Life with Kids with Dog Allergies

So the only thing you can do is keep the dog at home and manage the dog allergies of the child. It is quite a challenging task to have dogs and children having dog allergies in the same house. It is possible to effectively control a child's allergies to dogs. This is a welcome news for the family since the kids become so much attached to the pet dog over a period of time they would not like to give it up.

The Cause of Dog Allergies

The reasons for child dog allergies are proteins produced by the dog; these proteins exist in dog dander, urine, blood and saliva.  However, the major harmful allergen is the protein called Can f 1 which is primarily found in dog saliva.

Unlike cat allergen, which is found in the dander from sebaceous glands in the skin, the skin of dogs is not a major source of Can f 1. Dog albumin, a protein found in the blood, is also an important allergen, and may cross-react with albumin from other mammals, including cats.

People commonly believe that the dog fur causes dog allergies.  However the truth of the matter is that the dog fur is not an allergenic substance; but the allergenic substances carried by the dog in the hair are the problem. However, for kids with dog allergies this is not a major problem.

Managing Kids and Dog Allergies

Although allergy medications are meant to give relief for kids with dog allergies, it is not advisable for your child to take these medicines on a continuous basis. In case you have decided to keep the dog in your home it is absolutely essential that you manage the dog allergic reactions of your child without using the medication constantly. If you have more than one dog at home, allergy medications may not prove effective.

One of the treatments for kids with dog allergies is allergy shots; however this requires the doctor’s or allergist’s approval. Hence, you should consult your doctor on this.

The saliva of the dog contains the most allergenic substance and the first step in controlling dog allergy is to limit the contact between the child and dog’s saliva. To facilitate this you should do the following two things.

	Train the dog not to lick or kiss anybody including your allergic child
	Teach your child to keep away from dog’s saliva

In order to minimize exposure to airborne dog allergens you should do the following things; this will help in the management of dog allergic reactions of your child.

	Spaying (removing the ovaries of the dog) or neutering the dog will affect the Can f 1 production
	Dogs should be kept out of allergic children's bedrooms by limiting the dog's area in the house
	Use encasing dust covers on mattresses and upholstered furniture
	Wash child bedding frequently in hot water
	As far as possible keep the outside the house
	Bathe the dog every week
	Brush dog once to thrice a week
	Use an allergen-reducing pet grooming product, such as an emollient that helps clean away pet allergens trapped in the dog and its fur
	On days when the dog is not bathed wipe the dog down with a wet cloth
	Vacuum the house daily using a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner
	Use household air cleaners/filters
	Steam clean furniture and carpets
	Remove wall-to-wall carpeting and replace with hard flooring
	Keep dogs off furniture and never allow them to sleep on your child's bed
	Replace filters in heating, cooling, and air conditioning units regularly
	Have child wash hands and face after playing with the dog, and change clothing when practical

Allergy-Free Dog Breeds?

The veterinarians debate whether any of the breeds of dogs is hypoallergenic; in practice it is found that some of the dogs are better than the rest for kids with dog allergies. The reasons for this are as follows:

	They shed less fur
	They require frequent bathing and grooming
	They salivate less

The following breeds of dogs should be considered if you wish to own a dog when your child has a dog allergy:

	poodles or poodle mixes
	Portuguese water dog
	Irish water spaniels
	schnauzers
	Soft-coat Wheaten Terriers
	Yorkshire Terriers
	Kerrie blue Terriers
	Maltese (does not shed)
	Shih Tzu's
	Lhasa Apsos

Managing child with dog allergies is possible by having proper controls; however the ultimate objective is the well-being of the child. In case the symptoms go beyond control or the child’s breathing is affected you should consult the doctor for other avenues of treatment.