The Truth About Pet Allergies

Photo: © Shutterstock

Confusion reigns when it comes to how and why our furry friends make us sneeze and wheeze. Sakina S. Bajowala, MD, a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, sets us straight.

It's not the hair. The allergen is a protein that's found in saliva, urine, oil glands and dead skin cells, so a short-haired dog or hairless cat isn't always "safer."

No pet is completely hypoallergenic.Some animals are bred to have lower levels of certain allergens, but you could be bothered by different ones.

The amount of allergen varies from animal to animal, not by the breed or species. You could play with your sister's schnauzer for hours without so much as a sniffle but break into hives upon meeting your neighbor's.

Bottom line. If you can, try temporarily living with Fluffy before you commit.