Pet lovers, rejoice! Have you held back on getting a pet for one reason or another? Whether you have a household of people dealing with allergies, or you were avoiding the constant shedding, you can worry less about these problems when you adopt one of these hypoallergenic animals.

There are a lot of reasons not to get a pet whether you travel a lot, don’t have time to clean up the mess constantly, are tired of sneezing every few minutes, and so much more. But there are also a lot of upsides, including always having a companion, unwavering love, nevermind the fact that they’ve been proven to reduce anxiety.

This is why we’ve put together a list of our favorite hypoallergenic pets:

Dogs

When searching for the right hypoallergenic dog, you have to consider a few things first. For starters, what kind of yard space do you have? Big dogs need a lot more space than say, a chihuahua, and if you don’t have that kind of space, you should be prepared to take them to a dog park or on long walks daily.

If that doesn’t sound like the right fit for you, no worries! There are plenty of small breed options as well.

Large Breed

Large Breed

A lot of hypoallergenic dogs are on the smaller end of the spectrum, but there is one combination of breeds that leaves you with a big, cuddly hypoallergenic pup, and that would be the Labradoodle. Labradoodles are a combination of a Poodle (which are always hypoallergenic because they don’t shed as much) and the Labrador Retriever, the dog breed loved by all.

Small Breed

Small Breed

There are a lot of small, hypoallergenic breeds to choose from, but a favorite of ours is the American Hairless Terrier. Given the name, you can probably guess that this dog does not have hair, which is what makes it less allergenic than most dogs. However, it is important to remember that some people could still be allergic to the oils produced in the dog’s skin.

Cats

Cats

When thinking about hypoallergenic cat breeds, the first one that comes to mind might be the classic naked cat:

But don’t worry, if you’re looking for something a little more cuddly, this isn’t your only option. An interesting fact about the allergens in cats is that it’s not the fur that irritates people. Instead, it’s a protein in their saliva called Fel D1. When they lick their coat, the saliva dries, becomes airborne, and causes allergy irritation.

Our favorite low allergen cat is the Balinese breed. Their low levels of Fel D1 proteins in their saliva make them the perfect hypoallergenic and cuddly cat.

Finding hypoallergenic pets for your home isn’t the only step you can take towards improving your home’s comfort and indoor air quality. Contact our indoor air quality experts at Variable Comfort Solutions for a thorough evaluation of your home as well as solutions to improve it. You can visit us online or by calling us at 304-443-9255 today!

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