They are considered loyal friends of people – dogs and cats are very popular as pets in Germany. However, not everyone who loves these animals can also approach them without any problems, the culprit is an allergy to the respective animal. Special breeds of dogs and cats can nevertheless be suitable for allergy sufferers.
Not only children wish to have a pet. Also for many adults dogs or cats simply belong as family members. However, those who have an allergy to animal hair must stay away from the four-legged friends. Nose attacks, watery and itchy eyes, and shortness of breath can be among the symptoms of allergies to dogs and cats. The name animal hair allergy initially suggests that the problem lies with the hair of the animals. So would cats and dogs that don’t have or lose hair be suitable for allergy sufferers?
Allergens are not only present in the fur of animals
People who are allergic to cats or dogs need to protect themselves from more than just the animals’ hair. In cats, the allergy is triggered by a specific protein called FEL D-1, which is found in saliva. Since cats are very clean animals, they groom themselves several times a day. This causes the allergy-triggering protein to be distributed on the fur. There the proteins now adhere and can distribute themselves by the fact that the cat loses hair in the whole dwelling.
Not every cat has the same amount of the responsible protein in itself. Depending on the breed but also depending on the sex, the saliva is composed and is also hormone-dependent. Potent male cats therefore produce the allergic protein most strongly. Overall, this means that an allergy can be triggered in a person allergic to a certain breed, but not in another breed of cat.
Also with the dog hair allergy certain substances, which are in the excrement, urine and likewise in the saliva for the release of the allergy are made responsible. In this case, the substances can also adhere to the dog’s coat and spread everywhere in the dog’s environment when the coat is changed or the dog loses its hair. Who suffers from the symptoms of an animal hair allergy, this should definitely be checked by means of an allergy test by a dermatologist.
Special breeds of dogs and cats.
There are breeds that are said to be suitable for allergy sufferers. Because of your breeding, they may actually be more beneficial to allergy sufferers than other breeds. However, there is no guarantee that they do not cause any allergies! Among dogs, the Labradoodle belongs to the special breed breeds. It is a cross between a Labrador and a large poodle. He hardly sheds at all, which of course pleases not only allergy sufferers.
The Labradoodle is also used as a guide dog. His breed has been bred to be able to give a dog to blind people who are affected by allergies. This is also the origin of the Goldendoodle, which is a mixture of a Golden Retriever and a Large Poodle. The Portuguese Water Dog is also a dog breed that is often chosen by allergy sufferers, since this dog does not have a coat change depending on the season and therefore loses very little hair.
Lovers of cats with tendencies to allergies love the cat breed German Rex. This cat has the allergy-causing protein Fel d 1 only in small quantities. A few years ago, a specially developed cat breed from America made big headlines. It is said to possess none of the Fel d 1 proteins and thus to be hypoallergenic. Whether dog or cat, anyone choosing a specially bred breed because of allergies is advised to test out a possible reaction with the animal before acquiring it.
