Named for the town where this adorable little dog was developed, the Boston Terrier is a loving and affectionate dog.
This little dog is easy to manage and is perfect for urban and apartment life. The Boston Terrier is great with all families and can do wonderfully well with children.
The Boston Terrier is not considered a hypoallergenic dog, although it does only shed very lightly. Plus, the Boston Terrier has short hair, which can be easily managed with routine brushing and grooming.
If you have mild allergy symptoms, a Boston Terrier could be a suitable pet for you if you are willing to commit to regular cleaning and grooming.
It’s important to understand where your pet’s allergies originate. If you are allergic to pet saliva, you may want to reconsider the Boston Terrier.
Although this dog does not drool as much as other breeds, it tends to drool when excited or nervous.
Be sure to fully understand your allergy with a blood allergy test before committing to bringing this little dog into your home.
Does Pet Fur Cause Allergies?
The actual cause of pet allergies is a specific protein found in dogs. This protein can be found in pet fur and dander and pet urine, saliva, and feces.
While it is true that most people are allergic to the protein found in pet fur, it is also possible to be allergic to other proteins specific to dogs.
What Causes Dander?
Dander is a normal biological byproduct of any living animal. Dogs create dander, but so do people, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Dander is simply microscopic skin cells that have shed the body to make room for new, healthy skin cells.
Unfortunately, pet dander contains allergy-causing proteins, which can send people’s allergies into overdrive. The tiny pieces of skin can find their way into your home environment and trigger allergy symptoms.
Often, dander is connected to shed fur because the fur lies so closely on the skin.
If you can control the amount of pet hair floating through your home, chances are you’ll also be able to control the amount of pet dander in your home.
How Much Does A Boston Terrier Shed?
Shedding and dander production will be connected to the majority of pet allergies. If you suffer from allergies, finding a light shedding dog is essential.
When it comes to shedding, a Boston Terrier is considered a light shedder.
There will undoubtedly be fur and dander floating through your house, but nothing too overwhelming.
Luckily, the light shedding from the Boston Terrier can easily be managed with some routine cleaning and household best practices.
How Can I Eliminate Fur And Dander In My House?
Eliminating fur and dander in your home is the best way to help control mild to moderate pet allergies. Because the Boston Terrier is a light shedding, controlling hair and dander is relatively easy.
Some best practices to make sure hair and dander don’t become overwhelming can include:
- Vacuum – You’ll want to vacuum your house daily to catch any loose pet fur and dander.
- Dust – Remember to also dust at least once per week. Pet fur and dander tend to land on flat, hard surfaces like shelving, baseboards, or window ledges.
- Launder – Pet fur and dander can penetrate soft fabrics and textiles. Make sure to regularly wash your pillows, cushions, blankets, and dog beds.
- Hard Surfaces – If possible, try to remove carpeting or area rugs for your home and replace them with tile or hardwood flooring. Hard surfaces are easier to clean and don’t trap dander as much.
- Pet-Free Area – Try to designate an area of the home that is pet-free. This best practice will give you a place to recover from allergy symptoms and get a good night’s rest. Many people choose to make the bedroom a pet-free zone.
Does Grooming Control Pet Fur?
Grooming your Boston Terrier regularly can help reduce shedding and the amount of fur and dander floating through your home.
Grooming is a wonderful way to help mitigate allergy symptoms and keep your dog’s coat healthy and shiny.
Because the Boston Terrier has relatively short hair, you’ll want to use a slicker brush. Give your pet a complete brushing about three times per week.
Brushing will help to remove loose and dead fur before it has a chance to circulate through your home.
Bathing your dog periodically, about once every six to eight weeks, can also help eliminate fur and dander.
Be sure to use a moisturizing shampoo to keep the skin well hydrated and prevent unnecessary hair loss and shedding.
Can Drool Cause Pet Allergies?
Many pet allergies are associated with fur and dander that come from a dog. That is why most hypoallergenic dogs are breeds that don’t shed or shed very lightly.
