Post by Adrianne on Nov 30, 2013 21:00:01 GMT
What is a hypoallergenic dog, do they really exist?
Some allergy sufferers swear that certain dogs or types and breeds of dogs do not trigger their allergies, or that they suffer from a greatly reduced reaction to them. However, there is no scientific evidence that any breed or type of dog is hypoallergenic ... the way any individual person reacts to any individual dog will vary greatly from case to case.
The usual allergen triggers caused by dogs and other types of animals are due to specific protein chains found in the dander (shed skin cells that occur naturally) and saliva of animals. Contrary to popular belief, the actual hair of a dog itself is not the cause of allergy, but rather the surface skin cells which will be present in the fur, and are naturally shed as part of the body's normal cell renewal process.
Because of this misperception it is often said that hairless dog breeds such as the Chinese crested dog are a good pick for allergy sufferers. However, these dogs still shed dander in the same way as other dogs and as such are no more or less hypoallergenic than any other given type- but due to the fact that they are mainly bald, they are generally easier and less time consuming to bathe, which causes the dander to be washed away regularly and so less of it will be present on and around the dog.
Breeds of dog which do not shed hair excessively are the most likely to be considered to be hypoallergenic, due to the fact that the shed skin cells remain stuck to the hair, and are not then spread around the home and environment as much as with shedding breeds. This is likely why some dogs may make more suitable pets for allergy sufferers than others
Bathing a dog washes away shed skin cells and saliva on the coat and the associated allergens that may be present within it, dogs that are bathed regularly are less likely to trigger allergic reactions . Smaller dogs with less total body surface area may prove to have less affect on allergy sufferers than larger breeds, simply because they have less skin to shed dander and so less dander will be present on the dog.
If you suffer from allergies around most dogs, it may be worth looking into animals that tick the various boxes that may make them less likely to cause a reaction- including dogs that don't shed much, smaller dogs, dogs which can be bathed regularly with relative ease, and dogs that do not slobber much, due to the presence of allergen protein chains within the saliva.
All of these dogs are considered to be potentially less likely to trigger allergic reactions in people prone to them.
Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
Australian Terrier
Basenji
Bedlington Terrier
Bergamasco
Bichon Frise
Border Terrier
Bouvier Des Flandres
Cairn Terrier
Cesky Terrier
Chinese Crested
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Dogo Argentino
Giant Schnauzer
Harrier
Havanese
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor
Labradoodle
Lakeland Terrier
Lowchen
Maltese
Manchester Terrier
Mexican Hairless Dog
Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Norwich Terrier
Peruvian Inca
Poodle (All sizes)
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Rat Terrier
Samoyed
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Schnauzer
Tibetan Terrier
Welsh Terrier
West Highland Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Yorkshire Terrier
Some allergy sufferers swear that certain dogs or types and breeds of dogs do not trigger their allergies, or that they suffer from a greatly reduced reaction to them. However, there is no scientific evidence that any breed or type of dog is hypoallergenic ... the way any individual person reacts to any individual dog will vary greatly from case to case.
The usual allergen triggers caused by dogs and other types of animals are due to specific protein chains found in the dander (shed skin cells that occur naturally) and saliva of animals. Contrary to popular belief, the actual hair of a dog itself is not the cause of allergy, but rather the surface skin cells which will be present in the fur, and are naturally shed as part of the body's normal cell renewal process.
Because of this misperception it is often said that hairless dog breeds such as the Chinese crested dog are a good pick for allergy sufferers. However, these dogs still shed dander in the same way as other dogs and as such are no more or less hypoallergenic than any other given type- but due to the fact that they are mainly bald, they are generally easier and less time consuming to bathe, which causes the dander to be washed away regularly and so less of it will be present on and around the dog.
Breeds of dog which do not shed hair excessively are the most likely to be considered to be hypoallergenic, due to the fact that the shed skin cells remain stuck to the hair, and are not then spread around the home and environment as much as with shedding breeds. This is likely why some dogs may make more suitable pets for allergy sufferers than others
Bathing a dog washes away shed skin cells and saliva on the coat and the associated allergens that may be present within it, dogs that are bathed regularly are less likely to trigger allergic reactions . Smaller dogs with less total body surface area may prove to have less affect on allergy sufferers than larger breeds, simply because they have less skin to shed dander and so less dander will be present on the dog.
If you suffer from allergies around most dogs, it may be worth looking into animals that tick the various boxes that may make them less likely to cause a reaction- including dogs that don't shed much, smaller dogs, dogs which can be bathed regularly with relative ease, and dogs that do not slobber much, due to the presence of allergen protein chains within the saliva.
All of these dogs are considered to be potentially less likely to trigger allergic reactions in people prone to them.
Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
Australian Terrier
Basenji
Bedlington Terrier
Bergamasco
Bichon Frise
Border Terrier
Bouvier Des Flandres
Cairn Terrier
Cesky Terrier
Chinese Crested
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Dogo Argentino
Giant Schnauzer
Harrier
Havanese
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor
Labradoodle
Lakeland Terrier
Lowchen
Maltese
Manchester Terrier
Mexican Hairless Dog
Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Norwich Terrier
Peruvian Inca
Poodle (All sizes)
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Rat Terrier
Samoyed
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Schnauzer
Tibetan Terrier
Welsh Terrier
West Highland Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Yorkshire Terrier
