Animal lovers who are allergic to pets have it rough, so it’s no surprise that hypoallergenic dog and cat breeds are in such high demand. But do these breeds deliver the allergen-free experience owners are hoping for?
Not exactly.
Most people with pet allergies react to proteins found in the dander or saliva of pets, and all dogs and cats, regardless of their breed, produce these allergens. That means all dogs and cats have the potential to spark allergies—even hypoallergenic breeds.
However, the theory goes that if a pet were to shed less, then they would release fewer allergens (including those from saliva, which ends up on the fur from grooming) into their environment. So non-shedding breeds, like Poodles and Schnauzers, or hairless breeds, like the Chinese Crested or Sphynx, should hypothetically be less likely to aggravate allergies.
The jury is still out on whether this is actually true, which means that adopting a hypoallergenic breed may prevent an owner’s allergies from acting up, but there’s no guarantee.
So what are allergic animal lovers to do? These tips may help minimize the chance of a reaction:
After all, people with allergies deserve snuggles, too!
