[nagdu] [Nagdu-leaders] The Myth of Hypoallergenic dogs

[melissa R green]

Thank you for sharing this.
They are always coming up with
new things for people allergic
to their anemals.  Talk to an
allergist.  I had a friend
recommend these pet wipes that
you can wipe down yor animal
and it cuts down on the
allergens.  Her husband was
allergic to both cats and
dogs.  More of the cats
though.  She got the wipes
from her allergist and they
work very well.  I wish I
could figure out the name.  If
I do I will send it to the
lists.

 

Warmly,

Melissa R. Green and Pj

It is 'where we are' that
should make all the
difference, whether we believe
we belong there or not. 

 

From: Nagdu-leaders
[mailto:nagdu-leaders-bounces@
nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Marion Gwizdala via
Nagdu-leaders
Sent: Monday, September 21,
2015 10:07 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the
National Association of Guide
Dog Users';
nagdu-leaders at nfbnet.org;
oagdu at nfbnet.org; New Jersey
Association of Guide Dog
Users; 'New York Association
of Guide Dog Users'; 'Florida
Association of Guide Dog
Users'
Cc: Marion Gwizdala
Subject: [Nagdu-leaders] The
Myth of Hypoallergenic dogs

 

Dear All,

 

                I found this
article from the Tampa bay
Times to be very interesting.
I thought others would find it
so, as well!

 

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala

Don't fall for myth of
'hypoallergenic' dogs. Almost
daily, I have parents tell me
not to worry because even
though they or their children
are allergic to dogs, they
have purchased a
hypoallergenic dog. I hesitate
sharing that the
hypoallergenic dog is just a
myth. To be sure, it is an
incredible marketing ploy.
Just who started this urban
legend remains a mystery. If
you type in "hypoallergenic
dogs" on Google, you'll find
no shortage of breed
suggestions. Even the American
Kennel Club has a list of many
dogs that are best for allergy
sufferers. The AKC does not go
so far as to endorse them as
best for people with dog
allergies, but it does state
that "These dogs have a
predictable, non-shedding coat
which produces less dander.
Lets look at the science
behind dog allergies. The
primary allergen from dogs is
Canis familiaris allergen 1,
or Can f 1. This allergen, a
protein, is found in the
saliva and urine of dogs. The
protein sticks to the dead,
dry flakes from your pet's
skin, which is dander. An
animal's fur is not the source
of the allergen, although it
can surely be an irritant to
mucous membranes and airways.
A landmark study was done in
2011 at Henry Ford Hospital in
Detroit to determine whether
homes with hypoallergenic dogs
had less Can f 1 than homes
with other dogs. All homes
were single-dog homes. The
results showed no significant
difference in the amount of
Can f 1 found in the homes. In
clinical practice, it does
appear that certain individual
dogs are less allergenic to
certain patients, but this is
not a breed-specific
characteristic. Likely, it is
a factor specific to an
individual dog's genetics,
diet and behavior. More than
33 percent of U.S. homes have
a dog, making canine allergies
quite a public health concern.
These allergies are strongly
associated with asthma and
allergic rhinitis. Up to 30
percent of patients with
allergic disease are sensitive
to animals. Symptoms of dog
allergy can include: Runny,
sneezing nose Itchy, watery
eyes Nasal congestion Cough
Wheezing or shortness of
breath Hives or itching of
skin An allergist can help
identify if you are allergic
to your animals. If you do
have dog allergies, you must
minimize your interaction with
the animal. Your dog must not
sleep in your bed or even in
your bedroom. The bedroom must
become a dog-free zone with
some barrier to keep the dog
from entering even when you
are not there. It is important
to have someone clean the
bedroom once the animal has
been relocated. All hard
surfaces should be wiped down
with a damp cloth to
physically try to remove as
much dander as possible from
walls, furniture, etc. A HEPA
air purifier should be placed
at the head of your bed and
run when you are home. This is
a prime opportunity to extract
some dander from the air, as
Can f 1 is extremely
lightweight and may remain
airborne for hours. Bathing
your pet weekly also can help
to reduce the amount of pet
dander in your home. The very
best way to deal with a dog
allergy is to remove the dog
from the home. While this is
very difficult for many
families, it is sometimes
necessary, especially when the
patient is suffering from
significant asthma that can be
life threatening. Even after
removing an animal from your
home, it can take six months
to several years to fully rid
the home of animal dander.
Talking with your allergist
can help you identify the best
ways to diagnose and treat
your dog allergies. Avoidance,
medications and allergy
injection therapy are all
options that might be right
for you. Just remember not to
fall for the "hypoallergenic
dogs" myth. Dr. Mona V. Mangat
is a board-certified allergist
and immunologist at Bay Area
Allergy & Asthma in St.
Petersburg. Find her at
bayallergy.com. Contact her at
bayallergy at gmail.com..