A lot of people enjoy keeping pets but all are not able to do so. Some people refrain from it because they do not have anyone at home to take care of their pets when they spend long hours at their offices. Then there are others who do not have sufficient space in their small apartment to accommodate a pet, and yet others who can’t have pets because they have allergic reactions to pet animals.
Pets that have a scaly skin, which are basically reptiles, generally do not cause allergies. But too few would be interested in keeping snakes and the likes as pets. Most people’s idea of a pet animal is a cat or a dog. Keeping a canine or feline at home and keeping off allergies may not be easy for allergy-prone people, but still there are many breeds which cause less allergic reaction in those who interact closely with them.
Hairless dogs or shorter-haired dogs are generally seen to cause fewer allergies. However, hair is not the only body part that triggers an allergic reaction. The proteins in a pet’s saliva and skin are more potent in provoking allergies. Dogs with thicker and longer hair are seen causing more allergies because they collect more outside allergens like pollen or dust on their hair.
The medium-sized, water loving, Portuguese Water Dog, one of which named Bo is currently a famous resident of the White House, is a hypoallergenic breed suitable for the allergy-prone.
Poodles are also hypoallergenic. Because of its small body size, the area that produces allergens is limited. The Irish Water Spaniel, a good guard dog which is an expert swimmer as well, also does not cause much allergic reaction in people. It sheds very little hair and do not have much dander. It needs frequent brushing and trimming to maintain its coat and the brushing should ideally be done outside the home to avoid the hair and dander falling on the home floor.
The hairless variety of the Chinese Crested Dog is yet another one that allergy-prone people can safely keep. In this breed, there are two varieties – Powderpuff Chinese Crested and Chinese Crested. The Powderpuff variety has a soft coat, while the other group is completely hairless. A litter can be mixed, containing both the varieties.
Labradoodle is a hybrid dog that is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. This too is an allergy-friendly dog that sheds very little hair. Bedlington Terrier, Spanish Water Dog, Bichon Frise, Tibetan Terrier, and Yorkshire Terrier are also some of the breeds that will not make their owners sneeze and cough.
Among cats the Devon Rex Cat and the hairless Sphynx cats are believed to cause the least allergic reactions. Allergy to cats is seen to cause more severe reactions than allergy to dogs, but allergy shots have been found to be quite effective in the case of cat allergies.