Are any pets allergen free (or, allergy friendly)?

Question: A pet store owner told me I can get a breed of dog that won't trigger my allergies. Is one breed better than another?

Answer: There appears to be a major dog allergen found primarily in the sebaceous glands in the skin of dogs.

The allergen is very sticky and clings to shed skin and hair. The animal's hair is the carrier, not the source.

Every dog breed that exists shares this allergen. All other warm-blooded animals with fur or hair-rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, horses and cats-produce similar allergens. When animal hair is shed on sofas or carpets, humans pick up the dander when they come in contact with it.

I hear people say, "Well, my dog doesn't bother me, but my brother's does." It's hard to determine how much of this is real and how much is perceived, but there is a minor difference between dog breeds.

Chihuahuas have a lesser amount of the allergen and Golden Retrievers have more. But this is only because one is small and the other quite large. No breed is entirely free of the allergen. Breeds that shed less - like the standard poodle, for example - are not allergen free, but do leave less of it behind.

Theoretically, you could wrap your dog in plastic, leaving its head exposed, to eliminate the effects of allergens, but that isn't very practical. You could get a certain breed to try it out, but it's hard to give up a pet once it lives with you. The best solution is to avoid owning dogs if you find you are allergic to them.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A patient should consult his or her personal physician before changing or considering any medical treatments.

This information has been approved by Hal Nelson, MD (June 2006).