Fur, hair, and allergies - questions answered!

[Die Fledermaus]

At the huge Meet the Breeds gathering I posted of in other threads I got many good answers about various issues related to dogs and cats.

BTW, I just realized, they should do something like this for birds.

Anyway, here are some answers.

Hair is what a dog has.

It becomes fur when it has a second coat underneath it, I suppose for warmth.

I had once thought the difference was one was solid and one was hollow - the hair or fur shaft.

Allergies? Certain dogs shed less, but what it is REALLY about - being hypoallergenic - is that some dogs for some unknown reason - have a difference in the protein of the saliva (the actual cause of allergic reactions) as compared to other dogs with a more allergic reaction from people. Shedding, per se, is not a cause of allergic reactions.

So, that is what I was told by multiple people. They did not know why some dogs' saliva varied from that of other canines.

[Hamsters82]

Yep, it's the dander and saliva that make most people, like me, break out. A Golden could lick my face and afterwards I'd be scratching my face forever, but with Luke I'm fine.

Shedding can be a cause if the person doesn't clean it up. I've walked into my grandmother's place and she wouldn't vacuum up the fur and I got so sick afterwards.

[Die Fledermaus]

Of course it is what is ON the dander or shed hair - the saliva.

I assume this is the same for cats. But I had no time to ask every question. You could have gone and had a blast!

Curious indeed how saliva differs.