Hypoallergenic dogs are they actually?

[trexmama]

Hi all
After some advice/ guidance
We got a puppy last month he was an absolute dream dog we loved him so much my son was unfortunately allergic and ended up In a&e with some facial puffiness we assumed it was hayfever but the doctors told us it was likely the puppy as this had been a sudden reaction that was getting gradually worse , i contacted the breeder and she took him back and refunded us our money.. we are missing the puppy so much and don't feel complete without him. I would really love to add a puppy to our family my son loved the puppy so much and is understandably heartbroken as are my other children and DH , myself.
So my question is are hypoallergenic dogs actually hypoallergenic? Has anyone been in this situation an went on the get a dog? Or are our dreams of being a dog owning family over 🥺😭

Just to add he had other symptoms too it wasn't just the puffiness I mentioned that as this was the reason for the a&e visit.

My understanding is that there is no such thing and although you can get breeds that don't shed hair you can still be allergic to their saliva or dander.

I think it's rarely the fur that people are allergic to, it's the skin cells 'dander' or the saliva.

So no, there's no dog which is 'hypoallergenic' and there never will be.

there is no such thing unfortunately
there are some breeds that shed less fur but as pp says the dander and saliva can cause allergic reactions as well.
in addition dogs with an oily coat (retrievers, cockers etc) bring in pollen that sticks to their fur.
sad story all around

I hope your ds is on the mend

NO.

I was very allergic to dogs as a child. However I now have a dog a border terrier. They are wire haired so she’s very little but not necessarily hypoallergenic.
I can still sometimes get a reaction if she licks my arm or neck , I get itchy

It depends on what he's allergic to. Some people react to different fur types eg fluffy ones are fine for me but staffie coats which have a level of "grease" makes my eyes itch.

It really depends. Some coats like a poodles are less likely to set it off, but if its saliva etc then it won't help.

Be very warey of any crosses eg doodles as there is no uniformity in the coat so your pup might be closer to the non allergenic coat

We've had no problem with our Yorkie. They don't have 'fur' it's nearer human hair.

our doodle sheds quite a lot, tho she's meant to be hypoallergenic. So I'd be careful. My crew are allergic to cats but not (so far) to dogs.

DH's family bought a puppy when he was a kid and he and his sister were so badly allergic to it, they had to return it to the breeder. A few years later they got a Lhasa Apso and as they don't cast, he and his sister suffered no allergic reaction at all.

We’ve got a westie and my son is fine with her but my brother has a border collie and within half an hour of being in his house he starts wheezing and has sore eyes etc.

I think there's so many variables.

I have issues with most dogs, we researched hugely and went for a mixed breed of two "hypoallergenic" dogs. It was a risk, but my allergy is mainly annoying, rather than risky.

I'm fine with ours, a bit sniffly initially but nothing major - settled within a week or so.

Her brother lives with a member of our family - his coat is very different! He makes me sneeze, he sheds etc ours doesn't.

So we were lucky really, I'm not convinced there is one breed guaranteed to be fine

Thanks everyone
Does anyone know if there is a way to allergy test for dog allergy? He has always been fine with grandparents dogs that shed a fair bit I think the state he was in upon visiting a&e did we jump the gun as soon as the doctors said it was likely the puppy I don't know. We are deeply upset about this situation the way it has turned out the puppy was much wanted and planned for over a year. X

afaik there is no specific test.
I get different reactions to different dogs though.
for me spaniels seem to be the worst, they trigger asthma for me.
some dogs I can spend some time with (poodle) but would not be able to stay the night.
and if a dog licks be it's asthma& hives no matter the dog...

No, and the danger is you can’t be sure until you get that specific puppy so unless you want to keep getting and returning them there’s no way of knowing

to be frank: you can't have a dog
living with constant allergic reactions is miserable when you can't avoid them. why would you expose you child (or anyone really) to that deliberately?

Puppies tend to be quite licky/mouthy and jump in for face kisses than many adult dogs so if saliva could possibly why it is better with grandparents dog, and maybe more limited exposure times.

May find over time what things trigger his allergies off and perhaps like others it won't be all dogs . My friend had a cat & dog as a child but as an adult had allergies around them, she was able to manage it with antihistamines and washing hands/not rubbing face. She did get a dog with partner and her allergies did settle with that particular dog, but as adult she could accept the risks, but I don't think she ever bad enough need to go to A&E.

What kind of dog was it?

our doodle sheds quite a lot, tho she's meant to be hypoallergenic. So I'd be careful

People don’t seem to get that crossing a hypoallergenic dog (poodle) with a non- hypoallergenic one isn’t going to give a puppy that is hypoallergenic. It will likely have a combination of the two parent coat types, so the allergens will still be present.

If you actually have allergies best to stick with a pure bred- yorkie, poodle etc that are known to be less likely to trigger a reaction and the coat is a known quantity.

@Reallyreallyborednow there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Some may shed less but it’s often not fur people are allergic to.

Yes, i know. I’m speaking relatively- you’re less likely to be allergic to a “hypoallergenic” or non shedding, or hairy vs furry dog. There’s never a guarantee

I think the best option is to look into breeds known to be less allergenic eg poodles, Yorkies, bichons etc.

I’d find a breeder, explain what happened and explain you desperately want a dog but are worried DS will react, ask to see if they would be happy for you to visit and just spend time talking to them and stroking their dogs to see if DS is allergic.

I have a diagnosed dog allergy. I spent a couple of years researching the breed and going to dog shows so I could get as up close and personal as possible to as many dogs of that breed as I could.

I am very allergic to cats. My family all loved cats and I spent my whole childhood feeling tired ill and having constant reactions. I was so pleased when I left home and was finally normal again. I couldn't believe how much it takes out of you every single day. Please think about it from the allergic persons POV. A dog is a nice to have, not a necessity.

I agree, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.

Your best bet would be to get in touch with breeders of "fluffy" non shedding breeds as suggested by other posters. Please avoid any type of cross breed as you just don't know what you'll get.
Explain your predicament and ask if your family can meet the dogs and spend some time with them. A good breeder will be happy to do this.
Also, keep in mind that a puppy coat is different from the adult coat. It might be better to take on a dog that is a 1+ years old.
The breed I suggest is a Chinese Crested, I know not everyone's cup of tea, but probably a better match than all other breeds combined!

I was fine with my cocker spaniel, Westies weren't brilliant but survived with them and anything short haired like staffies I can't go near.