What makes a dog hypoallergenic? The short answer is little to no shedding. The hypoallergenic dog is one of those urban myths that everybody believes in but that isn’t actually true. A hypoallergenic dog is simply a dog that isn’t as bad on an allergy sufferer as other dog breeds.
What is a Hypoallergenic Dog
A hypoallergenic dog is just a dog that sheds very little or not at all. All dogs are allergenic to a certain degree. The shedding – or lack of it – is what makes a dog hypoallergenic. For example, a Husky has a double coat and is a heavy shedder. This makes it highly allergenic, whereas a Maltese doesn’t shed at all, which makes it a highly hypoallergenic dog breed.
Why is Shedding Such a Problem
Shedding itself isn’t the problem. It’s what’s attached to the fur that’s so bad. The allergic properties of dogs are found in their urine, saliva, and skin cells. Even the cleanest dog will most likely get some urine on its fur, and dogs – just like cats – can only clean themselves with their tongues. So you’ve already got urine and saliva on the fur. When that fur sheds, skin cells are shed along with it. So what you end up with is allergen fur flying around your home. That fur gets into your mouth, eyes, and nose – all the places that are REALLY good for making your allergies go into overdrive.
So a Hypoallergenic Dog is Just a Dog that Doesn’t Shed?
Yep. That’s it. A hypoallergenic dog just doesn’t shed. The great thing about that is that just by not shedding, these dogs make allergies far less of a problem, and there are dozens of breeds ranging in size from toy breeds to giant breeds. There’s a hypoallergenic dog for every dog lover out there. You can refer to the article, Hypoallergenic Dogs for Adoption, for a complete list of all the hypoallergenic dog breeds out there.
There you have it. What makes a dog hypoallergenic? Simply a lack of shedding. The amazing thing is that this one variation from other dog breeds makes it possible for allergy sufferers like me to actually have a dog! I’ve had Maltese and Shih Tzus for years because of this. They’re my two favorite breeds for their personality and for the fact that they don’t make me feel like I’m dying. Follow the link I left for you in the paragraph above and start exploring the wonderful world of hypoallergenic dog breeds. It’s pretty awesome.
Does that help answer the question about what makes a dog hypoallergenic? Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions!
