Heading to the Atlanta Humane Society for a new dog or cat is an exciting experience. However, if you fall into the 10% to 20% of the global population with dog or cat allergies, you’ll need to do a little preparation.[1]
Understanding the Severity of Your Allergies
The severity of your allergies will dictate the type of dog you get. For example, if you have very mild pet allergies, you can likely get a dog or cat as long as you take medication and avoid breeds that produce excess pet dander. If your allergies are moderate to severe, you will need to stick to hypoallergenic breeds. Although no dog or cat is dander-free, some breeds produce less dander and have coats that are easier to maintain.
Remember, the term “hypoallergenic” means that the animal produces fewer airborne allergens, not that the animal is completely allergy free.
Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
A few hypoallergenic dog breeds include:
- Bichon frise
- Chinese crested
- Kerry blue terrier
- Poodle
- Yorkshire terrier
- American hairless terrier
- Shih tzu
This list isn’t exhaustive; if you find a dog you love, search to see whether they’re considered hypoallergenic.
Allergy Unfriendly Dog Breeds
A few dogs you might want to steer clear of if you have bad allergies include:
- Basset hound
- German shepherd
- Siberian husky
- Doberman pinscher
- Labrador retriever
- Pekingese
- Saint Bernard
- Cocker spaniel
If you already have a dog that exacerbates your allergies, regular grooming and allergy medication can significantly improve your symptoms.
Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds
Like dogs, there is no 100% dander-less cat breed—even the hairless ones. However, there are a few that tend to shed less, including:
- Siberian
- Siamese
- Bengal
- Sphynx
- Russian blue
- Cornish Rex
- Javanese
- Burmese
- Balinese
- Tonkinese
Research your cat before you adopt it if its breed isn’t on the list above.
Allergy Unfriendly Cat Breeds
Steer clear of the following cats if you have allergies:
- Persian
- British longhair
- Birman
- Himalayan
- Cymric
- Maine coon
- Scottish fold
Like dogs, cats will disturb your allergies less if you brush them and take them to the groomers regularly.
Long-Term Allergy Management
If you have your heart set on a specific breed of cat or dog but your allergies are saying no, it might be time to consider a long-term symptom-management approach called immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy gradually reduces your sensitivity to a specific allergen by introducing the substance to your system in increasing doses. It’s a great option for someone who loves pets, but whose immune system doesn’t love pet dander. Contact ENT of Georgia North today to schedule your allergy consultation.
[1] Chan, S. K., & Leung, D. Y. M. (2018). Dog and Cat Allergies: Current State of Diagnostic Approaches and Challenges. Allergy, asthma & immunology research, 10(2), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.97