Picking an Allergy-Free Dog

Series Summary

As "man's best friend," there is a welcomed obligation for pet owners to care for their dogs, and every pet owner knows that this can be a full-time job. Dogs lovingly weave their way into families, and much like a child that encounters the occasional accident, dogs can find their way into trouble as well. With that in mind, it's important to take care of dogs through grooming, veterinarian visits, health, nutrition, exercises and proper training. A healthy and happy dog makes for a happy pet owner. In this free video series on pet care, an experienced veterinarian discusses canine diseases and their treatments. Find out how to treat a dog with various types of worms, and get information on caring for a dog with dry or itchy skin. Understand the importance of maintaining a dog's dental health, and find out what diseases can originate in the nails of the dog's feet. Keep a pet dog healthy for a longer, more fulfilling life.

Video Transcript

"What we're going to talk about is picking out an allergy free dog. The term allergy free may not truly exist, because allergies to people from animals can be multi-factoral. It can be from the skin itself, oils in the skin, hair, a number of factors, and so, allergy free may not always be possible. But there are some breeds that are much less allergenic than other ones. For instance, Poodles, Schnauzers, Chinese Cresteds, and hairless breeds are typically known for being hypoallergenic. And so, the AKC has a registered list of breeds that are typically found to be less allergenic to people. Consult your dermatologist, an allergist, that's one way to deal with that, is to find out what their recommendation is as well. And always try to spend time with a breed or a puppy of that breed first, instead of adopting and just jumping right into it, to make sure that you're not having any allergic symptoms toward it, and that it would be safe to keep in your household before you actually go ahead and adopt it. And so, consulting AKC's online list will help you as well, but there are breeds that tend to be a little less problematic for people with allergies."