Feb

28

What Are The Best Dogs For People With Allergies?

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So you have just got a new puppy and everything is fine for a few months and your thinking that nobody in the house is allergic to dogs. Than one day you wake up your eyes itchy, and a runny nose but surely it is not caused by your puppy as you have had him for months with no allergy symptoms. The problem is that pet allergies are caused by pet dander. Dander is basically old skin and puppies do not have a lot of old skin. It generally takes months for a puppy to develop dander. During this time you may have been tricked into thinking everything was alright. So what are the best dogs for people with allergies?

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Its estimated roughly 30% of Americans may suffer from pet allergies. With so many having problems it might be wise to play it safe and figure out which are the best dogs for people with allergies. It can be very hard to remove a puppy from the home if you find out later your children can’t cope with their pet allergies symptoms. All dogs produce dander and there is no dog that is truly 100% allergy free the list below of dogs for people with allergies are those that produce far less dander, these dogs are known as hypoallergenic dogs. There are many to chose from both standard and miniature sizes.

Best Dogs For People With Allergies

  • American Hairless Terrier: The terrier breed was originally used to kill rats and other vermin. Pound for pound there is no breed braver, though they can be a little on the hyper side.
  • Airedale Terrier
  • Basenji: Has its origins in Africa as a hunting dog and they tend to be very quite which accounts for their nickname “the barkless dog”.
  • Bedlington Terrier
  • Bichon Frise: Intelligent and people friendly would best describe the Bichon Frise, though grooming is required.
  • Border Terrier
  • Cairn Terrier
  • Havanese: See Bichon Frise as they are closely related.
  • Poodle: The breed comes in various sizes but was used as a retriever so they love to  play fetch but are also happy as a lap dog. Highly intelligent though they do tend to have some breed specific health trouble.
  • Portuguese Water Dog: As the name suggest they are perfectly at home in the water and worked side by side with early fishermen retrieving nets and other tasks. They are very alert and will let you know when the house is being approached but won’t bark needlessly. They require extensive grooming.
  • Shih-Tzu: One of the oldest breeds originating in China. The Shih-Tzu is playful  and friendly though not considered as intelligent as a poodle. They do not require much walking because their size and can have difficulty breathing in very warm weather.
  • Spanish Water Dog: Similar to Portuguese Water Dog.
  • Standard Schnauzer: A working dog first used in herding, very intelligent but a loyal friend. A medium build with a big bark to  scare away any intruders.
  • Tibetan Terrier
  • Labradoodle: The cross breed is relative but popular newcomer who as expected is intelligent and sociable.
  • Italian Greyhound: The speedster of the group, though somewhat small they can run like the wind. They are intelligent though can be a little skid-dish at times, because of their short coat they  are not fond of cold climates.
  • Yorkshire Terrier

Worst Dogs For People With Allergies

Contrary to low dander dogs for people with allergies, these dogs are among those that have the most dander as they renew their skin more than other breeds

  • Cocker Spaniels
  • Hounds
  • German Shepherds
  • Irish setters

Even if you select a hypoallergenic dog or one on the list of dogs for people with allergies  you should still use a air purifier and vacuum with a HEPA filter to eliminate as much dander as possible from your home. Be very careful not to over bath hypoallergenic dogs as their skin can become extremely dry and this could lead to a dander problem.

Take your time when selecting a new dog or puppy the worst thing to do is buy on impulse even though it can be hard to resit walking by the the pet store and that puppy looking back at you.

When picking out your new member of the family don’t forget the most important thing, look for the right breed that fits your family. Do your research!

Feb

28

Cat Allergies and Hypoallergenic Cats

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Cat allergies are caused by a protein found in cat saliva, dander and blood. Most exposure is from cat dander which is really dead skin flakes. The microscopic particles are easily airborne and can migrate quickly through out a house. Cat allergy symptoms are itchy eyes, wheezing, runny nose, and coughing. The symptoms are close to those of other allergies and it can be very hard to tell if your suffering from a cat allergy or some other allergen is causing the problem. Often a person who has another allergy like hay fever will find that their allergy symptoms will become much worse from being exposed to cat dander. The effects of cat dander are cumulative and add up when combined with the exposure to other allergens.

