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Hi! I read on a website that OES were hypoallergenic. This seemed a little fishy because of their amount of hair but I wanted to check it out anyway. Are they? Thanks for youe help  |
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Keeping in mind that "hypo" allergenic does not mean "non" allergenic it is said that OES are less allergenic than many breeds. Because of the type of hair they have they shed less than many breeds. This may result in a lower allergic response for some people.
However, for most people the allergen that causes the problem is dander and OES are not dander free. So while many people with mild allergies to dogs are able to tolerate OES without difficulty anyone with a severe dog allergy needs to be very cautious.
If someone with a severe dog allergy were considering an OES I would encourage them to spend time in the home of someone who owns one to see just what their allergic response might be. |
Judging from the number of OES surrendered to rescue because a family member is allergic to them, no, they are not "hypoallergenic".
Some people are more sensitive than others to dog dander, etc., I don't think any dog is truly hypoallergenic. |
People are not allergic to animal hair: they are allergic to animal dander and saliva.
I specifically decided to get an OES because, as a breed, they have a relatively low level of dander. There are mild animal allergies, including dog allergies in my family and I did not want to get a dog that we would have to give up because of allergies. So far (and it's been 16 years of OES now), no one has had any real issues.
They don't shed very much in the conventional sense: their dense coat shed but the hairs catch on other hairs until they are brushed out in huge mounds of dog hair.
I do think that the coat comes into play because it is more likely that they will bring plant allergens into the home with their coat.
The other thing to keep in mind is that even within a breed, there is a lot of variety. Just as some humans seem to put out a lot more dander than others, so do individual dogs within a breed. Mine have relatively low dander: I rarely, if ever see any tiny specks of anything (that isn't obviously outside dirt--or big chunks of dirt, leftover food, etc.) The same goes with hair: I currently have 3 and they all shed different amounts of hair. With 3 large OES, you'd think my house would be full of hair since I am not a particularly good housekeeper, but that's not really the case. If you wear black at my house, you will surely notice a few hairs on your clothing, but you won't be covered.
If I were a fussy housekeeper, I would probably bypass OES because they tend to bring in a lot of leaves, grass, etc, on their coat and also because they are messy when wet, or after they drink water. |
| A friend of ours was very allergic to our first OES. |
| I guess the best response is to spend time with and adult OES and see how that goes. GOOD LUCK! |
smile! wrote:
Hi! I read on a website that OES were hypoallergenic. This seemed a little fishy because of their amount of hair but I wanted to check it out anyway. Are they? Thanks for youe help |
I'd disregard any website that says any dog is hypoallergenic. There's no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog. Some dogs are less likely to affect allergies but no breed is a sure thing. |
| Exactly. Every animal has dander (even us two leggeds) to some degree and since it is the dander and not hair, that triggers most allergies, that is what you have to consider. |
If you're thinking about getting a dog and anyone in the household has allergies, be sure that person is given ample opportunity to spend time with dogs of that breed (ideally with a breeder where you can also ask questions, but a friend with that breed of dog would do in a pinch). Make sure that you're only exposing the person to one allergen at a time - no two-breed households, places where people smoke, etc...
Case in point - I have a diagnosed dog allergy. It's terrible with GSD and poodles (rumoured to be hypo-allergenic), manageable with retrievers and spaniels and nearly non-existent with OES. The only time I have trouble is when I forget to mist Barkley's coat when I'm brushing him out. So, it really comes down to the individual person and individual dog/breed. There is some variability within every breed - I've been pretty good with a few std. poodles - but from visiting with a breeder you should be able to get a pretty good idea of your response. |
Maggie McGee IV wrote:
Judging from the number of OES surrendered to rescue because a family member is allergic to them, no, they are not "hypoallergenic".
Some people are more sensitive than others to dog dander, etc., I don't think any dog is truly hypoallergenic. |
Nita - I think, and I suspect you suspect this too  , those numbers may be a wee bit inflated by using allergies as an excuse - with apologies to people who genuinely have dog allergies - and, yes, that can include to this breed.
