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Obama, The Puppy & Allergies
November 13, 2008 5:37 PM
So -- to that pressing matter on the President-elect's agenda...
You may recall that Mr. Obama spoke of the need to balance the promise of a puppy for his kids with the fact that his daughter Malia "is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic."
Well -- now we have controversy. Seems there's no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Here's the AP take on the story:
***
Not to put a damper on the Obama family's canine quest, but allergists have a news flash: There's no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Doctors who specialize in children's allergies say kids who are truly allergic to dogs probably shouldn't get one. So Malia and Sasha, how about a fish instead?
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology issued a statement Wednesday saying, "There is no truly 'hypoallergenic' dog." Another misconception is "that people are allergic to a dog's hair, and it is falsely believed that a dog that sheds less will not cause a reaction," the academy said. Obama's transition team declined to comment.
While some people with dog allergies say some breeds cause them more problems than others, there isn't any scientific proof to back that up, said the academy's Dr. Clifford Bassett, a New York City allergy specialist. All dogs produce proteins that can cause allergies. These proteins are found in dogs' dander - which is dead skin cells, not fur - and saliva and urine, explained Dr. Elizabeth Matsui, a children's allergy expert at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Grooming and bathing can remove much of the dander and cause fewer allergic symptoms, and some breeds tend to be groomed and bathed more often. But it's that treatment rather than the breed that makes the difference, doctors say.
***
More than we needed to know?
November 13, 2008 in President 44 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (3)
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May I suggest a couple of Pit Bulls or perhaps a Rottweiler for the President Elects household.
Posted by: c21lady | Nov 13, 2008 6:00:47 PM
I think Mr. Obama will vett his dog, like the way he want to vett all his employees. By his own vetting standards, Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden are not qualified to work for their government. Mr. Obama will be the most hypocritical president our country has ever known.
Posted by: young_voter | Nov 13, 2008 6:28:44 PM
Dear Young Voter:
Finally, someone commented on Obama's application process for new employees.
I asked the democrats to make a comment on this, but nobody has offered an opinion. Maybe they are speechless?? lol
It really is a joke on the American public - both democrats and republicans.
Obama could not pass the required background check.
Hey, dems? Check out Obama's application.
Come on, be brave. Lets hear from the dems.
Posted by: double standard?? | Nov 14, 2008 2:01:10 PM
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