Washing the dog reduces dog allergen levels, but the dog needs to be washed twice a week.
BACKGROUND
Many asthmatic patients allergic to dogs refuse to part with their dog, and it is essential to develop techniques for lowering exposure with a dog in the home.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the effect of dog washing on the subsequent recovery of Can f 1 from dog hair clippings and on the airborne allergen over a 7-day period.


METHODS
Dogs, which had not been washed for at least the previous 3 weeks, were washed with a hand-held shower and proprietary shampoo. Hair clippings and dander samples from 25 dogs were collected before and immediately after washing. After these initial studies, 16 dogs had a small tuft of hair clipped from the collar or spinal area before washing and then daily for the next 7 days. Air sampling was performed in 5 homes, and the air samples were collected (airflow rate, 9 L/min) over an 8-hour period per day on 10 consecutive days (3 days of baseline sampling before washing and then 7 consecutive days after washing). Can f 1 level was measured by using 2-site ELISA.


RESULTS
Washing significantly reduced recoverable Can f 1 from clippings (84% reduction: from 73 microg/g to 12 microg/g [geometric mean]; P <.0001) and from dander samples (86% reduction: from 347 microg/g to 50 microg/g [geometric mean]; P <.0001). There was a significant reduction in Can f 1 levels in dog hair over the observed 8-day period (F = 18.4, P <. 0001). By using a multiple comparison test, this observed significance was found to be due to the difference between the baseline levels and those on days 1 and 2 after washing, with no difference in the baseline Can f 1 compared with days 3 to 7. Airborne Can f 1 levels showed a downward trend, which reached statistical significance when the data were grouped into 3 sampling periods as follows: baseline (ie, mean of 3 days before sampling) was compared with days 1 to 4 after washing (41% reduction, 95% CI 13%-60%) and days 5 to 7 after washing (61% reduction, 95% CI 2%-84%; P =.014).


CONCLUSIONS
Washing the dog reduces recoverable allergen from dog hair and dander. The dog needs to be washed at least twice a week to maintain the reduction in recoverable Can f 1 from its hair. Washing the dog achieves a modest reduction in the level of airborne Can f 1 in homes with a dog.
Hodson
T
T
North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Custovic
A
A
Simpson
A
A
Chapman
M
M
Woodcock
A
A
Green
R
R
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001494:Baths; D004285:Dogs / Q000276:immunology*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C091462:allergen Can f I