Did you know that the concept of "allergy to fur" is actually a nonsense? The hair itself are not the only allergens. So what exactly is the person allergic to if he/she is allergic to dogs/cats and does he/she have to get rid of the animal immediately when the allergy occurs? And are there some hypoallergenic breeds?
Did you know that the concept of "allergy to fur" is actually a nonsense? The hair itself are not the only allergens. So what exactly is the person allergic to if he/she is allergic to dogs/cats and does he/she have to get rid of the animal immediately when the allergy occurs? And are there some hypoallergenic breeds?
The society is misleaded that when a person is allergic to dogs/pets, he/she is allergic to their fur. And then people think that cats and dogs without fur or some breed that does not moult will not cause allergy. But it’s not true.
What is actually the allergen?
Allergens are proteins which can be found mainly in saliva, sweat, urine and dandruff of animals. These secretions easily stick to hair. The allergens of animals are very adhesive so they easily stick to walls or any objects or clothes. They can even stick to dust grains. Moreover, after they get dry they start to evaporate into air.
So the problems are not caused by the direct contact with the pet alone. The allergic reaction can occur even at the place where no animal has been for months or where no animal has ever been.
The source of the most aggressive allergens are cats and various rodents.
What are the most frequent symptoms of allergy to cats or dogs?
Are there any breeds that are suitable for an allergic person?
As I have already explained, it does not depend on the length of animal’s hair. And how much the animal moults is also not a determining element.
But the breed still plays some role. Some excrete more allergens and others only rarely cause allergic reactions.
However, the amount of allergens which the animal excretes depends on its diet, health or hygiene. It can also happen that the allergic person does not have reactions to his/her own pet but he/she will have allergic reactions to other pets of the same breed.
I will show you in the next part of the article that even when in the event that the allergy occurred you don’t have to give away your pet (unless it is an extreme case). Only a few precautions is enough to eliminate the allergens at your home as much as possible.
Do you have an allergy to dogs, cats or rodents? How did you deal with it? Did you have to give your pet away or did you find a solution?
Kitten Lady describes her activities as kittens’ advocacy and humane education. This all is done by young beautiful Hannah Shaw. She’s a kitten rescuer, spreads the principles of humanity and is an unwavering advocate of animal rights. She decided to...
Several kinds of hedgehog are kept as pets. The most common one is the four-toed hedgehog or an African pygmy hedgehog in other words. This pet which is not very common but is becoming more and more popular can live up to 9 years in captivity and...
More than one artist fell in love with these creatures and looked for inspiration for work in them. One of them was Ernest Hemingway. He is the author of the well-known saying “One cat just leads to another”. He really kept a large number of cats (in...
We have an active and healthy lifestyle. Or at least we try to have. In relation to that, we don’t only think about our own food but also about our dogs’ food. The trend of barfing has already come to the Czech Republic, too. It is a method of feeding...
If you go camping for the first time, it is good to prepare for all various reactions of your furry friend. Do you travel with it by car and by public transport with no problems? Is your dog okay when not sleeping at home, e.g. in a mountain cabin? It...
As the name of this breed suggests, you can’t expect much hair on an American hairless terrier. This small or medium size muscled dog has hair only on its muzzle and eyebrows. But the interesting thing is that puppies are born with an undercoat which...
Let us get this straight, what is monoprotein food? It is wet food (i.e. cans and pouches) which contains only one type of meat, muscles and bowels. And why is it better than common wet food?
A meat bomb in a form of a dog paté or can doesn’t have to be only a reward. If you are planning to go on a long hike – to the mountains or to the valley – you can make the use of a dog meat can. Dogs in move, usually when doing any sport outside, need...
The cause of diabetes is a lack of insulin (a pancreas hormone) or the inability of the body to use it effectively (i.e. the resistance of tissues towards insulin). And it doesn’t matter if you’re a person or an animal. With diabetes, the sugar is...
Runner Dion Leonard could talk for hours about the bond which is created between a man and a dog and also about how an unknown Asian crossbreed dog becomes one of the most famous dogs on planet Earth. He bumped into a dog companion at the ultra-trial...
Even when you cannot or don’t want to take your dog on your holiday with you, you still have many options what to do with it. You can take him to your relatives, accommodate it in a dog hotel, use dog-sitting and other things. It’s not that easy with...
Cats can also be heroes and put their lives at risk to save someone from risky or life-threatening situations. The first cat hero I will introduce you to is Scarlett. She showed her heroism in the most natural form – she saved her kittens. She took...
