Allergic to dogs

1. Dander.
3. The small scales of dead skin that constantly being shed, or
5. To the dog's hair.
7. Dog’s saliva

The fact is also that, dog allergens are small and sticky and can stay airborne for a long time. Some people are not specifically allergic to dogs, but have a primary allergy to another substance, such as pollen. In these cases, a dog can provide an additional irritant that could trigger the allergy attack! People who are allergic to a dog's saliva only experience an allergic reaction if a dog licks them.

Symptoms of allergy to dogs

Dogs have many allergens on them and each of them can trigger allergy! They are causing several symptoms in hypersensitive people such as

1. nasal congestion,
2. runny nose,
3. itchy nose,
4. sneezing,
5. itchy and watery eyes,
6. coughing,
7. a scratchy sore throat,
8.  itchy skin rashes or hives,
9. headaches,
10.  fatigue,
11. difficulties in breathing, and
12. Asthma.

All allergy symptoms are caused by one substance called histamine. This can happen within 5-30 minutes or occur much later as a delayed reaction. Histamine is being released from the basophiles and mast cells through the process called degranulation, because the histamine is localized in special granules inside the cells! The whole process is triggered by immunoglobulin E! The severity of reaction varies from one person to the next, and it is ranging from mild sniffling to severe asthma.

Are there any “safe” dogs?

The fact is that, unfortunately, no dog is considered non-allergenic because all dogs produce dander, saliva, and urine, which could be allergens. There are dogs that produce less dander, however and many people who are mildly allergic to dogs can tolerate some of these "low dander" dog breeds, of course all with a proper environmental control.

List of dogs known to be okay with asthma sufferers because they shed very little dander.	Short description
Poodles, Standard and Miniature	Excellent with kids, bonds to whole family, excellent watchdog, highly trainable and sheds very little hair.
Toy poodle	small fragile bones, therefore caution around rambunctious children - perhaps better suited for mature people, tends to bond to one person, excellent watchdog, highly trainable and sheds very little hair.
Chihuahuas	Perhaps better suited for adults, tends to bond to one person, excellent watchdog, average trainability. They do shed a bit.
Portuguese Water Dogs	Good with kids, tends to bond to one person, average watchdog, average trainability. Sheds a little.
Irish Terrier	Excellent with kids, bonds to whole family, excellent watchdog, highly trainable, and sheds very little.
Bichon Frise	Average trainability and sheds very little.

Dogs and asthmatics

Although people with asthma tend to suffer from allergies, among all possible allergens, dogs are on top as disturbances promoters in pulmonary function for asthmatics. Several studies have showed that the indoor airborne allergens like dogs, cats, cockroaches, molds and mites, were associated with more markers of asthma instability than outdoor allergens like tree, weed and grass. So, the bottom line is- Dogs are pretty poor company for asthmatics!

Environmental control                                                                                                         

There are several procedures, which are shown to be very helpful in controlling the allergy on dogs!

1. Do not allow the dog into your bedroom
2. Install HEPA room air cleaners in all the bedrooms and in the family room
3. Install electrostatic air filter in the central heating system in your house
4. Bath your dog frequently. Twice a week is recommended!
5. Try using an anti-allergen detergent to wash your dog’s stuff such as dog bedding, doggie shirts, and soft dog toys
6. Cover the rooms sofas with sheets to help prevent dog dander deposits on them
7. Try spraying areas where your dogs spend their time with an anti-allergen spray
8. Wash your hands after petting your dog!
9. Choose a breed that only breeds with one breed of dog because house that has mixed allergens from several dog breeds is hyper-allergenic

If you know that you are allergic to dogs, it doesn’t have to mean that you must get rid of your pet. There are some risks, but several things could be done in order to avoid all possible symptoms of allergy! Some of those are:

1. If the allergic person has to groom the pet, it should wear a small dust-filtering mask. Wearing gloves can also help. If you don’t have the gloves- wash your hands immediately after because it will prevent the spread of allergens to the nose, eyes and mouth.
2. Try to brush pets outside, or on a hard floor.

Nutrition and allergy

There is special nutritional strategy for every pet owner that would like to reduce the chances of developing some kind of allergy! If the pet is fed with essential vitamins, nutrients and fatty acid supplements with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids- it will help the skin retain moisture and to reduce shedding. Poor skin health of your pet can be caused by lower quality food or food that contains something the dog may be allergic to.

Before getting a dog

Many people are considering dogs to be something disposable and get pets without thinking through the difficulties of living with them. Tragically, that how- so many animals lose their lives just for this reason. So before adding a pet to the family, carefully think through the decision along with other family members

1. Consider who can and will follow through on pet care responsibilities,
2. Who really understand the measures the a person must take to manage pets in a home
3. Be realistic about the commitment you can reasonably make.

If you aren't sure you will be able to keep the dog in your home for life, don’t do it! One more thing- if your child is allergic to dogs, think twice before getting a dog. Is it really worth it to put your child through possibly severe allergic reactions just to have a dog?

Even, after the removal of the pet, it may take several months for the allergen levels in the home to decrease sufficiently enough not to cause allergic reactions in hypersensitive individuals.

Perspective

Several studies done not so long ago have proven that very early exposure to animals can have positive benefits. If the child is being around dogs during infancy- it may actually significantly reduce the chances that it will develop allergies later in life. Researchers found that the longer children had pets when they are young, especially during their first two years, the lower are their frequency of developing pet allergies later.

There are also some special cleaners made for cleaning the dogs of allergic owners. The most common is Allerpet cleaner! ALLERPET/D is formulated specifically for dogs and for people who are allergic to dogs. It is made for cleaning the hair of dander, saliva, and sebaceous gland secretions, the antigens considered the prime causes of allergic reactions to dogs.

Treatment

2. Immunotherapy, commonly called allergy shots can improve symptoms but cannot eliminate the allergy. It is about desensitizing a person's immune system to the pet allergens. Interesting thing is that real allergy-causing proteins are injected under the person's skin, triggering the body to produce antibodies. Patients are usually given one dose per week for a few weeks to months.

2. Symptomatic treatment. This is simply relieving the already present symptoms of allergy. It can't prevent the attack! Some of medications used are steroidal, antihistamine nose sprays, and antihistamine pills. Asthma requires a special kind of therapy! There are multiple medications, sprays, and inhalers available. Bronchodilators and inhaled sodium cromoglycate or corticosteroids can be used to control asthmatic attack.

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