Many people would love to have a dog or cat but are allergic to animal hair. Is a hypoallergenic dog the solution for allergic dog lovers?

 

A hypoallergenic dog is a dog that secretes fewer allergens than other animals. Hypoallergenic dogs and cats should therefore cause few or no allergic symptoms in sensitive people. Hypoallergenic dog breeds such as Labradoodles and Portuguese Water Dogs are also said to cause no sneezing, watery eyes or sniffles in allergy sufferers.

However, the term "hypoallergenic" is not legally protected. The term "hypoallergenic" is used for animals and products that contain less well-known allergens. However, this does not mean that there is no allergy risk. This is because studies have found that so-called hypoallergenic dogs have just as high a concentration of the main allergen Can f 1 as normal dog breeds. Can f 1 is a protein that is mainly found in fur and dander, but also in saliva and urine. Some breeds secrete fewer allergens than others, simply because they are smaller and therefore have less coat surface area or their hair contains less dander.

However, even if a certain breed of dog secretes less Can f 1, enough of the allergen accumulates over a long period of time to trigger allergic symptoms, even with regular cleaning in the home, on upholstery and carpets and in clothing. Unfortunately, for people who are allergic to dogs and cats, this means that even a hypoallergenic animal will not protect them from the annoying sneezing.