Proteins that cause pet allergies are most commonly found in fur, so allergy mitigation is usually focused on controlling the amount of fur shed.
However, sometimes pet allergies are caused by the pet’s saliva. In these cases, pet allergies can be triggered by dogs that drool excessively.
Luckily, a simple blood allergy test performed at the doctor’s office should be able to determine which type of proteins you are allergic to.
If you are allergic to dog saliva, even the most hypoallergenic dog breed won’t alleviate your allergy symptoms.
How Much Does A Boston Terrier Drool?
Boston Terriers drool far less compared to some heavy droolers in the dog family. However, that doesn’t mean that these dogs are completely without drool.
You may notice your Boston Terrier drool more than usual if your dog is excited or nervous. If your dog is sick or has an upset stomach, drooling may increase.
While drooling may only seem like a messy problem to clean, it can spell disaster for people allergic to dog saliva. Pet allergies are commonly connected with fur and dander, but people are occasionally allergic to the proteins found in dog saliva.
If your allergy is focused on the saliva, finding a non-drooling dog is essential to eliminate allergy symptoms.
How Can I Treat Pet Allergies?
Pet allergies can be mild to severe, and the severity of your symptoms will indicate the best route for treatment. For mild to moderate symptoms, you may have luck treating your pet allergies with over-the-counter medication.
Several commercially available allergy medications, like Claritin or Allegra, can help alleviate allergy symptoms.
Nasal rinses and sprays may also help remove pet allergens from your nasal passageway and help improve symptoms.
For those suffering from severe pet allergies, you may want to consider prescription allergy medication. Many prescription-strength medicines are stronger and more capable of alleviating severe symptoms.
In extreme cases, you may want to consider allergy shots. This treatment method requires weekly shots to allow your body to create antibodies to fight allergy symptoms.
It can take several months, or even a year, to build up enough antibodies to go symptom-free. Still, eventually, people who select this treatment will be complete without pet allergies eventually.
Routine shots every month are required to maintain an adequate level of antibodies in your system.
What Are Common Pet Allergy Symptoms?
Those that suffer from pet allergies typically have common symptoms shared by fellow sufferers. Usually, pet allergies are only mild to moderate and can easily be treated.
You may have pet allergies if you notice the following symptoms:
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Tight chest or difficulty breathing
- Hives or skin rash
- Coughing
In most cases, symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medication. Removing yourself from the environment with a pet will also help eliminate allergy symptoms.
In rare cases, pet allergies can be severe and require a trip to the doctor’s office.
If you have difficulty breathing and removing yourself from the pet does not improve symptoms, you may need immediate medical treatment to help eliminate your symptoms.
Related Questions
Can I have a Boston Terrier in my apartment?
One of the most attractive features of the Boston Terrier is its small, compact size. Most Boston Terriers are under 25 pounds, making them small and portable, and well-suited for an apartment.
It is pretty easy to pack up a Boston Terrier and take it to the park or for a stroll through the city.
This little dog is friendly and naturally gravitates toward people, making it a welcome guest in most social settings.
Further, the little dog is happy to relax in an apartment setting if it is given proper exercise every day. A short, 20-minute walk should be enough to satisfy this little dog’s energy level.
Do Boston Terriers have health issues?
Generally speaking, the Boston Terrier is a healthy dog. However, this type of dog is a brachycephalic breed that has a shortened or compressed face.
The face shape can make it difficult for the Boston Terrier to breathe, leading to severe breathing difficulty.
The shape of their face may be one of the reasons why this dog is prone to panting and may drool excessively if excited.
Our team is composed of pet care professionals, veterinarians, and pet owners. To date, we’ve conducted thousands of hours of research to publish the most accurate pet information.
Most of the writers on our site are vets with 10+ years of clinical experience, ranging from small practice, to equine practice, academia, and surgery. Our goal is to help every pet owner get the information they seek about their dear companions.
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