Allergy issues with a dog
Discussion
We, as a family, are very keen to get a dog.
We have friends with dogs& sometimes (not always), my son gets allergic - itchy eyes, sniffly, short of breath. For this reason, we’ve held off from getting a dog.
Has anyone been in a similar position & gone ahead & got a dog? Will allergies ease off with time? Is medication an option? We don’t want to raise hopes, get a dog & realise it was a bad decision.
I realise some breeds are better than others.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
We have friends with dogs& sometimes (not always), my son gets allergic - itchy eyes, sniffly, short of breath. For this reason, we’ve held off from getting a dog.
Has anyone been in a similar position & gone ahead & got a dog? Will allergies ease off with time? Is medication an option? We don’t want to raise hopes, get a dog & realise it was a bad decision.
I realise some breeds are better than others.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
I’m allergic to dogs. Similar symptoms to your son. I’ve been like that since I was young and tended to avoid dogs (and cats) mainly because the runny eyes and wheezing lasted long after the fun with the dog had ended.
However, I’m sitting here with my 2 long haired German Shepherd’s at my feet and have a 30 year ownership history of Great Danes and German Shepherds. For me, the secret is simply to avoid the “in yer face” type of cuddling and making sure that if we are all together in a confined space, a room, the back of a car etc, then they know to be settled. If I’m grooming them then it’s outdoors and I’m aware which way the wind is blowing.
I still suffer a bit if I’m at someone else’s house if they have a dog which jumps and bounds all over the house and is up on chairs and sofas etc so the allergy is still there but a bit of doggy discipline and self discipline means it’s not an issue with my own dogs.
However, I’m sitting here with my 2 long haired German Shepherd’s at my feet and have a 30 year ownership history of Great Danes and German Shepherds. For me, the secret is simply to avoid the “in yer face” type of cuddling and making sure that if we are all together in a confined space, a room, the back of a car etc, then they know to be settled. If I’m grooming them then it’s outdoors and I’m aware which way the wind is blowing.
I still suffer a bit if I’m at someone else’s house if they have a dog which jumps and bounds all over the house and is up on chairs and sofas etc so the allergy is still there but a bit of doggy discipline and self discipline means it’s not an issue with my own dogs.
My partner is exactly the same, goes near my mums Labrador and puffs up like a balloon, same with rabbits but not cats
We think it’s down to short haired breeds, we’ve done an experiment with “hypoallergenic” dogs and found these are 95% perfect, borrowed out friends for the weekend and no issues at all.
They are basically the breeds that don’t shed as much , we had a 2nd generation labradoodle, which is importsnt because 1st generation can still cause issues. They are a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, still have the temperament of a golden retriever so very loving and gentle.
There’s also golden doodles, Portuguese water dogs, and I think even west highland terriers.
Taking an anti histamine can help over time as it builds up in your system. I apply the same Princaple to hayfever, take one everyday from February to build up my tolerance for the summer, been doing this for 3 years and now have no symptoms.
We think it’s down to short haired breeds, we’ve done an experiment with “hypoallergenic” dogs and found these are 95% perfect, borrowed out friends for the weekend and no issues at all.
They are basically the breeds that don’t shed as much , we had a 2nd generation labradoodle, which is importsnt because 1st generation can still cause issues. They are a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, still have the temperament of a golden retriever so very loving and gentle.
There’s also golden doodles, Portuguese water dogs, and I think even west highland terriers.
Taking an anti histamine can help over time as it builds up in your system. I apply the same Princaple to hayfever, take one everyday from February to build up my tolerance for the summer, been doing this for 3 years and now have no symptoms.
Just be aware if you're considering a 'poo' or 'doodle' that hypoallergenic is not a guarantee.
It depends on the coat of the dog produced, eg some labradoodles have a more labrador type coat, some cockapoos have a more cocker spaniel type coat.
If you want a safer bet, maybe go for a pedigree such as a poodle, bichon frise, maltese but you will need (with any of these dogs) to accept the grooming requirements/costs.
There is also a product which can (apparently) reduce allergies - PetalCleanse. I have never tried it so can't comment on its efficacy.
It depends on the coat of the dog produced, eg some labradoodles have a more labrador type coat, some cockapoos have a more cocker spaniel type coat.
If you want a safer bet, maybe go for a pedigree such as a poodle, bichon frise, maltese but you will need (with any of these dogs) to accept the grooming requirements/costs.
There is also a product which can (apparently) reduce allergies - PetalCleanse. I have never tried it so can't comment on its efficacy.
Brinyan said:
We, as a family, are very keen to get a dog.
We have friends with dogs& sometimes (not always), my son gets allergic - itchy eyes, sniffly, short of breath. For this reason, we’ve held off from getting a dog.
Has anyone been in a similar position & gone ahead & got a dog? Will allergies ease off with time? Is medication an option? We don’t want to raise hopes, get a dog & realise it was a bad decision.
I realise some breeds are better than others.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
If it were me, I'd choose a breed less likely to cause an allergy. Then I would speak to a breeder and ask that your son spends a few hours with one of their dogs. I would not buy a dog if my son exhibited a notable reaction. It's not worth him having to take medicine to tolerate an avoidable allergen.We have friends with dogs& sometimes (not always), my son gets allergic - itchy eyes, sniffly, short of breath. For this reason, we’ve held off from getting a dog.
