What if you are traveling for the holidays?
If you are allergic to cats or dogs and are visiting friends or family with these pets, make sure that you take all appropriate medications to ensure that your condition remains under good control. Be aware that cat and dog allergens can be transported through clothing, so minimize the amount of allergens that you bring home by isolating and washing exposed clothing accordingly.
We've heard a lot about hypoallergenic dogs recently. Are there some dogs that might cause fewer allergic reactions?
There are a lot of misconceptions about this subject that could lead to detrimental consequences. The fact is that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed. All dogs and cats produce allergenic proteins that can be found in their dander, saliva and even urine, regardless of their breed or the characteristics of their hair - or lack thereof. Recent news reports of pet pundits proposing "hypoallergenic breeds" ranging from the Portuguese water dog to the Peruvian hairless dog for the future First Family can be misleading. The American Kennel Club even conducted a poll to elect the presidential pet for Malia Obama, who has asthma and allergies, and the poodle won. That is really ironic because a study by French scientists found that, compared to other breeds, poodles had the highest level of allergenic proteins in their dander. One key finding was the significant variability of levels of allergens from individual dogs within the same breed. The answer then is that some dogs may produce more - or less - allergens than others simply as part of their individual nature.
What advice would you give to someone who is experiencing symptoms of allergies?
The first step is to identify the specific allergens to which you are sensitive, if any, through a needle-free allergy skin test. This standardized test is simple and shows the results in 20 minutes. Based on these results, the three approaches to consider may include avoidance measures, use of medications that are either used daily to control your condition or used as needed to relieve breakthrough symptoms, and allergen immunotherapy that would take several months to take effect but can provide long-term benefits.
Holly Selby is a former editor for The Baltimore Sun.
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