When Your Pet Gives You The Sniffles
Ways To Reduce Allergies To Furry Friends
By Dr. Margot Vahrenwald, DVM, ASVJ
Allergies are awful. I know that from personal experience, but thankfully I am not allergic to dogs or cats. Several of my veterinary classmates pursued their degrees despite significant allergies to several species.
About 10 percent of people are allergic to household pets, and cat allergies are more common than dog allergies. There are breeders that are designer doodle factories — for example, the Newfie doodle (Newfoundland + Poodle); Labradoodle (Lab + Poodle); Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever + Poodle), and more. Some promise the new breeds are hypoallergenic, but there is no such thing as a perfectly hypoallergenic cat or dog.
When someone is allergic to a pet, it is not that pet’s hair that they are reacting to. Dander or dandruff is the minute scales from hair, feather or skin, and we all shed. When dogs and cats shed hair and renew their skins cells, their dander can circulate in the air and become an irritating allergen. Cats do shed a protein in their saliva called FelD1 that can make people feel itchy with a lick or when airborne. And, yes, while very rare, dogs can be allergic to people and cats and vice versa.
Things that can help reduce human allergies to pets, from petfinder.com:
1. Wash pet bedding regularly.
2. Change air filters frequently on your HVAC system.
3. Use a high-efficiency HEPA air cleaner.
4. Create an allergy-free zone where the pet or pets are prohibited access.
5. Groom your dog at least every four weeks with anti-allergenic shampoo such as HyLyt or Vet’s Best hypoallergenic shampoo.
6. Brush your cat or dog daily with a fur removing brush or glove. FURminator is one brand example.
7. Consult your physician about regular allergy shots or medications to alleviate your symptoms.
And, while there is no truly hypoallergenic dog or cat breed, the list from petfinder.com and below detail breeds that may be less allergy stimulating.
Dogs
• Affenpinscher – their wiry coat may reduce grooming needs and lessen dander release.
• Basenji – these cat-like dogs are fastidious self-groomers, possibly reducing environmental dander levels.
• Bedlington Terriers – a sweet, lamb-like terrier with a wooly-coat whose tight curls are thought to shed less.
• Bichon Frise – these fun-loving dogs also have a tight curl in their coat that may hold dead hair with dander in place until grooming day.
• Hairless Chinese Crested – decreased hair means that there is reduced dander volume with these punk-looking sweethearts.
• Havanese – have a very similar coat to the Bichon Frise.
• Kerry Blue Terrier – their coat sheds roughly every three weeks and the wiry coat retains hair until grooming day.
Cats
• Balinese – these elegant cats produce less of the Fel D1 protein than other cats.
• Oriental Shorthair – roman-nosed, short haired beauties are considered “non-allergenic,” but it is still a good idea to brush frequently to reduce dander.
• Javanese – a single coat with no undercoat means less fur which reduces allergens.
• Devon Rex – these lovelies have a thin, short hair coat.
• Cornish Rex – similar to the Devon Rex, but do require more frequent bathing to control oil buildup on their skin.
• Sphynx – probably the most known breed associated with reduced allergens because they are hairless. That doesn’t mean maintenance-free however; these Yoda-like kitties do need frequent baths to remove oil build-up from the skin and their ears need regular cleaning as well.
• Siberian – this breed like the Balinese is considered hypoallergenic due to lower than average levels of the Fel D1 protein in their saliva.
Notice that there is not a doodle in the list – they are lovely dogs, but not considered hypoallergenic. Wishing you all a safe, healthy 2021!
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St.
For more information,
visit parkhillvet.com