Has anyone been in a similar position & gone ahead & got a dog? Will allergies ease off with time? Is medication an option? We don’t want to raise hopes, get a dog & realise it was a bad decision.
I realise some breeds are better than others.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
My wife has severe allergies, hence us getting a Westie, as they don't moult. She has no issues with him, but always gets problems around cats or other dogs that moult (eg. My mothers Jack Russell). Do do need to factor in grooming costs if getting a dog that doesn't moult though. Our Westie is £65 every 5-6 weeks.
I own a dog and I’m also allergic to it, and my advice would be to proceed with caution.
When I was growing up we took in a stray cat and I had no issues but something changed in the last 25 years and I’m now allergic to cats and dogs (more so cats). This became really apparent when visiting my mother in law as she had a cat. My wife really wanted to own a dog and after 10 years of gently pressure I relented, which in many ways has been a really bad decision, not least because he is anxious/reactive and can’t be left alone for long. Despite being a short hair breed (Vizsla) I need to take a tablet every day; it works but I notice the symptoms return within a few hours of not taking it. We keep our house “clean” but I think living in the same house as a dog is obviously going to cause more issues than a short interaction so that’s why I urge caution. I take Fexofenadine, which doesn’t give any side effects that I’m aware of but I wouldn’t recommend anyone have to take a medication for 10-15 years unless they have to. My allergy hasn’t improved over the last five years.
That said, whilst getting our dog was a mistake, I love him dearly and we have just learned to make compromises…..
When I was growing up we took in a stray cat and I had no issues but something changed in the last 25 years and I’m now allergic to cats and dogs (more so cats). This became really apparent when visiting my mother in law as she had a cat. My wife really wanted to own a dog and after 10 years of gently pressure I relented, which in many ways has been a really bad decision, not least because he is anxious/reactive and can’t be left alone for long. Despite being a short hair breed (Vizsla) I need to take a tablet every day; it works but I notice the symptoms return within a few hours of not taking it. We keep our house “clean” but I think living in the same house as a dog is obviously going to cause more issues than a short interaction so that’s why I urge caution. I take Fexofenadine, which doesn’t give any side effects that I’m aware of but I wouldn’t recommend anyone have to take a medication for 10-15 years unless they have to. My allergy hasn’t improved over the last five years.
That said, whilst getting our dog was a mistake, I love him dearly and we have just learned to make compromises…..
I wasn’t allergic to our two collies, but then I worked away on project for about 4 years then I’d find when I was back home I was allergic to them!
After a couple of years I’ve nearly got used to it again, but do occasionally have to take an antihistamine. You can buy them mega cheap from Amazon. For some reason only a couple of types work for me.
Stopping the dogs going in the bedroom helped a lot though.
It’s not the end of the world, I’d still rather have the dogs.
After a couple of years I’ve nearly got used to it again, but do occasionally have to take an antihistamine. You can buy them mega cheap from Amazon. For some reason only a couple of types work for me.
Stopping the dogs going in the bedroom helped a lot though.
It’s not the end of the world, I’d still rather have the dogs.
tim0409 said:
I own a dog and I’m also allergic to it, and my advice would be to proceed with caution.
When I was growing up we took in a stray cat and I had no issues but something changed in the last 25 years and I’m now allergic to cats and dogs (more so cats). This became really apparent when visiting my mother in law as she had a cat. My wife really wanted to own a dog and after 10 years of gently pressure I relented, which in many ways has been a really bad decision, not least because he is anxious/reactive and can’t be left alone for long. Despite being a short hair breed (Vizsla) I need to take a tablet every day; it works but I notice the symptoms return within a few hours of not taking it. We keep our house “clean” but I think living in the same house as a dog is obviously going to cause more issues than a short interaction so that’s why I urge caution. I take Fexofenadine, which doesn’t give any side effects that I’m aware of but I wouldn’t recommend anyone have to take a medication for 10-15 years unless they have to. My allergy hasn’t improved over the last five years.
That said, whilst getting our dog was a mistake, I love him dearly and we have just learned to make compromises…..
We had a GSP, which is basically that dog in a different colourway. I was also a bit allergic to it.When I was growing up we took in a stray cat and I had no issues but something changed in the last 25 years and I’m now allergic to cats and dogs (more so cats). This became really apparent when visiting my mother in law as she had a cat. My wife really wanted to own a dog and after 10 years of gently pressure I relented, which in many ways has been a really bad decision, not least because he is anxious/reactive and can’t be left alone for long. Despite being a short hair breed (Vizsla) I need to take a tablet every day; it works but I notice the symptoms return within a few hours of not taking it. We keep our house “clean” but I think living in the same house as a dog is obviously going to cause more issues than a short interaction so that’s why I urge caution. I take Fexofenadine, which doesn’t give any side effects that I’m aware of but I wouldn’t recommend anyone have to take a medication for 10-15 years unless they have to. My allergy hasn’t improved over the last five years.
That said, whilst getting our dog was a mistake, I love him dearly and we have just learned to make compromises…..
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