While you often hear about families wanting a “Hypoallergenic Dog” for their allergic or asthmatic child, new research found that these so-called “allergy-friendly” breeds produced about the same amount of offending allergens as other dogs.

The researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit examined dust samples from 173 homes with 60 different breeds of dogs, including 11 breeds considered hypoallergenic. (Each home had only one dog) Samples were collected from the floor or carpet of the baby's bedroom one month after a newborn was brought home.

Researchers then analyzed the dust samples for the dog allergen Can f 1. There were no significant differences in allergen levels between homes with hypoallergenic dogs and those with other dogs.

"Based on previous allergy studies conducted here at Henry Ford, exposure to a dog early in life provides protection against dog allergy development. But the idea that you can buy a certain breed of dog and think it will cause less allergy problems for a person already dog-allergic is not borne out by our study," senior author Christine Cole Johnson, chair of the hospital's public health sciences department.

Veterinarians Concur

Dr. Bernadine Cruz, former spokeswoman for the American Veterinary Medical Association told Scientific American, “There’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat or dog…..Every person will have his or her own degree of reactivity to certain dogs — their saliva and proteins in their bodies.” Some people, she pointed out, will have reactions to poodles (supposedly low-allergy dogs) and not to German Shepherds.

Many people mistakenly believe that pet fur is the source of dog allergies and therefore think that short-haired dogs, or those that don’t shed very much, produce fewer allergens. However, even hairless breeds can cause a problem with allergy sufferers as the allergens are in the saliva and excreted through the skin. Tiny dried particles of skin called dander then flake off, become airborne and adhere to walls, clothing and other surfaces. Hair simply becomes another carrier, not the source of the problem.

What if I want to keep my pet?

Before you decide to give up the family pet, experts say you can greatly reduce the pet allergen load in your home with the following measures:  (Note:  Many of these tasks (cleaning home or pet) should be performed by someone who is not allergic to dogs. If that’s not an option, wear a mask, long sleeves, long pants and rubber gloves to minimize exposure.)

• Keep your dog outside, in the garage, or in a part of the home with an uncarpeted floor.
• The bedroom (of the person with a dog allergy) should be “off-limits” to the family dog. Close the bedroom door and air vents to the bedroom. (As much as one-third to one-half of a person’s life is spent in the bedroom.) Clean the bedroom thoroughly if the dog was once allowed in this room. (Steam clean carpets and upholstery and clean curtains and walls, etc. or remove carpet and fabrics.)
• In other parts of the home, replace wall to wall carpet with hardwood floors or tile and scrub the walls and woodwork. Keep surfaces clean and uncluttered. Bare floors and walls are best.
• Don’t let your dog climb or rest on furniture, especially upholstered furniture.
• Give your dog a bath regularly (per advice from your veterinarian), and wipe him down with a wet cloth or hand towel daily.
• Use dog bedding that is washable in warm water and wash or replace it weekly or whenever the dog is bathed.
• Remove clothing worn after grooming or playing with pets. Place clothing exposed to animal dander in the laundry room or hamper for washing in warm water.
• Vacuum frequently with a HEPA-equipped vacuum cleaner.
• Purchase a HEPA room air cleaner for use in the bedroom and/or other parts of the home (it is best to keep the HEPA filter off of the floor so as to not stir up more dust) Whole home HEPA filtration systems are also available.
• Follow house dust mite avoidance precautions

Sources:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Scientific American

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

WebMD