Shedding and Odors

[GLC11]

Well I am certainly glad I checked out this forum! it is interesting to see how many resources state that Basenji's are hypoallergenic and that they don't shed and are odorless. (I have read "odorless" a lot) After reading this site, it sounds like Basenji's do indeed shed about once or twice per year, and while they don't shed a lot…they are not considered "hypoallergenic".

My husband and son have allergies, but not really to all dogs. I think the disposition/personality of these dogs sounds perfect for our family, and they are so cute!

I am curious to hear if any of the Basenji owners on this forum have allergies, and if you find that you seem to be fine with these dogs. How long does the shedding phase last, and is it once or twice per year? I will keep searching through all of your forum posts..... Thank you!

[Hana]

while late sorry I forget to check the forum I hope this still helps or helps others looking

super bad allergies
anaphylaxis shock bad 2x in my life last time was at 27

we had dogs growing up mostly short hair but long hair one I could not be around very long
example neighbors dog some kinda pug I pet and say hi to when I talk with my neighbor my neck gets red and I get snotty and itchy eyes big time !
our other neighbors have Bichon frize and I can pet them and not get bad

they often say a dog you are allergic to often is just all the pollens and such and of course is not the hair but the dander ? just info on things I have read !
cats for me are so sever its insane !
also I have allergies year around sadly allergic to some foods like corn syrup ahahahh a 4+ on the old allergy test that and all grasses and all deciduous trees and all evergreen trees !!! hmmmm so pretty much everything that grows

no issues with our dog at all ! but we dont live in a heavy pollen type yard etc. one friend who had a basenji I was a bit allergic to ? but the big BUT they have these yellow trees here in AZ and it was pollen season and they had a tree in their yard the dog loved to lay under ! so pretty positive its the tree ! their is a tree on our walk route like that and in season if I even walk under it I get allergic

she sleeps in our bed often and she is a massive cuddle dog when sitting on the couch she has to be in your face

no allergies at all
smell sometimes they do have a subtle tortilla chip smell after playing when they are warm etc..

have to say she is the greatest dog we have ever had !!! amazingly good and smart and loves the kids (3 & loves to be with us almost to the point if we have to go out and crate her for a hour she goes nuts

shedding wise seems twice a year but its not to bad really and seems to be over before we know it ? we use a lint roller for a week or so daily just a quick roll and she loves it
also their hair is so short that its not like hair all over ? at least for us its not its more where she likes to be her pillow on the couch she claimed or if she sits on us you can sometimes notice a bit of her hair when she is shedding if you have a color that shows it !

hope that helps sorry my grammar is so bad

[DebraDownSouth]

Please believe me when I say that not one dog breed on earth is hypoallergenic. It is utter nonsense, often hyped by irresponsible or impressively misinformed breeders and repeated as if true.

Most allergies are to dander and even saliva, more than hair. All dogs have dander. Dogs with double coats tend to produce more dander, dogs that shed minimally tend to produce less. But they are NOT hypoallergenic. Period. Honest, I wouldn't lie to you.

If you brush every day (preferably outside!), bath regularly, give a good diet to improve skin/coat to minimize shedding and keep skin healthy, you decrease the dander and issues. Keep the dog OUT OF THE BEDROOMS of anyone who is allergic. Have them try to not wear pjs around the pet to help keep their bed allergen free.

Okay, you don't have to believe me.. I can give you some great articles by vets.
http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/petcols_article_page.php?PETCOLID=485&URL=0
A "Hypoallergenic" Dog – Really?

Pet Column for the week of March 8, 2010
Related information:
Services - Dermatology

Office of Public Engagement
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
Ashley Mitek
Information Specialist
Source - Domenico Santoro, DVM
After a Portuguese water dog named Bo Obama graced the White House lawn, everyone began clamoring to find hypoallergenic dog breeds. According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, there are nearly 50 million people in this country that have some form of allergies in general. Although the most common allergy is to cats (approximately 10 million people), there are still a substantial amount of people allergic to dogs. With numbers like that, the thought of having a pet that is less likely to trigger a reaction may be enticing.

Dr. Domenico Santoro is a veterinary dermatology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. When asked if it is possible to have a hypoallergenic dog, his response was a simple "no." He goes on to say that, "currently there are only "hypoallergenic" cats available that have been genetically modified to not produce the protein that some humans may react to."

As of yet, no one has been able to produce a dog that does not make a protein in its saliva or skin to which allergic humans are known to react. But there are certain dog breeds that, due to their lack of shedding or short hair coat, are less likely to trigger a reaction. Examples are breeds like poodles, Maltese, and Bedlington terriers, and several others.

The situation that the dermatology service at the Teaching Hospital runs into is parents who have a child with allergies, and that child really wants a dog. "In that case, the best question to ask would be: 'how bad is your or your child's allergy?'" says Dr. Santoro. If the child or person has a severe reaction landing them in the ER, then getting a dog should never be considered.

But, "if you or your child's allergy is mild," says Dr. Santoro, "spend time with friends that have a dog, or test the dog out in your house to see how reactive you are." If it doesn't seem to be a problem, then perhaps things may work out for the best for you and your furry friend.