The only solution for those who have a extreme allergic reaction to cat dander is to get rid of the cat. People who have mild to medium reactions to cat dander can often find ways to cope. It helps to confine the cats to certain areas of your house and keep them out of the bedroom. HEPA filters can greatly reduce cat dander levels, both a air purifier and vacuum with a HEPA filter are recommended for people with allergies. Regular vacuuming of carpets, furniture, drapes and other areas where cat dander is found will help. Over the counter medications and allergy shots could also reduce or eliminate cat allergy symptoms. There is hope for cat lovers who have extreme cat allergies.

Science may have the answer for cat allergy suffers as a US biotech company, Allerca has developed a hypoallergenic cat. The cats were not genetically modified as many people believe. The company simply looked for rare cats that did not have the protein that causes allergies and used them for breeding. Since its very rare genetically to find cats without the protein as only 1 in 50,000 cats does not carry the protein it was no easy task. The hypoallergenic cats have taken years to be developed and breed in significant quantities. The initial cost of these kittens has shocked many buyers, each kitten cost just under $4,ooo US. Hopefully the price will come down over time and those who love cats but can’t tolerate their cat allergies will be able to afford them.

Feb

25

Yoga Could Provide Natural Allergy Relief

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Unfortunately many people with allergies get sinus and chest congestion and are unable to do much exercise, especially those which are aerobic. Certain yoga poses and breathing exercises could provide natural allergy relief. The benefit of yoga is that it can massage and relax your lungs making breathing easier. This does not mean that you need to do hours and hours of yoga. If you are turned off by the thought of yoga do not even think of it as yoga but more like doing advanced stretching.


One pose you might try is the fish pose. The benefit of the fish pose is that it stretches the lungs and is fairly easy for the beginner to do. A good breathing exercise which could help in sinus relief is known as the breath of fire. When doing yoga for the first time do not worry if you are not able to do a pose or exercise exactly like it should be done. It takes time for your bodies muscles to learn some poses. You should do them as complete as you can and try to get the spirit of the movement. Never continue to do anything that causes you pain or discomfort. The video below shows the fish pose which is not to hard to do. The second video is of fire breathing.

The best thing to do would be to get professional instruction to get the most benefit. You could also buy a dvd or book to help you if you are to shy to go to a class in person. It is important not to push yourself and to know your own bodies limits. If your immune system has been really beat down its best to avoid any form of exercise including yoga. The best thing to do is give your body the rest it needs so that your immune system can have a chance to rebuild and recover.

Will yoga help you with your allergies? Well maybe, if you are looking for something to provide natural allergy relief its worth a try. Its free and each exercise only takes a few minutes a day to do if you can find ones that help. Nothing works for everyone as everyone’s body is different so you shouldn’t be afraid to try different things or discouraged if they do not work.

Feb

5

Allergy Solutions-Incredible Breakthrough Video

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There are many allergy solutions and pills that claim to be natural allergy cures but tapping or EFT is quicky becoming popular among people with  allergy symptoms. Don’t be afraid to try it, though it might seem a little foolish. There has been a lot of positive feedback among people who have tried EFT. You can do this early in the morning when you first wake up or at the end of the day. Tapping is easy to learn and can be done by anyone. I don’t say the verbal commands aloud, just in my head. Tap hard but do not so hard that it hurts. The basic theory behind tapping is the same as acupuncture. You are tapping on critical points where the bodies “Qi” or energy flow can be adjusted.

Make sure you have enough time to watch the video uninterupted the first time you view it, so you can fully grasp what is happening. After you can perform EFT/Tapping with out using the video.

Though the video is about 18 minutes long once you learn how to do it, I suggest you simplify it so it takes 3 or 4 minutes to do and repeat it a few times if you find it helping your allergy symptoms that involve blockage of the sinus or respiratory systems. Of all the allergy solutions and exercises you come across this is my favorite, hopefully it will help with your allergy symptoms. Tapping was first used for depression and anxiety but has quickly become popular for treating many ailments.