( CNN ) -- It started with sinus congestion for Shawna Coronado . Then the splitting migraines came . Coronado soon discovered the furry causes : Harrington and Kalamazoo . Shawna Coronado endures headaches and congestion to keep her 30-pound pug , Harrington . Her 30-pound pug and orange tabby scattered dead skin flakes around the house , triggering Coronado 's allergic reactions . Her two daughters are also allergic , but their reactions are less severe . Like the 10 million American pet owners with allergies , the Coronados faced a dilemma : Can human and dog co-exist in the same house ? `` We love them , '' said Coronado about her family 's pets . `` They 're adorable . They 're really our babies . They 're part of the family . We could never live without them . '' Allergies can cause itchy eyes , hives , sneezing , congestion or even asthma . To keep animals around , allergic pet owners get shots , pop antihistamines , squeeze eyedrops , squirt nasal spray , use inhalers or just deal with it . Others try to find a dog that wo n't trigger the symptoms . President-elect Barack Obama 's family has said his family is seeking a `` hypoallergenic dog , '' because of his eldest daughter , Malia 's , allergies . Unfortunately , there 's no such thing . The belief that certain breeds are hypoallergenic is `` a complete misconception , '' said Dr. Robert Wood , chief of pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine . `` You ca n't predict by type or breed , or length of hair . '' Pet allergies are not caused by dog hair , the American Academy of Allergy , Asthma and Immunology noted in a recent statement . `` The allergen is produced in saliva , urine , dander -- it 's not just hair , '' said Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul , an allergist at Children 's Hospital in Boston , Massachusetts . `` Even with a hairless dog , there are still allergens . '' For their next pet , the Coronados are considering a poodle . Although poodles , bichon frises and Malteses are often touted as hypoallergenic dogs , these breeds all produce allergens . There has n't been sufficient research to determine whether certain breeds are more allergy-friendly , said Dr. Clifford Bassett , an assistant clinical professor of medicine at The Long Island College Hospital in New York . `` There is not a lot of research in this area , '' he said . `` There are differences between breeds , but we do n't have research to definitively say . They all produce allergens . '' The key factors are the animal 's size and the volume of hair . The fur can collect pollens , mold spore and allergens and bring them indoors , triggering reactions . Even so , reactions vary widely , because everyone 's body is different , doctors say . Before committing to a pet , make an arrangement to bring the animal to the home for a trial period to see how the person with allergies fares . `` It 's always going to be trial and error , '' Wood said . `` Someone might be allergic to one breed , but the main dog allergen that people are allergic to is present in all dogs . '' It is also possible for someone to develop dog allergies months or years after bringing the animal home . If symptoms arise , doctors recommend getting tested to be certain that the allergy is coming from the animal . Allergic reactions could come from other irritants , such as pollen or dust . A person 's allergies can also inexplicably change over time . In the same way that some people outgrow food allergies , there is a rare possibility that pet owners could outgrow their allergies to animals , experts said . Pills and medications are available to treat the symptoms , but the best remedy , said Philatanakul , is to not have pets . `` There 's nothing that can be done except for avoidance , '' she said . `` There 's no cure . You 're exposing yourself to high levels of allergens in your home . We generally recommend they should not have a pet . It 's not recommended . '' For many families , having a loving , furry companion outweighs the runny noses , wheezing and water eyes . Coronado , who is also allergic to mold , dust and yeast , suspects it 's not just the dog and cat causing her headaches . After cutting out beer , bread and cheese from her diet , she says she does n't get as many allergic reactions . But she ca n't pick up the cat without getting congested . Sometimes Harrington and Kalamazoo trot into the house bringing all sorts of allergens with them and trigger her allergic reactions . Despite the discomforts , the Coronados are n't getting rid of their animals . `` Our lives are so enriched because we have dogs and cats , '' she said . `` You can live in a positive way and live well with the pets or you can suffer every day and think it 's miserable . It 's really how you look at it . The reason we live with pets is because we live life in a positive way and we work it out . '' Her two daughters have cat allergies , but they do n't have asthma or breathing difficulties , so Kalamazoo is staying put in their Warrenville , Illinois , home . `` Pets are healing for we humans , '' Coronado said . `` They are for my children . We adore them as part of the family . On a mental health level , children gain something from pets . Children gain a lot from being in nature and being outside . Dogs and cats as pets are part of that experience . '' Pets do provide therapeutic value , said Bassett . `` Pets make people feel good , '' he said . `` Pets reduce anxiety , blood pressure . Pets are here to stay . ''
10 % American dog owners have allergies . Allergies caused by protein in the dander , saliva or urine , not by food . Belief that certain foods are hypoallergenic is ` ` a complete misconception '' Medications available to treat symptoms , but best remedy is not to have them .