | Dec 1, 2008
It seems everyone is looking for the perfect dog. Me, I just have a non perfect, lovable one! My friend who has allergies to dogs and cats is now on the lookout for a designer dog that won’t mess with her allergies. My other friends with a child with asthma have a schnoodle that apparently doesn’t aggravate his asthma. Even our President to be is on the lookout for the afore promised White House dog that won’t bother his daughter Malia’s allergies. Are they really out there, though?
According to a piece on FOXNews.com, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology issued a statement saying, “There is no truly ‘hypoallergenic’ dog.” Another misconception is “that people are allergic to a dog’s hair, and it is falsely believed that a dog that sheds less will not cause a reaction,” the academy said.
All dogs produce proteins that can cause allergies which are found in dogs’ dander — which is dead skin cells, not fur — and saliva and urine, explained Dr. Elizabeth Matsui, a children’s allergy expert at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Grooming and bathing can remove much of the dander and cause fewer allergic symptoms, and some breeds tend to be groomed and bathed more often. But it’s that treatment rather than the breed that makes the difference, doctors say (that’s what is think it the answer with my friend’s asthma dog).
People with general allergies but not a specific allergy to dogs will probably do fine with a dog, said Dr. Robert Naclerio, a University of Chicago allergy specialist. But for those with a true dog allergy, diagnosed by a skin test, “then I wouldn’t recommend bringing it in,” he said, “because you are going to have symptoms.”
Some of the designer dogs do tend to shed less, so that helps with the problem of dog hair (with dander attached) around the house. And dogs with shorter hair may tend to leave less dander around because their hair is not always a problem (my golden retriever’s is though!). But again, it’s not the hair that is the problem; it’s the dander that they all have. However, smaller dogs do have less dander, because there is less dog to create dander.
WebMD has an interesting piece about this debate you may want to look at. An expert has a Q&A where she answers some questions such as do dog allergies fade or change overtime and if you insist on a dog, what can you do to help prevent allergy/asthma attacks. Answers are good and thorough, bottom line, if it takes you to the ER, don’t have that dog, any dog.
