Hypoallergenic
Dogs
Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic is the characteristic of provoking fewer allergic
reactions in
allergy
sufferers. Hypoallergenic means to have a decreased
tendency to cause allergies; hypo means less, not none.
Hypoallergenic pets still produce
allergens, but because of their coat type or absence of fur,
typically produce less than others of the same species. People with
severe allergies and
asthma
might still be affected by a hypoallergenic pet.
There is no such thing as a nonallergenic pet.
Hypoallergenic pets
For allergy
sufferers, a hypoallergenic
pet might enable them
to have a pet in their home, whereas most
dogs,
cats,
rabbits, and
other fur-bearing animals can make their lives miserable. The proteins that
cause allergies are found not only in the animals' fur or hair but also in
saliva, urine, mucous, and hair roots and in the
dander sloughed
from the animals' skin.
Some dog
breeds have been promoted as hypoallergenic, such as the
Afghan
Hound whose coat (hair) does not shed and is the same pH as human hair
creating no dander,
Maltese,
Bichon
Frisé, Poodle,
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, and the
Schnauzer.
The
Goldendoodle or other
Poodle hybrids might do well for some who have allergies because they do not
shed their hair. However, no canine is known to be completely nonallergenic.
In October
2004, the
Los
Angeles company
Allerca
announced that within three years it will be able to produce a hypoallergenic
cat using genetic
modification. At the same time, the company denied that it will be able to do
the same for dogs, because whereas cats have a single gene that produces the
allergenic protein, dogs have many allergenic proteins controlled by multiple
genes.
See also
External links
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