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 | With allergies becoming more and more common, especially to household pets, people are frequently looking at ways to be able to keep their dogs and cats while reducing the allergy symptoms their pets cause them to have. Frequent vacuuming, keeping the beds out of the bedroom, and even bathing the pets may reduce the amount of pet dander in the home. All of these measures may be in vain, however, since people with dog and cat allergies usually continue to suffer as long as the pets remain in the home. It is for these reasons that the concept of hypoallergenic pets has become so popular. Hypoallergenic pets produce less allergen than regular pets, and therefore cause less -- or no -- allergy symptoms. For many years it was assumed that dogs with fur (and not hair), such as Poodles, were hypoallergenic. Recent studies suggest that they may not be. There may still be hope, as various companies have developed hypoallergenic dogs and cats that have genetic mutations that acutally reduce the amount of major allergen that the pet is able to produce -- which may reduce or eliminate allergy symptoms, and allow animal lovers a chance to own a pet without the allergic misery. | |
Hypoallergenic Dogs and Cats
Allergic diseases are extremely common in developed countries, with allergic rhinitis affecting nearly 30% of the population and asthma affecting nearly 10%. Pet allergy, especially to household dogs and cats, has also become increasingly common over the past few decades in the United States. In fact, 17% of U.S. cat owners and 5% of dog owners are allergic to their pets. Since many people view their pets as "part of the family," they are reluctant to get rid of them, even if it means worse allergy symptoms.
| Make Your Cat Less Allergenic
Most cat owners who are allergic to their pets are unwilling to part ways with their furry friends despite the sneezing and runny noses that come with owning a cat. When I discuss various avoidance techniques that allergic cat owners can follow, short of getting rid of their cat, I am often asked questions about the influences of cat hair length or cat size on the amount of cat allergen produced.
| Make Your Dog Less Allergenic
Many allergenic dog owners who are allergic to their pets are reluctant to part ways with their furry best friends, despite the wide array of allergy symptoms that may go along with owning a pet dog. When I inform a patient that they are allergic to their dog, I am asked many questions regarding ways to reduce dog allergen exposure while still maintaining ownership of the dog. In particular, I am asked questions about specific breeds of dogs that might be better to own, if getting rid of indoor carpeting would help, if keeping the dog outdoors is better, or even if having the dog spayed or neutered would reduce the amount of allergy symptoms.
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