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?
This summer, same as last year, favoured domestic travels thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while for holidays abroad pet owners arranged dog sitting, here in Czech they learnt to take them along. This group of dog owners was targeted by...
Crates or transport boxes provide your pet with safety and comfort not only during car journeys. You can see them more and more often in households with dogs. What can be the reasons for buying a crate for a dog living in a flat? What doesn't belong...
Recent estimates indicate that every third dog in the world is homeless. Some estimates go even further and state that it's half of all dogs. It is a relatively high number but the situation varies in different continents. This is one of the reasons...
The world of technology does not forget pets and their care. Now, developers have come up with a new app that will help you recognize your cat’s mood.
Many of us are under the influence of the need to fulfill a dream of getting an unconventional pet, which the minipig certainly is. This trend has been present in the Czech Republic for about ten years. But don’t be fooled by those cute snouts, taking...
Pseudogravidity, also known as false pregnancy. The condition in which the female dog’s body is preparing for giving birth, even though the dog is not pregnant. False pregnancy occurs after heat and can last up to several months. What causes it, how...
Summer is a time of joy. The warm weather encourages trips and having fun in the water. However, summer may not be as great for our dogs as it may seem. We fur may sometimes do more harm than good. How to take care of wet fur and how to prevent any...
Cats scratch, everybody knows that. But have you ever wondered why that is? If you have a feline companion at home, you might have thought it would be a good idea to break her habit of scratching. Especially if your cat has ruined your furniture with...
Some love it, some hardly tolerate it. We are, of course, talking about summer and the hot weather that comes with it. Hot weather can become rather unpleasant for our canine companions. While cats usually tolerate heat without any major problems,...
Pet owners know that summer doesn't only bring warmth, sunshine and late sunsets. It's also the time of ticks, who know how to torment our four-legged friends. Unfortunately, it's very difficult, or even almost impossible, to prevent our pet from...
The summer season calls for hair cuts. And not only yours but also your pets'. But a shorter coat doesn't always mean lower body temperature. On the contrary, sometimes it could be the other way round. How and when to clip our four-legged friends'...
The fact that our mental well-being benefits from the presence of animals - namely dogs - has been mentioned here several times. Canis therapy is a highly effective therapeutic process where, to a certain degree, a dog interacts with a patient or...
