Hypoallergenic Dogs?
How pet allergies work
According to allergist Dr. Tania Elliott, a spokesperson for the ACAAI, people can develop allergic reactions to several different things, including pet dander, saliva, urine, and hair.
When those who are allergic are exposed to these substances, there is a threat reaction to particular proteins in them(allergens). To protect ourselves, our bodies develop antibodies against those proteins found in dogs. After this point, when we are exposed to these proteins an allergic reaction occurs with the involvement of the immune system. This triggers the release of histamine, which causes the common symptoms that allergy sufferers experience, like sneezing, asthma attacks, itchy eyes, mucus production, hives, itching, etc. This encourages us to remove ourselves from what our body sees as a "threat".
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Are Pomskies hypoallergenic?
Absolutely not. As Dr. James T C Li and Dr. Jill A. Poole discuss, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed, although some individual dogs may cause fewer allergy symptoms than others. Many of people believe that pet allergies are caused by dog/cat fur, but the actual source of pet allergies is a protein(in saliva and urine) that sticks to the dander from your pet's skin. Dr. Poole states that “It would be more appropriate to call these shedding versus non-shedding dogs.”
Some breeds are said to be hypoallergenic since they do not shed or shed less than others. They are not truly hypoallergenic, they just do not release as much allergy-causing protein as a shedding dog.
The Mayo Clinic recommends the following tips to reduce your allergy symptoms if you are allergic to dogs but still want to have one.
- Choose a smaller dog, which will shed less dander than will a larger dog.
- Keep your pet out of your bedroom and other rooms in which you spend a lot of time.
- Choose carpet-free flooring, or shampoo your carpet regularly.
- Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier and vent filters to help reduce airborne pet allergens.