If you know you have a mild allergy to dogs and you end up bringing one home after a trial period, there are a few other things you can do in addition to adopting a breed that does not shed and has short hair. Brushing the dog more often may help to remove stray hairs (hairs and saliva are the parts of the dog to which people react).

Bathing the pet often helps as well, but "bathing too often can be bad for the dog," notes Dr. Santoro. Since every animal is different, you can speak with your veterinarian about how frequently you can safely bathe your dog. For example, bathing everyday is certainly not acceptable, but once every two weeks may be beneficial.

If you or your child really do want a pet and find that a dog triggers too severe of an allergic reaction, all is not lost. Just because you react to a dog, doesn't mean you?ll react to a cat or vice versa. Although if you already have allergies, you are more likely to develop a sensitivity to another allergy. You can always test out different animals to see how you handle them differently.

In the end, it really is not possible to have a hypoallergenic dog, or one that does not produce the proteins to which humans react. But there are steps you can take so you can have a furry friend around without getting an itchy rash or a runny nose.

For more information on hypoallergenic dogs, talk to your local veterinarian.

http://sinusallergy.osu.edu/13840.cfm
AVOIDING ANIMAL DANDERS
Home > Tell me about Allergies! > Allergy Treatment > Avoiding Animal Danders

People who are allergic to animals react to saliva, skin flakes (dander), urine or feathers. Avoiding the animal(s) causing the problem is the simplest solution, but isn't always possible. If your work requires being around animals, or if an animal is a beloved family member, there are some actions you can take to minimize the symptoms you develop around them.

Dogs and Cats

The most important step is making at least one area of your home where you spend significant amounts of time into an animal-free zone. The bedroom is usually the best choice for this. This permits you to get your needed rest undisturbed by a stuffy nose, wheezing, etc.

A poor second choice, if you simply can't keep your cat, dog, etc out of your bedroom is to hide your pillow someplace during the day (high closet shelf?) so the animal can't sleep on the pillow, shedding dander.

Adding a HEPA room filter will minimize the amount of allergen reaching your nose and eyes.

Brush your pet daily (outdoors, preferably by someone other than the allergic person) and wash the pet at least once a week.

There are no hypoallergenic dogs or cats. Dog breeds that shed less (standard poodle, airedale terrier, etc) are sometimes less bothersome to allergic people.

Mayo Clinic:
Pet allergy: Are there hypoallergenic dog breeds?
Are there any hypoallergenic dog breeds?

Answer
from James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D.

There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed, although some breeds may cause fewer allergy symptoms than others. Many people think that pet allergies are caused by a dog's or cat's fur, but the real source of pet allergies is often a protein that's in the saliva and urine of dogs and cats. This protein sticks to the dead, dried flakes (dander) from your pet's skin.

Some dog breeds, such as the soft-coated wheaten terrier, or mixed breeds such as the goldendoodle, are marketed as hypoallergenic dogs because they don't shed fur or they shed very little. Because these dogs don't shed, the allergy-causing dander that sticks to their fur doesn't get released into the air or onto the floor as much as it would with a shedding dog. While you may have fewer allergy symptoms with a so-called hypoallergenic dog than with a shedding dog, no dog breed is hypoallergenic. There's some research suggesting that female dogs and Labrador retrievers might put off lower amounts of dog allergens.

If you're allergic to dogs, but still want to have one, there are some things you can do to reduce your allergy symptoms:

Choose a smaller dog, which will shed less dander than will a larger dog.
Keep your pet out of your bedroom and other rooms you spend a lot of time in.
Keep your pet outside, if weather permits.
Bathe your pet weekly to remove dander from its coat.
Choose carpet-free flooring, or shampoo your carpet regularly.
Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) air purifier and vent filters to help reduce airborne pet allergen

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/ss/slideshow-pets-and-allergies

[tanza]

Not hypoallergenic…. BUT they really do not have a doggy odor.. that one is true

[Chealsie508]

Pats right, Oakley smells like frito's!!! Especially his cheeks and feet, it's like someone dipped him into a salt bath

Oakley sheds twice a year, we just went through his BIG annual shedding, when you touch him with just your finger white hairs come flying out like porcupine quills…I'm not allergic to dogs but this can sometimes make me a little itchy. Cats also make me itch (like I'm wearing an angora sweater!). Also, Oakley has a smoother coat than some basenjis, it's also shorter too. I've met basenjis with rougher, longer hair than his and in that case symptoms might Get worse. Every dog will be different so making sure your fine with the one you pick is most important

[Lmaris]

Thank you DebraDownSouth for dispelling the "hypoallergenic" myth.

I am allergic to dogs but react less to Thabo than most dogs. He has virtually no odor even though he's not had a full bath in the nearly 7 months I've had him. He's in the middle of a molt, shedding profusely. Unlike some basenjis I've known, he's got some fairly long hairs on his neck & withers.

[GLC11]

Thanks everyone for all of the helpful information! We did go and visit someone with a Basenji shorly after I had first posted this question. My son and husband played with the dog and hugged it and it licked them. We stayed for a while. no issues! we are expecting our new Basenji to arrive around the middle of this month. very excited!