Some people crave for the unfailing
devotion and companionship of pet dogs. But something stops
these people from ever owning a dog. This something is called
“allergy”. An allergy is an alarming and uncontrollable reaction,
such as dripping nose, sneezing, and shortness of breath. These
are caused by substances called allergens. Allergens can be
pollen, dust, and animal hair.
Some people simply have violent physiological
reactions when exposed to dogs, especially the dog hairs. The
dog hairs are considered allergens. Fortunately, such allergic
reactions may be reduced and managed when important precautions
are carried out and hypoallergenic dog breeds are chosen.
Precautions to minimize allergic reactions
can help an overly sensitive person to enjoy the presence of
a dog. Some precautions that a future dog owner may take are
the following:
1. Have an air purifier that can handle a large
room, especially the room where the dog will spend most of its
time
2. An excellent vacuum cleaner can reduce the presence of allergens,
those tiny, dust-like stuff that cause the allergies
3. Get rid of the carpet. The carpet is capable of storing the
allergens for a long time. And when allergens get stuck in the
carpet fibers, the sensitive person may suffer frequent bouts
of allergies.
4. Consult a health professional, such as an allergist, who
will know what medications to prescribe to lessen the occurrence
of a person’s particular type of allergy.
Dogs cannot prevent a person from having allergic
reactions. But some dogs induce such allergic reactions more
often than others. Such allergy-inducing dogs usually have long-haired
coats or coats that are lush and abundant. Other dogs have milder
effects on the sensitive or asthmatic person. These dogs are
described as hypoallergenic. The word “hypo” means “less”.
Hypoallergenic breeds do not totally remove
the possibility of allergic reactions. But, by the nature of
their coat, such allergic reactions can be less frequent. Some
of them are considered hairless dogs and others are described
as single-coated dogs. Here are some suggested hypoallergenic
dog breeds:
Some hairless dog breeds are the following:
1. American Hairless Terrier
2. Chinese Crested (the Hairless variety)
3. Peruvian Inca Orchid
4. Xoloitzcuintle, also known as the Mexican Hairless
Some of the single-coated dog breeds are the
following:
1. Bedlington Terrier
2. Bichon Frise
3. Chinese Crested (known as the Powder Puff variety)
4. Coton de Tulear
5. Kerry Blue Terrier
6. Poodles (of all sizes)
7. Portuguese Water Dog
8. Schnauzers (of all sizes)
9. Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
10. West Highland White Terrier
For other dog breeds, a person may consult
a veterinarian.
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