Being allergic to dogs doesn't mean you have to avoid man's best friend, an article on the Mayo Clinic website said.
There are several ways to work around getting allergy symptoms while still enjoying your pet, Dr. James Li, a Mayo Clinic allergist and immunologist, wrote in an article on the website.
According to Li, many people think that a dog's fur is the culprit for triggering allergic reactions, but the root cause is actually the protein that is in the pet's saliva and urine, the article said. The protein tends to stick to the dander in the pet's skin, which then sticks to the fur.
While there are dogs being marketed as 'hypoallergenic,' Dr. Li said there really isn't such a thing.
"Some dog breeds are marketed as hypoallergenic because they don't shed fur or they shed very little," Dr. Li said in the article. "Because these dogs don't shed, the allergy-causing dander that sticks to their fur doesn't get released into the air or onto the floor as much as with a shedding dog. But while you may have less dog hair with a nonshedding dog, no dog breed is hypoallergenic."
Although those with allergies may catch a sniffle here and there when around pets, some of the ways to lessen symptoms includes choosing a small dog (since it will shed less), keeping the dog out of areas that you spend a lot of time in, keeping the dog outside when possible, bathing the pet weekly to clean off dander, cleaning your carpet regularly and using an air purifier to clean the air of pet allergens, the article said.
