STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- People who love pets but have allergies to dogs or cats often wonder if a “hypoallergenic” breed might make sense for them
- Despite the hype, research suggests there’s no truly hypoallergenic dog or cat
- The good news: there are many things you can do to minimize pet allergens in your home for the comfort of sensitive family members
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), between 10% and 20% of people worldwide are allergic to cats and/or dogs.1 Because these two types of pets are so popular and add so much to our lives, people with allergies often seek out “hypoallergenic” breeds, believing or hoping they won’t trigger the dreaded sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, and other allergic symptoms.
Do Hypoallergenic Pets Actually Exist?
All cats and dogs produce a number of allergenic proteins in their saliva, dander, and shed skin. Animals deemed hypoallergenic may not shed much or be hairless, but it might not mean much to an allergic human.
According to veterinarian Dr. Sandra Koch at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, dogs can produce allergens in their blood, prostate, and anal glands, and cats make allergens in their skin oil glands, anal glands, blood, and male cats produce them in urine.2
Salivary allergens are a special problem because as cats and dogs groom themselves, they spread these proteins all over their body. These compounds can also hang around in the air for several days, per Koch.
If you have a sensitivity to these proteins, it’s likely your immune system will respond to them as if they’re bacteria or viruses, resulting in allergic symptoms.
The truth is that the existence of hypoallergenic dogs and cats is mostly a myth, since researchers have yet to uncover scientific evidence to prove the theory. A 2011 study concluded that the amount of dog allergens found in households with dogs does not vary depending on the breed.3 In other words, families with so called “hypoallergenic” pets are living with the same level of allergens in their homes as people with non-hypoallergenic pets.
Study researchers measured the level of the most common dog allergen, Canis familiaris 1, or Can f 1, found in the homes of 173 families that owned one dog. Out of the 173 samples, only 10 had less than measurable amounts of Can f 1. No matter what type of dog was in the home, there was no significant difference in the level of allergens measured. The researchers concluded:
“There was no evidence for differential shedding of allergen by dogs grouped as hypoallergenic. Clinicians should advise patients that they cannot rely on breeds deemed to be ‘hypoallergenic’ to in fact disperse less allergen in their environment. Additional scientific investigation into dog-specific factors and whether hypoallergenic breeds truly exist is warranted.”
An estimated 10% of Americans are allergic to household pets, and cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies. Most people with cat allergies react to Fel d 1, a protein found on cat skin (although as noted above, there are other cat allergens as well found on the fur and in saliva).4
The Fel d 1 protein is quite small, so when it’s attached to a piece of airborne cat hair or skin, it can linger in the air for hours — much longer than a dog allergen would typically stay airborne. Meanwhile, the Fel d 1 protein is quite sticky, so it readily attaches to clothing and skin, and can even be transferred quite easily to public locations that have no cats present, like a school classroom.
Male cats tend to produce more of this allergenic protein than female cats, especially if they’re not neutered. However, all cats (including hairless cats) produce the Fel d 1 protein, and it’s not related to the amount of dander or shedding.
15 Ways to Minimize Pet Allergens at Home
The good news is that most people who are allergic to furry companions find ways to manage that don't involve giving up or going without an animal. The benefits of sharing life with a pet seem to outweigh the bother of mild allergies for most animal lovers. If you're on the fence about whether or not to get a pet, why not consider fostering a dog or cat first to see how things go?
- Feed your pet an anti-inflammatory, nutritionally complete, fresh (preferably raw) species-specific diet — Raw food significantly decreases pets’ allergenicity; their saliva is less reactive, and they shed far less. Ultra-processed dry and canned foods are deficient in DHA and EPA (the critical essential fatty acids that reduce dandruff and excessive shedding), while well-formulated fresh diets contain an abundance of these nutrients. This is my top tip for super-sensitive people and in my experience, the most effective one on this list. It will take rescued pets 3 months on a raw food diet to become less reactive for sensitive humans; be patient.
- Consider making your bedroom (or the bedroom of your allergic family member) a pet-free zone — This means your dog or cat can’t enter the room for any reason.
- Purchase a good quality air purifier to help clean the indoor air of allergens and other pollutants and change filters when recommended.
- To prevent a buildup of allergens inside your home, if possible, replace carpeting with hard flooring, replace drapes and curtains with non-fabric window coverings, and avoid cloth-covered (upholstered) furniture.
- Clean your home often and thoroughly, including any surfaces that trap pet hair and dander (couch covers, pillows, bedding, etc.).
- Wash human and pet bedding frequently in hot water.
- Bathe your pet often using only safe, non-drying organic pet shampoos.
- If your pet rides in the car with you, consider using washable seat covers.
- Sensitive family members should wash their hands after handling a pet — If you’ve been snuggling on the couch with your furry friend, consider a shower and shampoo before lights out to avoid bringing pet allergens to bed with you. If your children roll around on the floor or grass with their animals, they should also bathe or shower and shampoo before bed, so they don't transfer pet allergens onto their pajamas and bedding.
- Allow kids to be kids — Let your children play outside and get dirty, and use regular soap, not antibacterial soap, for hand washing and bathing. Research into the hygiene hypothesis, which is the theory that humans can be too clean for their own good and underexpose their immune systems to common microbes in the environment, has provided compelling evidence that kids exposed to pets before their immune systems are fully developed at around age two are less likely to develop allergies than children without pets in the home.
- Consider taking a probiotic supplement and/or eating traditionally fermented foods — A healthy gut microbiome is important for proper immune system function, and research indicates doses of good bacteria help train the immune systems of infants to resist childhood allergies.
- Also consider taking quercetin, which is a bioflavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. I call it “nature’s Benadryl” because it suppresses the release of histamine, which is what causes much of the inflammation, redness, and irritation characteristic of an allergic response.
- Bromelain and papain are proteolytic enzymes that increase the absorption of quercetin and suppress histamine production — I recommend using quercetin, bromelain, and papain together because they suppress the release of prostaglandins, which are also a factor in the inflammatory process.
- Omega-3 fatty acids help decrease inflammation throughout the body — One of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids is ethically sourced krill oil. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which helps decrease production of yeast, and together they can help moderate or suppress the inflammatory response.
- Make sure your pet's essential fatty acid requirements are met — By assuring she has optimal levels of omega-3 fatty acids in her diet, you can dramatically reduce shedding and dander.
Reducing the allergen load in your home and minimizing allergic reactions to your pets will help every member of the family, two-legged and four-legged, live more comfortably together.
