If you’re allergic to dogs but also love dogs, you may have been desperately searching for a hypoallergenic dog. There are a variety of breeds that many people believe are hypoallergenic, but it’s important to understand what causes allergies to dogs before you decide on a breed. One breed that may be less likely to irritate allergies is the Cairn Terrier. Does this mean that this breed is hypoallergenic? Here’s what you need to know!
Are Cairn Terriers Hypoallergenic?
Unfortunately, the Cairn Terrier is not hypoallergenic. However, they may be less likely to irritate allergies than other breeds. To understand why, you need to understand what part of a dog stimulates your immune system to overreact and produce an allergy response.
What Causes Dog Allergies?
Many people believe that dog hair irritates allergies, which is why so many low-shedding dog breeds are often marketed as hypoallergenic. The truth is that allergies to dogs are caused by the proteins in dander, or dead skin cells, urine, and saliva. This means that any dog has the potential to irritate your allergies.
Low shedding dog breeds may be less likely to irritate allergies because they shed less dander in the process of shedding their coat. High shedding breeds may shed more dander simply because more of their coat is coming out at any given time. Although the Cairn Terrier may irritate your allergies less than some other breeds, just coming into contact with their saliva, parts of their body that they’ve licked, parts of their body that have come into contact with their urine, or their urine itself can irritate your allergies.
How to Manage Allergies with a Dog in the House
Although it takes extra work, some people are able to successfully manage their allergies with a dog in the house. Obviously, over-the-counter and prescription medications can help reduce allergy symptoms. There are steps you can take within your home to decrease irritants in the environment as well.
Frequently washing any linens your dog comes into contact with, whether they’re your linens or your dog’s bed, can help decrease the irritating proteins in your home. Keeping your dog off of furniture or reserving specific locations, like your bed, as dog-free zones can help reduce the allergens in specific areas.
Sweeping, dusting, and mopping can all reduce allergens in the environment. The trick here is ensuring you aren’t doing this too little or too much. Overcleaning can lead to constant exposure to allergens in the environment, which may make your symptoms worse. Under cleaning means that you’ll be exposed to greater quantities of allergens at a time, which can also make your symptoms much worse.
The simplest solution to dealing with dog allergens is to make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling your dog. Also, consider changing your clothes if you’ve been holding or snuggling with your dog.
Final Thoughts
While the Cairn Terrier may not be hypoallergenic, they may be less likely to irritate your allergies than some other breeds are. If you decide to bring a dog into your home, there are things you can implement to help reduce the allergens in the environment. Staying on top of keeping things clean and washing your hands regularly are fantastic ways to reduce the allergens in your home.
Featured Image Credit: everydoghasastory, Shutterstock
