Best dogs for people with allergies

If you love dogs but hate allergies, you may be tempted to spring for a hypoallergenic pet. However, the only pets proven to be hypoallergenic have scaly skin, just like iguanas or snakes. So if you want furry pet, below is a short list of a few that are touted to be better for people with allergies but are not 100% proven.

You should also remember that sometimes it may appear that a person is allergic to a dog, when it is not the dog they are actually allergic to, but what the dog is exposed to. For example a man who is allergic to dust mites may have a reaction when he is around a dog who sleeps in a dog bed that is dust mite infested. The dust mite feces gets onto the dog's coat and the dog carries it to the that man causing allergic reaction.

Our beds and pillows for dogs are an effecctive protection against allergies

You may think that best dog for people with allergies will be a short-haired dog? No! You’ll find short and long-haired breeds that do well with people with allergies.

It's because as we mention earlier it’s not the dog’s hair per se that causes allergies but it’s the saliva, skin, or other proteins. Allergens can latch on to the hair, so less shedding in general—rather than the length of the hair may be helpful.

Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington terriers have curly, wooly coats with an extra mop on the top of the head, and weigh 17 to 23 pounds.

Chinese Crested
This bred has little to no hair, which again can lower but not eliminate allergens in the home. Chinese crested dogs comes in two versions—hairless, which have hair on the head, feet, and tail and powderpuff, which have a soft coat over the entire body. These dogs weigh about 10–13 pounds.

Kerry Blue Terrier
These bred have a soft, dense coat and weigh 33 to 40 pounds. Originally bred as hunters, they may not do well in households with cats or other small pets,

Labradoodle
Labradoodles are a mix of a poodle and Labrador retriever. The original intent was to produce a seeing-eye dog that was also hypoallergenic.

Ways to Help an Arthritic Dog

Sometimes it happens. The easy run becomes a stiff walk. The jump to a favorite chair is no longer possible. Lying down is accompanied by a deep groan. As our dogs age, things that were once second nature become an effort. Today, thanks to advances in veterinary medicine and companion animal care, many dogs are living much much longer. On the downside, that longevity also increases the odds that they’ll suffer from some form of degenerative joint disease (DJD), or osteoarthritis. There are several types of canine arthritis and we will discuss the method to fight with them.

First, and the most obvious is to take your dog in for regular checkups so that your veterinarian can monitor your pet’s arthritis and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan.

Another advice is to keep your dog slim. This can help by decreasing the load on his joints. You should feed your dog the right amount of high-quality food.

Next - controlled exercise. Make sure you carefully monitor your dog while he plays, walks, or runs. If possible, find a soft surface for activity. As much as possible, keep your dog warm and dry, since cold and damp conditions can aggravate arthritis.

Consider investing in a good dog bed. The ones with VISCO - an orthopaedic foam mat that is dedicated to dogs with arthritis and health problems referring to bones and joints - is a must. The mat’s features will allow your dog to move without any pain and throughout the day.

Mattress with orthopaedic VISCO mat

Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation to a professional animal massage therapist, as massage can increase your dog’s flexibility, circulation, and sense of well-being.

Last but not least - acupuncture.  You may think that is just for people, but is not. This painless technique has shown some success in animals suffering from arthritis.