Allergy free dogs?
I just read an article in Better Homes and Gardens about dogs and allergies. The article said that even so called "allergy-friendly" dogs can still cause their owners to sneeze and wheeze.
They said that certain dogs are known as "hypoallergenic" such as poodles, bichon frise and Maltese. However, when they took dust samples from homes with those dogs, they didn't find lower levels of allergens in the home.
So, what does that mean?
Do you need to get rid of Fido or Spot? They suggest grooming your dog outdoors so the dander doesn't spread through the house. Also, wash your hands after petting your dog.
And the hardest of all things? Keep your pet out of your bedroom. As hard as it is to resist those big brown eyes and that furry little body cuddled up next to you in bed, you may need to.
If you are sneezing and wheezing , talk to your doctor. If over the counter allergy medicine doesn't work, allergy shots are always an option. You have to be dedicated, since it takes twice a week initially, but it is worth it to keep Fido around.
Give your dog a scratch behind the ears from me
As my allergist told me and I've since read, there's actually no such thing as an "hypoallergenic breed" of dogs. The allergy varies from dog to dog. I'm not allergic to one of my parent's dogs but I'm allergic to the other two and they are all the same breed (springer spaniel). I also find I do much better with dogs that have hair rather than fur.
ReplyDeleteJoy, you're right. There is no such thing as a "hypoallergenic breed" of dogs. I heard one doctor say "if your pet has fur and saliva, it has dander." That's why we don't have any pets in our home. We have a neighbor's Miniature Schnauzer who comes over to visit. But I have notice that sometimes the dog really bothers me and sometimes it doesn't. So, on the days the dog seems to bother us, we stick her in the tub and scrub her down. It seems to help, although the dog would beg to differ.....
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