Man's best friend may be no friend to you if you are among the roughly five million Americans with an allergy to dogs.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog - not even those expensive purebreds often marketed as "low shedding". That's because dog allergies are not caused by fur. It’s dog dander, saliva and urine that trigger allergy symptoms.

As dogs play, dander can become airborne. Contact with airborne dander may lead to common allergy symptoms, including sneezing, a runny nose, itchy nose and nasal congestion, itchy throat and itchy, watery, eyes.

Avoiding dogs and dog allergens helps prevent symptom flare ups, but that can be easier said than done. Dog owners carry unseen dander and other dog allergens on their clothes, so you can be exposed to dog allergens even if you don't have a dog.

But all is not lost. By recognizing dog allergy symptoms, you can better manage your condition and find relief from allergies triggered by man's best friend.

Visit Zyrtec.com for more tips and tools to manage your allergies.