Are Hounds Hypoallergenic? (Hounds and Asthma)
No matter how much you painstakingly brush your beloved pooch’s fur, the fact remains that all dogs shed, even the hypoallergenic ones. Shedding is natural for dogs and a way for them to replace the loose, dead hair with a healthy new coat.
Shedding is also a way for dogs to regulate their temperatures. In cooler temperatures, the coat is thicker, while when the temperatures rise, the shedding increases.
Hypoallergenic Dogs
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 3 out of 10 people in their country that has allergies are allergic to pets. People with asthma and common allergies are the usual sufferers of dog or pet allergies.
Even though shedding is a natural occurrence for dogs, don’t fret! There are many hypoallergenic dogs that can spare you the constant sneezing and wheezing during cuddle time, and a few of them belong to the Hound group, like the Afghan Hound and the Basenji.
Hypoallergenic dog breeds are breeds that are least likely to activate your allergic reactions. There is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog, meaning that having one doesn’t guarantee that you won’t experience similar allergic reactions, especially if you are super sensitive.
It only means that you are less likely that these symptoms will occur compared to regular dog breeds. The most common characteristics of hypoallergenic dogs are:
Hairless Dogs
A major component in triggering your allergies is the dog’s fur. Without any fur, your dog will least likely contribute to your everyday sneezing
Low-Shedding
Many breeds of dogs have a constant cycle of shedding which will exude dander and contain traces of saliva, potentially triggering allergies. Hypoallergenic dogs shed very little, which will minimize the circulation of these allergens in your home.
What Dogs Are Hypoallergenic?
With hundreds of different dog breeds and their mixes, there are a select few that can drastically reduce the changes of an allergic reaction.
The following dogs are categorized by the as hypoallergenic breeds.
- Affenpinscher
- Afghan Hound (Hound)
- American Hairless Terrier
- Basenji (Hound)
- Bedlington Terrier
- Bichon Frise
- Chinese Crested
- Coton de Tulear
- Giant Schnauzer
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Lagotto Romagnolo
- Maltese
- Mini Schnauzer
- Peruvian Inca Orchid (Hound)
- Poodle
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Spanish Water Dog
- Standard Schnauzer
- Wire Fox Terrier
- Xoloitzcuintl
- Yorkshire Terrier
Can Dogs Trigger Asthma?
Asthma is the swelling and narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Usually, asthma is an illness from childhood, but some folks carry it well into adulthood and for their whole lives.
The usual asthma triggers are smoke, pollution, dust, and yes, proteins in dogs. Their constant shedding, saliva, and even pee may cause you to experience difficulty in breathing and wheezing. Some symptoms of asthma include:
Difficulty in Breathing
Since your lungs tend to be inflamed during asthma attacks, the air passage is constricted in that area. Because of this inflammation, you might feel your chest tightening and suffer shortness of breath.
Constant Coughing and Wheezing
The mucus buildup in your lungs can cause constant coughing. Try to secrete the mucus either by medications or holistic remedies that are prescribed by medical professionals to manage the congestion.
What Are Pet Allergies?
Contrary to popular belief, pet allergies aren’t triggered by the hair at all, but rather, by the proteins in your pet’s skin cells or fur, saliva, and urine. When these proteins become airborne, they can trigger an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to them.
In addition, many people are allergic to pet dander, which is the dead skin cells that are shed by all animals with fur or feathers.
Symptoms of a pet allergy may include sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose. In severe cases, people may also experience difficulty breathing and swelling of the throat or airways. If you think you may be allergic to pets, it is important to see a doctor for testing.
There are many ways to manage pet allergies, including avoiding contact with animals, using air filters and purifiers, and taking allergy medication.
Where You Find Allergens?
Allergens from your furry friends are the primary cause of your allergies. When your dog is drooling, the proteins from the saliva will stick to your rugs, carpet, and wood furniture, and can also cause your allergies.
Also, your dog leaves saliva on his coat when he grooms himself. The hair gets shed, goes airborne, and well, you get the drift.
