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Some people crave for the unfailing devotion and companionship
of pet dogs. But something stops these people from ever owning
a dog. This something is called “allergy”. An allergy is an
alarming and uncontrollable reaction, such as dripping nose,
sneezing, and shortness of breath. These are caused by substances
called allergens. Allergens can be pollen, dust, and animal
hair.
Some people simply
have violent physiological reactions when exposed to dogs, especially
the dog hairs. The dog hairs are considered allergens. Fortunately,
such allergic reactions may be reduced and managed when important
precautions are carried out and hypoallergenic dog breeds are
chosen.
Precautions to minimize allergic
reactions can help an overly sensitive person to enjoy the presence
of a dog. Some precautions that a future dog owner may take
are the following:
1. Have an air purifier that
can handle a large room, especially the room where the dog will
spend most of its time
2. An excellent vacuum cleaner can reduce the presence of allergens,
those tiny, dust-like stuff that cause the allergies
3. Get rid of the carpet. The carpet is capable of storing the
allergens for a long time. And when allergens get stuck in the
carpet fibers, the sensitive person may suffer frequent bouts
of allergies.
4. Consult a health professional, such as an allergist, who
will know what medications to prescribe to lessen the occurrence
of a person’s particular type of allergy.
Dogs cannot prevent a person
from having allergic reactions. But some dogs induce such allergic
reactions more often than others. Such allergy-inducing dogs
usually have long-haired coats or coats that are lush and abundant.
Other dogs have milder effects on the sensitive or asthmatic
person. These dogs are described as hypoallergenic. The word
“hypo” means “less”.
Hypoallergenic breeds do not
totally remove the possibility of allergic reactions. But, by
the nature of their coat, such allergic reactions can be less
frequent. Some of them are considered hairless dogs and others
are described as single-coated dogs. Here are some suggested
hypoallergenic dog breeds:
Some hairless dog breeds are
the following:
1. American Hairless Terrier
2. Chinese Crested (the Hairless variety)
3. Peruvian Inca Orchid
4. Xoloitzcuintle, also known as the Mexican Hairless
Some of the single-coated dog
breeds are the following:
1. Bedlington Terrier
2. Bichon Frise
3. Chinese Crested (known as the Powder Puff variety)
4. Coton de Tulear
5. Kerry Blue Terrier
6. Poodles (of all sizes)
7. Portuguese Water Dog
8. Schnauzers (of all sizes)
9. Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
10. West Highland White Terrier
For other dog breeds, a person
may consult a veterinarian.
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