Causes of dog hair allergy
Strictly speaking, the term dog hair allergy is not entirely correct. Because the allergy is not caused by the hair itself, but by certain protein compounds that are in the dog’s saliva, urine and dander. While the four-legged friend licks its fur, these protein compounds stick to the fur and spread further with every hair that falls out.
What distinguishes anti-allergic dog breeds
It is the same protein compounds in all dog breeds that lead to an allergy. However, the amount varies from breed to breed. Dog breeds that have a low number of allergens are therefore better suited for allergy sufferers.
If you want to get a dog despite your dog hair allergy, you should also make sure that the breed of your choice sheds as little hair as possible. Because the less hair there is in your home, the less you come into contact with the responsible allergens.
Incidentally, the length of the fur is irrelevant. It is often the short-haired dog breeds that shed a lot and can trigger severe allergy symptoms in their owners, especially during the change of coat.
These dog breeds are suitable for allergy sufferers
There are a number of dog breeds that are suitable for people with a dog dander allergy. These allergy dogs differ from their peers in two ways. For one thing, their body secretes very few allergens, and for another, they don’t change their fur twice a year.
Dog breeds that do this include the following:
- Goldendoodle
- schnauzer
- Portuguese water dog
- Havanese
- Yorkshire terriers
- Labradoodle
- poodle
- Shi Tzu
- Bolonka Zwetna
- barbet
How to find the right allergy dog
As you can see, there are many different races to choose from. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you plan to visit the breeder before purchasing a dog that suffers from allergies. There you can do a self-test and check to what extent your allergy is noticeable through contact with your four-legged friend and his hair.
In addition, it is advisable to have an allergy test carried out by your family doctor in advance. For this purpose, simply take a few hairs from the potentially allergic dog with you.
Tips for owners who develop a dog allergy
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will be free of a dog dander allergy for the rest of your life. Because such an allergy can only develop over time. And there is hardly anything worse than suddenly having to give away your beloved dog after a few years.
Fortunately, the symptoms of a sudden dog hair allergy can be managed quite well with a few simple measures.
In this context, the following measures in particular have proven their worth:
- Do without carpets and instead use tiles or laminate, for example.
- In case of dog hair allergy, do not let your dog in your bed and on the sofa.
- Wash the blankets and pillows that your dog uses to sleep on a regular basis.
- Always remember to wash your hands after contact with your four-legged friend.
- Bathe your dog regularly to reduce allergy-causing protein compounds in their coat.
- Use a pet hair vacuum cleaner to remove dog hair from your home as thoroughly as possible.
If all these measures do not help and your dog hair allergy becomes too severe, treatment by your family doctor can be a last resort. For example, they can prescribe antihistamines for you or carry out what is known as desensitization, in which your body gradually gets used to the allergens.
Key facts at a glance
A dog hair allergy can affect anyone and only develop over time through regular contact with a dog. However, such an allergy is not triggered by the animal’s hair, but by special protein compounds that are found, for example, in dead skin cells and are spread by hair that has fallen out.
If you decide to get a dog despite your allergy, you should choose an anti-allergic dog breed. Dogs with allergies, such as poodles and Havanese, have very few allergens and, unlike their peers, shed almost no hair.