What are the symptoms and treatments for dog allergies? Introducing dog breeds that are easy to keep as pets
Are you familiar with dog allergies?
Dog allergies are caused by allergens in dog fur, dander, and saliva. In mild cases, symptoms are similar to hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. In severe cases, symptoms can include difficulty breathing and dizziness.
In this article, we'll introduce dog allergies and dog breeds that are relatively easy for people with allergies to keep.
Symptoms of Dog Allergies
Symptoms of dog allergies vary, ranging from cold-like or hay fever-like symptoms to severe symptoms.
Mild symptoms include cold-like symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Some people describe them as hay fever-like. Eye discomfort may also occur, including itching, redness, and swelling.
As the symptoms progress, you may experience asthma-like breathing difficulties and develop hives on your skin. Hives can cause redness, swelling, and itching.
In severe cases, diarrhea, dizziness, palpitations, and difficulty breathing may also occur.
Once this progresses, it can become a threat to your daily life.
However, not all of these symptoms will appear, and symptoms vary from person to person. If you suspect you may have a dog allergy, seek medical help as soon as possible.
Causes of Dog Allergies
Dog allergies are caused by proteins called lipocalin and albumin, which are found in dog hair and secretions such as sebum, saliva, and dander. Even coming into contact with these secretions or simply being in the same space as a dog can cause dog allergy symptoms.
Dog allergies, like hay fever, are caused by a human immune response. While the immune system normally works normally to protect the body, it can overreact to harmless substances, resulting in conditions like hay fever and dog allergies.
How to Check for Dog Allergies
Check for Allergies Before Bringing a Dog to Your Family
To find out if you're allergic to dogs, you can either interact with them or get tested at a veterinarian. Be sure to check before welcoming a dog into your family.
If you raise a dog from a puppy, you'll likely spend more than 10 years with it. If you discover that your dog has a dog allergy along the way, you may have to change your lifestyle.
Not being able to interact with and play with the dog that's become part of your family is painful for both you and the dog. To avoid this, it's essential to check in advance.
How to Check (1) Allergy Testing at a Hospital
Allergy testing can be done at an internal medicine or dermatology clinic. The main testing methods are skin tests and blood tests.
Skin tests are a testing method that involves exposing the skin to allergens, which are substances that cause allergies, to check for a reaction. The advantage is that results are obtained quickly.
A blood test, as the name suggests, involves drawing blood and examining the numbers. It also reveals the level of allergic reaction, which can help determine how careful you should be with your dog.
The advantage is that it provides accurate numbers, but the disadvantage is that it takes time to get the results (about a week, depending on the hospital).
Check Method (2): Actually Interact with a Dog
It's also recommended that you actually interact with a dog. If you're bringing a dog into your family, it's a good idea to create opportunities for the whole family to interact with the dog.
You can ask a friend who owns a dog, or if you don't have a dog nearby, you can inquire about dog training schools and attend them.
You can often learn a lot by actually touching the dogs, so it's a good idea to ask if you can pet them.
How to Deal with Dog Allergies
Candid allergies are difficult to completely cure with current medical treatments. Therefore, the key is to prevent the onset of symptoms. Here are some creative ways to prevent the onset of symptoms even in households with dogs.
Solution (1) Approaching the Dog
- Bathroom moderately
- Brush frequently
The key is to keep the dog, which is the cause of the allergy, clean.
As mentioned above, the allergens that cause dog allergies are found in dog hair, sebum, and dander. Shampooing and brushing can remove dirty, excess hair, dander, and sebum.
However, excessive shampooing can be harsh on your dog's skin and coat. Aim for once a month, but don't overdo it.
It's fine to brush your dog every day, so incorporate it into your dog's daily training routine and enjoy interacting with it. It's a good idea to designate a specific area for brushing, and remember to clean up the area afterward, as hair will fly around.
Solution (2) What People Should Keep in Mind
Here are some tips to keep in mind in your daily life.
- Wash your hands and gargle after playing with your dog
- Ventilate frequently and separate living spaces
- Wash dog and human fabric products separately
- Take medication to suppress symptoms
Wash your hands and gargle after playing with your dog
Wash your hands and gargle thoroughly after interacting with your dog. This prevents allergens from entering your body. Pay particular attention to mucous membranes and the respiratory tract.
If you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after handling a dog, allergens can enter through these areas, causing itching and redness. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. Wearing a mask is also a good way to prevent inhaling allergens through your mouth or nose.
Ventilate frequently & separate living spaces
Ventilation and separating living spaces are also important for preventing the onset of the disease. When ventilating, be sure to prevent allergens from entering other rooms.
It's also a good idea to keep your dog's living space in a well-ventilated room and limit interactions to that room.
You can also use an air purifier. It's important to regularly maintain the filter.
Wash dog and human fabrics separately
It's also important to frequently wash and keep clean fabrics used by your dog.
However, be sure to wash them separately from human clothing and towels.
Taking Medications to Suppress Symptoms
Taking allergy medications to relieve symptoms is also recommended. To protect yourself, if you are diagnosed with allergies, it may be a good idea to consider taking medication.
What Dog Breeds Are Easy to Keep Even If You Have Dog Allergies?
The most likely breed of dog to be considered easy to keep for people with dog allergies is the Toy Poodle.
It is thought that because it sheds less hair, which can be an allergen, it is less likely to cause allergic reactions.
Let's take a closer look at dog hair.
| Coat Type | Shedding Period | Major Breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Single Coat | No | Toy Poodle Shih Tzu Maltese Yorkshire Terrier |
| Double Coat | Yes | Shiba Inu Golden Retriever Corgi Dachshund |
Dogs have two types of fur: an overcoat and an undercoat.
The undercoat plays an important role in regulating body temperature. Double-coated dogs begin to grow it in autumn when the weather starts to get cold, and shed it in large quantities in spring. This is called the "shedding period."
Single-coated dog breeds may appear to have long fur at first glance, but they are characterized by the fact that they do not shed.
The undercoat is naturally plentiful and does not increase or decrease with the seasons. The overcoat is also thin and does not shed easily, and many breeds have continuously growing fur.
If you are allergic to dogs but still want to keep a dog, a single-coated breed may be relatively easy to care for.
However, the "dog breeds that are easy to keep even if you have dog allergies" introduced here merely mean that they have relatively few factors that cause allergic symptoms, so it does not mean that dog allergies will never occur.
Equip yourself with the right knowledge and enjoy living with your dog safely.
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