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Pets GOOD L I V I NG
FACT OR FICTION? The golden retriever is known for its silky coat—and for rampant shedding, which can aggravate allergies.
Hypoallergenic Pets
Bengal
Schnauzer
Maltese
If you’re allergic to animals (or even your own pet), here’s a plan to help you sneeze less and enjoy them more. (Oh, the things we do for love.) TEXT BY EVELYN BATTAGLIA
MANY OF US GROW UP knowing that dogs or cats make our eyes watery, our throats scratchy, our noses runny. But the telltale signs of a pet allergy can show up later in life, too. Or we may not connect the dots until we adopt one of our own. According to Janna Tuck, an allergist in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, about 10 percent of people have a reaction to dogs or cats (and it’s the dander, saliva, or urine in
their hair that we react to, not the hair itself). If you suspect you’re among them, don’t worry—unless your case is extremely severe, there are ways you can coexist with a furry friend. Tackle your symptoms one step at a time to find a strategy that works. First, see an allergist. You may think it’s not such a big deal if you wheeze whenever you give your pup a good brushing, or if you break out in a rash after a kitty
curls up in your lap. But it’s a good idea to see an expert, who can do some tests (either pricking your skin with about 40 immuneresponse-triggering substances or drawing blood to look for antibodies) to pinpoint exactly what’s causing your reaction. It might be something other than an animal. “About 30 percent of patients tested end up with pet allergies,” says Tuck. “The rest are allergic to dust mites, pollen, mold, or other allergens.” Even if the tests show your
G E T T Y I M AG ES
SCRATCH AND SNIFFLE
The truth about cats and dogs: “No pet is 100 percent hypoallergenic, but there are breeds that allergy sufferers tend to do well with,” says Brandi Hunter, vice president of PR for the American Kennel Club. Good canine options include bichons frisés, Brussels griffons, Malteses, poodles, Portuguese water dogs, schnauzers, and soft-coated wheaten terriers. Consider cats with a short, tight coat, like Bengals (above), Cornish and Devon rexes, Oriental shorthairs, and sphynxes. To be safe, visit an animal for several hours to test for potential sensitivities before you bring her home.
