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So-called hypoallergenic dogs are no less likely to make you sneeze than other dogs, a new study says.
It's widely believed that hypoallergenic dogs produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur, making them a healthier choice for people with allergies. But a team at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found no scientific evidence that hypoallergenic dogs produce fewer allergens.
The researchers examined dust samples from 173 homes with 60 different breeds of dogs, including 11 breeds considered hypoallergenic. Samples were collected from the floor or carpet of the baby's bedroom one month after a newborn was brought home, and only from homes with just one dog.
Research on hypoallergenic dogs
Researchers then analysed the dust samples for the dog allergen Can f 1. There were no significant differences in allergen levels between homes with hypoallergenic dogs and those with other dogs.
The study is published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy.
"Based on previous allergy studies conducted here at Henry Ford, exposure to a dog early in life provides protection against dog allergy development. But the idea that you can buy a certain breed of dog and think it will cause less allergy problems for a person already dog-allergic is not borne out by our study," senior author Christine Cole Johnson, chair of the hospital's public health sciences department, said.
While the sample size did not allow the researchers to test specific breeds, they said parents should not choose a pet based on hypoallergenic classifications.
(Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.)
