Pets and Allergies: Sharing a Home When Someone Sneezes

Pet allergies are triggered by proteins in skin flakes (dander), saliva and urine, not just hair, so no dog or cat breed is truly hypoallergenic. Spend time with the animal before committing, see a doctor for testing and advice, and cut allergens at home with a pet-free bedroom, a vacuum with a HEPA filter, washable bedding and hard floors where you can.

What Causes Pet Allergies

People with pet allergies react to proteins the animal makes. They are found in skin flakes (dander), saliva and urine, and they stick to hair, furniture, carpets and clothes. That's why allergies can flare even in a room where no pet is present.

Cats and dogs are the best known, but rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses and birds can also trigger allergies. If sneezing, itchy eyes or breathing problems come on around animals, see your doctor; some people with asthma find pets make it worse.

The Hypoallergenic Myth

Breeds that shed less, such as poodles and their crosses, are often sold as "hypoallergenic". Allergy experts, including the Mayo Clinic, say no dog breed is allergen-free, and one study found allergen levels in the homes of so-called hypoallergenic dogs were no lower than in other homes. The same goes for cats.

Individual animals vary, and a smaller dog sheds less dander than a large one. But the only way to know how you react to a particular animal is to spend time with it.

Before You Get a Pet

See your doctor if anyone in the household has allergies or asthma. They can test for specific allergies and explain ways to manage them.
Spend real time with the type of animal, and ideally the individual animal, several times before committing.
Ask about trial or foster arrangements; some rescues offer them.
Plan the house rules in advance, such as a pet-free bedroom.

Rehoming a pet because of allergies is hard on everyone, so it's worth getting this right first. See choosing a pet.

Allergy-Friendly Home Kit

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A vacuum with a HEPA filter, a HEPA air purifier for the main living room, washable pet beds and throws, and a grooming glove for brushing outdoors all help reduce allergens.

Cutting Allergens at Home

Make the bedroom pet-free: the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology suggests it, along with washing bedding in hot water.
Vacuum often with a HEPA-filter vacuum, and choose hard floors and washable rugs over wall-to-wall carpet where you can.
Wash pet bedding and throws regularly.
Groom outdoors, ideally by someone without allergies.
Wash your hands after handling pets, and before touching your face.
Clean cages and litter regularly, ideally by someone without allergies, as small-pet bedding and hay can also trigger symptoms.

A HEPA air purifier can help, but furniture and carpets hold a lot of dander, so cleaning matters most.

Frequently Asked Questions

What people with allergies ask about pets.

Are any dogs really hypoallergenic?

No. Allergy experts say no breed is allergen-free. Some people react less to certain individual animals, so spend time with a dog before committing.

Is it the hair that causes allergies?

Not exactly. The proteins are in dander, saliva and urine. Hair carries them around the home.

Can I have a pet if I'm allergic?

Some people with mild allergies manage well with a pet-free bedroom and good cleaning. Talk to your doctor first, especially if you have asthma.

Do air purifiers help with pet allergies?

A HEPA air purifier can help, but dander builds up in furniture and carpets, so regular cleaning matters more.