american hairless terrier dog

American Hairless Terrier UK
dogs for allergy sufferers from Naked Heart Kennel
How to minimise your allergies. .

The American Hairless Terrier is great for the allergy sufferer: as this dog breed has no hair it is hypoallergenic to most people.

I have allergies to dog hair, but these are minimal with my American Hairless Terriers. I can't be in the same room as coated dogs for too long before I have breathing problems, rashes, sneezing fits and swollen itchy eyes. Cats are even worse for me.

I did have slight allergic reactions to Neo during the first week of coming to live with me, but once I got used to him being around my allergies returned to normal for me. Everyone is different however, some people are hypersensitive and allergies could get worse with time.

quotes. . 25% of all allergies and 50% of all asthmatic diseases are directly traceable to dust mites . .quotes

I do take antihistamine and asthma medications every day to keep my reactions at bay. I have taken asthma medications and antihistamines years before having a dog. I do have a lot of environmental and food allergies, so taking medications was never an issue for me, just a way of life.

I shower twice a day to keep skin irritations down to a minimum and cleaning the house is an every day necessity for me. Along with dander, the proteins from saliva, urine and other body secretions are major sources of dog allergens. If these are left to dry and become airborne they will cause further problems.

american hairless terrier uk dog

In the past I tried to live with a poodle but still had allergic reactions. I also tried a Chinese Crested dog, but still I had bad enough allergic reactions that he had to be re-homed. He is now with my friend on a lovely big farm.

No dog breed can be hypoallergenic, you may have some kind of reaction, so just keep that in mind, it's just how bad your allergic reactions are, and whether or not you can put up with the effects on your health.

You may think it will be ok to just go and get an American Hairless Terrier, but after a while you may think that isn't really worth making yourself ill for, so think carefully before you decide. It's best you try some allergy trials beforehand if you can.

American Hairless Terriers produce the same amount of lubricating skin oil as coated dogs, but with no coat to disperse the oil, it serves another import purpose for those with allergies. Between baths, the oil the dog produces stays on the surface of the skin, and traps the dander that all skin produces. This keeps the dander out of the environment, and making it less of a source of allergen.

If you too are an allergy sufferer, and are thinking about getting an American Hairless Terrier, then you may need to take the following precautions to reduce the amount of allergen build up in your home, and reduce your allergic reactions.

You may need to do all of these jobs at least one a week. Your allergies could be more of a problem if you don't keep up with the regular routines.

1. VACUUM REGULARLY

Regularly vacuum your floors, at least every few days, every day is best. Wipe solid floors over with a damp sponge or cloth and be careful with which detergent you use as some cleaning products can burn your dog's feet. I've even found some cleaning products will make your dog want to wee on the floor. Carpets are not a good idea as they hold grease and dander even after vacuuming. Wooden or ceramic floorings are best; if you have wooden flooring make sure the gaps are filled so the dead skin cells can't fall between the boards to build up and cause problems. With wooden flooring I would say that it does really need to be protected well, if your dog pees on the floor it could soak into it and cause you a reaction.

2. SOFT FURNISHINGS

Keep soft furnishings to a bare minimum: pillows, curtains, blankets will hold dander. If possible, freeze them in a freezer for 10mins to kill of some of the allergens, also wash them every few days. Leather furniture is best as there is less dander build up.

3. KEEP YOUR DOGS OUT OF THE BEDROOM

We spend around a third of our life in the bedroom. So it is even more important that we make this a dander free zone. Experts say that if you can breathe "pure" air for 8 to 10 hours each night, you can probably tolerate more exposure to allergenic substances during the day. Keep your bedroom as free of allergen catchers as possible: the furniture clean and simple; pictures or hanging decorations at a bare minimum; no magazines or newspapers. Nothing under under the bed. No clutter. No bulky drapes. No carpeting, especially deep pile or loop. The more washable surfaces, the better. Because dead skin sticks to clothes, you should undress outside the bedroom. It is also useful to take a shower and either wash or thoroughly brush your hair before going to bed. Under no circumstances are dogs to go into bedrooms. Keep the bedroom doors closed, or put baby gates up, to stop them getting in.

4. BATHE YOUR DOG REGULARLY

Bathe your dog 2-3 times a week or when necessary. The American Hairless Terrier appears to be more tolerant, to being bathed regularly, but keep an eye on their skin and make sure that it does not dry out from to much bathing.

5. NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE

Train your dog to keep off the furniture.

6. KEEP BEDDING CLEAN

Wash your dog's bedding at least once a week, more is better.

7. KEEP YOUR HOME WELL VENTILATED

Keep all rooms well ventilated and try air filters in the room's you spend most time in. Air filters help remove the smallest of airborne particles including pollen, dust, animal hairs, mites, smoke and odours. The HEPA filter is one such filter, originally developed for use in clinical applications and is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers. It filters out 99.97% of particles >0.3 micrometres. This air purifier uses a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter in association with an active carbon filter to remove the smallest of airborne particles including pollen, dust, animal hairs, mites, smoke and odors. Check out one of the web-sites for this product. www.airandwatercentre.com or www.4air.co.uk

8. KEEP YOUR DOGS CLOTHES CLEAN

If your dog wears a coat throughtout the day, it's a must to have a fresh one daily.

9. ANTI-HISTAMINE

For yourself you can take some anti-histamine, or some medication from your doctor to reduce your allergies, but keep in mind they don't always work too well.

10. KEEP YOUR DOGS TOYS CLEAN

Train your dog not to lick you as, it could cause a reaction. Dried saliva can also be a problem for you as it can become airborne, so wash your dogs toys and keep them clean.

You take all these precautions and still be unable to live with a dog. If you are still thinking of getting an American Hairless Terrier then I can help you with the allergy trials, you will need to take. Keep in mind they may not be 100% effective, it's just to give you some sort of idea. I suppose the only way you get the best idea is to live with one.

Hypoallergenic |is the characteristic of producing little or no allergic reaction.

Hypersensitive | abnormally or excessively sensitive in character.

Histamine | a body substance formed from histidine that stimulates gastric secretions and dilates blood vessels; released by the human immune system during allergic reactions

Antihistamine | a medicine used to treat allergies and hypersensitive reactions and colds; works by counteracting the effects of histamine.

Dander | is not the hair or fur of the animal, but is old skin scales which are constantly shed. Animal dander is extremely light weight and can stay airborne for hours.Animal dander is not the hair or fur of the animal, but is old skin scales which are constantly shed. Animal dander is extremely light weight and can stay airborne for hours.

Allergen | any substance that can cause an allergy

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