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Many of you may want to welcome pets in your homes but afraid of getting allergies from them.
People tend to catch the allergic reactions from the long furry coated canine pets. But the reality is that no breed of dog is a completely hypoallergenic breed.
You can get allergic reactions from a smooth fur dog as well.
It is a common misconception that the dog’s smooth fur does not cause allergic reactions to their owners.
Many owners of the giant fur coat dogs have experienced major allergy attacks. That why they also want to switch to a short coat dog.
For this reason, French bulldog seems to be a good choice for them in term of allergic reactions. However, they are not totally hypoallergenic.
But, if you or one of your family member has severe allergies, the French Bulldog is not the best choice for you.
For Allergy Sufferers, even a French bulldog’s skin or saliva can cause allergic reactions.
If you are one of them, it is important to consult your family doctor before selecting a breed of dog.
In my opinion, French bulldogs are near perfect because they do not shed as much as other dogs do. However, they have short hair and it is easier for the pet dander to get stuck or get caught in the coat. If you have severe allergies, the French bulldog is not the right breed for you.
If you have a mild to moderate allergies, you may consider keeping this breed of dog as your pet.
But, it is important to understand that the fur is just a carrier.
The main reasons for the allergic reactions are the saliva, dander, urine and feces ( poop ).
What Causes Allergic Reactions In Dog
According to American kennel Club . There are many types of allergies that a dog can suffer from.
Some of them are food allergies, environmental allergies and skin allergies.
All these allergies have different causes and they all trigger differently in a dog.
SKIN ALLERGIES
Skin allergies, also known as allergic dermatitis, are the most common problem for many pets.
The major causes of skin allergies in dogs are
- Flea allergy dermatitis
- Environmental allergens
- Food allergies
Flea allergies in dogs (Flea allergy dermatitis ) is an allergic reaction to fleabites. It is a common skin disease in dogs. Some breeds are extremely allergic to the saliva of fleas.
This can make them extremely irritable and itchy, especially at the end of their tails. Their skin becomes red, inflamed, itchy and swollen. You might even notice their skin being scabbed.
Environment-related allergic reactions are caused by dust, dander, mold and pollen.
However, these environmental allergies are seasonal. You won’t see your dogs irritable due to these allergic reactions throughout the year. Just like the food allergies, the paws and the ears of the dogs become itchy.
Food allergies are reactions to proteins which come from animal or plant-based ingredients of the diet.
When the dogs have food-related allergies, their ears and paws are very itchy. Moreover, can also cause gastrointestinal problems and symptoms in dogs.
FOOD ALLERGIES
Food allergies are not as common as people really think.
Even so, the symptoms of food allergies are Swelling of the face and eyelids, itchiness and hives.
In most cases, dogs can also suffer from diarrhea and vomiting. Vomiting occurs when a dog is suffering from gastrointestinal problems.
Most common allergy-causing foods are eggs, soy milk, chocolate, wine, corn and wheat.
If the food allergy is severe, it can even cause chronic foot and ear infections.
Am I allergic to pets?
If you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms, you are definitely allergic to pets.
Some of the pet allergy symptoms are:
- Sneezing.
- Stuffy or runny nose.
- Nasal congestion or facial pain.
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing.
- Chest tightness.
- Coughing.
- Red or itchy eyes.
- Watery eyes.
- Skin rashes.
To make sure, you can perform allergy tests then you will get the idea of how severe your dog allergy is.
Will A French Bulldog Trigger My Allergies?
A French bulldog will not trigger allergies if you do not have severe pet allergies.
French bulldog has smooth fur. There’s less chance of carrying pet dander in the hair.
That is why, it won’t trigger your allergies until and unless you are very sensitive.
Moreover, hair does not cause all allergies in people.
Sometimes, the urine, skin and saliva of the dog can also trigger allergies in humans.
What Type of Dogs are Hypoallergenic ?
No breed is a totally hypoallergenic breed.
However, dogs with smooth coat fur are half hypoallergenic dogs. Furry coat dogs have a higher chance of causing pet allergies in people than dogs with smooth coat fur.
If I have pet allergies but I still want to get a french bulldog, What should I do?
If you have pet allergies but you love to keep a French bulldog, here is how you can reduce the pet allergic reactions.
Tips to reduce pet allergic reactions
- Avoid hugging or being around the French bulldog a lot. Limit your exposure to your dog.
- Nasal sprays, bronchodilators and antihistamines can help to relieve the symptoms of pet allergic reactions.
- Undergo immunotherapy.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the hair of the dog which he sheds.
- Do regular grooming, bathing and oral hygiene.
- Regularly clean your bedding, furniture linen and heavy curtain drapes .
- Always use high-efficiency particulate-air (HEPA) purifier as well as vent filters. This will ensure dander that gets released onto the air is safely trapped by these filters.
Wrap up.
As said, Frenchie is not a hypoallergenic dog. If you have pet allergies, but still want to get a French bulldog really bad, please talk to your doctor before you adopt it.