Any of the triggers can be found all over your home, hiding in your rugs, carpets, and bedding. To try minimize an allergic reaction, a fastidious cleaning regimen that significantly reduces the amount of fur and dander around the house might help.
Minimizing Risk of Allergic Reaction
You can’t stop dog allergies, but you can take a few steps to mitigate them and minimize their damage. Of course, if you were considering getting a dog, there are various rescue groups specifically for hypoallergenic dogs that will be happy to help you out.
However, suppose you already have your beloved pooch and suddenly, develop a pet allergy that can rear its annoying head anytime throughout your life.
Fret not! There are a few tweaks you can make to your lifestyle to try to avoid all that sneezing and puffy eyes.
Maintain Cleanliness
The majority of the sources of allergens on dogs can be addressed by maintaining clean surroundings. Observe the shedding cycle of your dogs, and make sure to clean up their excess fur so that it may not trigger your runny nose.
Constantly replace your rugs and carpets so that any mucus or urine your dog left will not secrete any proteins. Wipe your surroundings well for any other contaminants your dog might have left, and use a vacuum cleaner rather than a broom to do a more thorough job and contain the allergens instead of moving them.
Take Your Medicine
In some cases, doctors prescribe maintenance medicine for constantly allergic people. Being with your dog every day, having a maintenance medicine prescribed by your doctor is the best way to regulate the effects of having a non-hypoallergenic dog. Make sure that the prescriptions for your allergy maintenance medicine if given by your doctor, to make sure it is safe and effective.
Choose A Hypoallergenic Breed Or Their Mixes
If you are just starting as a fur parent and you know that you are allergic to dogs, consider choosing hypoallergenic dogs. There are tons of different breeds that you may choose from, and whether you prefer small or big, furry or bald, there are different types of hypoallergenic dogs to fit your needs and preferences.
Always remember, owning a hypoallergenic does not mean that you have a 100% chance that your allergy will not be triggered. It simply means that the chances of a reaction is greatly reduced. It is still best to be cautious and prepared so that you may identify the allergy from its initial symptoms and address it right away.
Frequent Dog Grooming
The more you brush your dog to remove all the dead fur and dander, the less your dog will shed in your home. You can wear some kind of protection like a mask to brush your dog outdoors, keeping the allergens outside and minimizing their presence indoors. Remember that your dog may also be a carrier of dirt and dust which contain other allergens like grass and pollen.
Wear A Mask
Try as you might, you still can’t control your allergic reactions. Now what? Well, we should all be familiar with this practice by now! In all fairness, wearing a mask would minimize the risk of inhaling the fur and the traces of proteins in any fur and dander left behind, especially in the high-shedding season.
Common Hypoallergenic Dogs And Their Mixes
One of the most common hypoallergenic dogs is the Poodle. This impressive breed gave rise to a whole plethora of “Doodle” crosses such as the Labradoodle, (Labrador x Poodle), the Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel x Poodle), and the Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever x Poodle).
Crossing two hypoallergenic dogs will almost certainly result in a hypoallergenic hybrid like the Schnoodle (Schnauzer x Poodle) and the Yorkipoo or Maltipoo (Yorkshire Terrier x Poodle) and (Maltese x Poodle).
However, if you cross a Poodle or any other hypoallergenic dog with a non-hypoallergenic dog like the Labrador or Golden Retriever, the puppies’ coat will depend on which parent breed it takes after.
This gives rise to many breeders “back-crossing” the hybrid litter into a purebred Poodle to increase the chances of their puppies being hypoallergenic. A back-crossed hybrid is a 50/50 hybrid that is bred back into the purebred parent, in this case, a Poodle, resulting in a litter that is 75% Poodle and 25% another breed.
Final Thoughts
When people think of hypoallergenic dogs, they usually think of small, yappy dogs that don’t shed much.
In fact, almost any type of dog can be hypoallergenic if it doesn’t shed, including the regal Afghan Hound and the energetic Basenji, both members of the Hound Group!