About half of American households own at least one pet, commonly a dog or a cat. It is also not surprising to learn that many Americans also have allergies to various substances, and pet dander is one of them.
There have been many statements that advocate the advantages of owning a hypoallergenic dog breed. According to most assumptions, they do not trigger allergic reactions as much as breeds that are highly allergic. However, a recent study says otherwise—that such hypoallergenic breeds can actually trigger allergic reactions as much as other dogs.
To conduct the study, the research team collected dust samples from several households with various dog breeds, including those that are presumed hypoallergenic. During their observations and experiments, no significant difference was noted in the number of allergens between households with hypoallergenic dogs and households with typical dog breeds.
Christine Cole Johnson, the chair of the public health sciences department at the Henry Ford Detroit Hospital, explained that early exposure to a dog gives a natural protection against the onset of allergies to dogs. However, the notion that caring for a hypoallergenic dog just to decrease allergic reactions is not firmly proven. In fact, the bestowment of a breed as “hypoallergenic” is quite unclear, even if the American Kennel Club recommends 11 hypoallergenic dog breeds. These include the schnauzers and the poodle, including the Portuguese water dog that the Obama family adopted.
The concept of hypoallergenic dog breeds may stem from the principle of coat shedding among dogs, as many people believe that dogs that shed the most tend to be more allergic. Allergists, however, say that individual dogs are different from one another, and the ability to produce allergens varies according to genetics, behavior and overall health.
Contrary to popular belief, the fur or the hair of an animal does not entirely cause an allergic reaction in itself. Dander, which are the tiny flakes from the skin, greatly cause symptoms of allergies, along with urine and saliva. Nevertheless, allergens such as mold, dust and pollen may accumulate in the hair.
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