If you’re considering adopting an English springer spaniel, you’ll likely want to know if they are bad for allergies. This is crucial knowledge If someone in your home is allergic to dogs or other pets. So, are English springer spaniels bad for allergies?
English springer spaniels are moderate shedders and don’t often drool, making them more allergy friendly. While English springer spaniels aren’t hypoallergenic, they aren’t the worst dogs you can get if you have dog allergies. You can groom an English springer spaniel to minimize its shedding.
What causes dog allergies, and why aren’t English springer spaniels hypoallergenic? These are some questions regarding the allergies caused by English springer spaniels. We’ll discuss how you can reduce the allergens spread by your English springer spaniel and why they aren’t good dogs for allergy sufferers.
Why Aren’t English Springer Spaniels Good For Allergies?
To understand why English springer spaniels aren’t the most allergy-friendly dogs, we must first discuss the causes of dog allergies. A protein found in the dog’s urine, dander (on its skin), and in the dog’s saliva causes dog allergies. All dogs have this protein in their bodies; therefore, no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
However, the less a dog sheds, the less hair and dander it spreads around the house, and the less likely it is to cause allergies. For this reason, lower shedding dogs are more allergy friendly. So, how much do English Springer Spaniels shed?
English springer spaniels have thick coats and medium-length hair. They are moderate shedders and shed slightly more during spring when they lose their other winter fur. Therefore, English springer spaniels aren’t the best dogs if you’re allergic to dogs.
In addition to shedding moderately, some English springer spaniels also drool more than others. Some naturally have longer lips, causing them to drool more. As saliva also contains the allergen-causing proteins, this can add to one’s allergies caused by an English springer spaniel.
Finally, as English springer spaniels are such friendly and social dogs, they might eagerly lick you on your body and in your face when given a chance. This, too, causes allergies to spread and can make life uncomfortable for an allergy sufferer.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the allergens spread by your English springer spaniel. This can make it possible for someone with mild dog allergies to live comfortably in a home with an English springer spaniel. Mild dog allergies include the following symptoms:
- Runny nose and eyes.
- Itchy eyes that swell up.
- Congestion
- A sore throat
These symptoms worsen if you pet a dog or if the dog licks you, and then you touch your face. Severe dog allergies include:
- A wheezing or tight chest
- Difficulty breathing
- Hives
Unfortunately, in the case of severe dog allergies, we don’t recommend getting an English springer spaniel, or any dog for that matter. This is because severe dog allergies can be triggered simply by being in the vicinity of the dog, meaning that you cannot prevent an allergic reaction in case of severe allergies.
Those with mild dog allergies might now be wondering how you can reduce the likelihood of having an allergic reaction to an English springer spaniel.
How To Reduce An English Springer Spaniel’s Allergens
There is good news for those with mild dog allergies who are set on getting an English springer spaniel. You can take some preventative measures to prevent an allergic reaction from the dog. Although you cannot eliminate the allergens your English springer spaniel spreads, you can lessen them to some extent.
These guidelines you can follow to reduce the allergens spread by your English springer spaniel and thereby reduce the likeliness of developing an allergic reaction.
1. Train Your English Springer Spaniel Right
You can teach your English springer spaniel not to lick you in the face or on your body. This is one way an English springer spaniel shows affection. However, as the allergen-causing protein is in the dog’s saliva, it can cause an allergic reaction. As the saliva dries, the protein spreads through the air and on contact, spreading the allergen further.
By teaching your English springer spaniel not to lick you or anyone who visits your home, you can reduce the allergens spread around. Fortunately, English springer spaniels are easy to train, especially if you start training them while they are still young.
2. Give Your English Springer Spaniel A Dog Bed
Another tip for reducing the allergens spread by your English springer spaniel is to give them a dog bed and a specific area to sleep in. This way, most of the loose hair and allergens are located in one spot of the house, and they aren’t spread as far.
Don’t allow your English springer spaniel to lie on the sofas or beds in your home, and don’t allow them in the room of the person allergic to dogs. This will also help reduce the allergens in your home and make life more bearable for the allergy sufferer.
3. Wash Your English Springer Spaniel’s Bed And Toys
When your English springer spaniel has an assigned area in the home, it is much easier to clean that area and reduce the allergens. Was your English springer spaniel’s bed and toys often with a dog-safe detergent and let the toys hang in the sun to dry.
Dander and dried saliva are removed when washing the objects, and hanging them in the sun and wind helps remove the hair.
4. Use An Enzyme Cleanser To Clean Up Spills
If your English springer spaniel has an accident inside, you should clean up the spill as soon as possible. Remember that the allergen-causing enzyme is also in a dog’s urine and can spread if the urine dries before it is cleaned up.
We recommend using an Enzyme cleaner for any spills and drool in your home. Enzyme cleaners inhibit the proteins that cause allergens to spread. This helps reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction. You can also use a dog-safe enzyme cleaner to clean your English springer spaniel’s balls and other plastic toys.
5. Brush Your English Springer Spaniel Weekly
As dander is the most significant cause of dog allergies, you must remove as much loose hair as possible. The easiest way is to brush your English springer spaniel weekly using a comb for medium-length hair.
As the loose hair comes out, so does the allergy-causing dander. So if your English springer spaniel starts shedding more in spring, you can comb it quickly daily or once every other day. An excellent way to reduce the allergens your dog spreads.
6. Feed Your English Springer Spaniel Nutritious Foods
The final guide to keeping your English springer spaniel from shedding too much hair and dander is to feed your dog a diet high in nutrients. A dog’s diet is directly linked to its overall health. Therefore, if you feed it a good diet, its coat will be in better condition, and it won’t lose as much hair and dander.
If your English springer spaniel’s coat looks a little dry, you can add some coat oil or fish oil drops to its food. This will increase the essential oils in your English springer spaniel’s diet and help keep its coat and skin healthy.
Conclusion
English springer spaniels are moderate shedders and have medium-length hair. Therefore, they aren’t good for allergies. However, they aren’t as bad for allergies as other dog breeds.
A person with mild dog allergies can follow specific guidelines to reduce the allergens spread by an English springer spaniel and learn to live with the dog. However, people with severe dog allergies shouldn’t adopt an English springer spaniel, no matter how cute they are.