I think there are two sub-groups of people who are allergic to OES: those who are allergic to their dander and so on, and those who belatedly discover they are allergic to the tremendous amount of work and committment it takes to own one (or more) 
For both of those reasons it pays to spend copious amounts of time with the breed beforehand if at all possible. Surely there are forum members across the world would be willing to dedicate their dogs as loaners for people interested in the breed: preferably their adolescents (you know, five years old and younger) with a tenuous understanding of "get off! don't jump! come! stop digging! stop chasing the cat! get off the counter!" and similar commands, and who have been tested to carry the pig gene.
I can donate at least two of mine for upper mid-west test-runs. Two hours with Sybil should save rescue a lot of hard work down the road
Kristine |
Actually, using the "my kids are allergic to the dog" excuse has only been used a couple of times here. We did have a family with an extremely sensitive five year old son and they did everything they could do before finally surrendering their OES. It was quite heartbreaking. I've found that people are usually honest and say the dog is too rough with the children or they can no longer afford such a high-maintenance breed as the top reasons for surrendering an OES.
Regardless of whether it's a made up excuse to justify surrender of an OES or not, they are not hypoallergenic and I hate when people use that as an excuse to promote the breed. This is, after all, the reason so many "designer" dogs are being produced. |
| I have allergys more to the salvia, they learn not to lick me and I am fine...but my mom has schnauzers and they bother my way more? One of my daughter friends had to take meds before coming here .... but we also have cats.. could be them? I just keep clean house.. NO carpets is a big thing. |
I have (mild) allergies to dust and...? It can't be my dogs (right? ). I tell my cat it must be him. He says: "So, what's your point?"
Kristine |
My mother has severe allergies to dog and cat and other animal dander.
She was instructed by both vets and allergy doctors, that it is the dander that she is allergic to. A bath once a week or once every two weeks should be good, according to the "experts".
A big warning: My mother now looks like a monster. Her cocker loves to run through a "flower bed" in the backyard. Apparently either her or the other dog decided to bring her a BIG present: POISON IVY!
She's contracted it through the dogs, and now it is quickly spreading everywhere. (She's cleaning it up and has seen a couple of doctors.)
Just a BEWARE! |
| I find when a doctor can't find the source of an allergy they point to the dog or cat immediately. When my daughter was 12 the doctor told us to get rid of our OES Daisey...she refused of course and said she'd take medicine the rest of her life. We did try to keep Daisey out of her room but she would sneak her in anyway. Still don't think it was the dog...same doctor wanted us to pull all carpet up, take window curtains down, etc...my daughter said it was a nuisance but not worth changing life so much. If someone knows they are allergic to pet dander they definitely should spend time with the dog/cat before committing. Once you fall in love with your pet getting rid of them is just not an option. |
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If someone knows they are allergic to pet dander they definitely should spend time with the dog/cat before committing. Once you fall in love with your pet getting rid of them is just not an option.
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So true. I have found with my allergies that I seem to build up a tolerance to my own pets, but will have an occasional flare up for various reasons. If my husband is really giving the dog or cat a good scratching that stirs up the dander, he has to stop or I have to leave the room and head for the allergy meds. As long as meds control my symptoms, we'll always have cats and dogs here at home. |
lets put it this way, my mom has a hypoallergenic dog..a bichon and panda of course is too  and my twin sister is HIGHLY allergic to both...when she comes to visit, i have to panda proof the room...
of course i really think its all in her head...i mean, we did grow up with 2 goldens......  |
My husband and oldest daughter are both allergic to dogs and they are ok with my oes. Couple days ago, my neighbour's choc lab played with Brutus an afternoon...DH wasn't there and I never tought to mention it to him. Brutus sleeps on our bedroom floor..Poor husband couldn't breathe, kept sneezing and as soon he went to work, he was ok.
The next morning same thing, then I realized about the Choc Lab saliva on my oes so I bathed him and DH didn't have a reaction that night.
Sometimes we will say oh it's all in your head kinda thing, but in this case, I guess I used him as a guinea pig (without knowing). So he is indeed allergic to dogs but not our oes. |
