Pet Allergy Question

[fern_tree]

Hey everyone! Hate to be a bother and ask for help again, but this is more important than last time DX. I've already found some tips on the internet and asked some people for advice, but I need to make sure I've found as much as humanly possible. Seriously, this is important.

Has anyone had any experience with pet allergies?Has ANYONE lived

Comments

[strainconductor]

Um well, depends on the type of animal. I have two dogs and they're outside dogs. I'm allergic to both cats and dogs and their saliva aside from just sneezing (IE I can't let them lick me).

For the most part I play with them on nice breezy/clear days and I can get no allergies. On days or places that are stuffy my allergies get worse.

I asked a cat foster mom about what to do with cats and allergies. She said she takes allergy medicine(US Claritin, dunno if it sells in the UK) and gives her cats regular baths so they don't have to bathe themselves, as when they lick themselves clean this is what can trigger allergies.

And yes allergies can fade, I am allergic to some dogs and not all, the same with cats.

I hope you are ok and don't need to take drastic measures!!

[fern_tree]

It's a dog - my mum's just told me that she's feeling constantly ill, and that she can't carry on with our dog in the house if she's going to feel like this all the time. So I'm desperately trying to find anything I can do to help keep the dog.

Regular baths and playing outside.... We can do that.

So you can be allergic to a dog for a bit, then the allergy to the same dog might fade a bit?

Yeah, I'm okay thanks. Just having a bit of a rubbish week, everything combined @___@

[strainconductor]

Um it may fade, it may take years though. I mean if you are able to keep the dog outside most of the day please do! It helps loads.

And some days are worse than others for me, depending how strong my body is that day.

And many *HUGS*

[fern_tree]

Yeah. We're hoping that when the warmer weather comes we can keep him outside more, so hopefully that'll help.

Ahh okay, so it might vary from day to day? Do you find if you're feeling particularly stressed that it gets worse?

Thankyou *HUUUUUGS*

[time_testudinem]

I am allergic to pet hair and dander. When I was a teenager, my family got a dog. I lived in the same house with the dog for several years, and it worked out OK, but required training the dog accordingly. Our dog was closed into the kitchen at night (where her doggy bed was) to keep her from sleeping on any of the furniture. She was trained never to climb on people's laps unless invited to do so first, and she was NEVER allowed in my room. These might be difficult to retain an older dog to, but were simple when we started with a new puppy.

Since then there have also been several new drugs developed. I never had any luck with Claritin, but Zyrtec has been a miracle for me and nearly eliminates all my allergies now.

[fern_tree]

Ahh, that's good... We already make our dog sleep in the kitchen at night and he's not allowed in my mum's bedroom, so hopefully soon that'll make a difference. How easy was it to train her not to jump up unless invited to? My dog's about one and a half, so he probably could still be trained to do that...

Cool, thankyou. I'll have a look to see if we can get any Zyrtec. Thanks for your help <3

[fern_tree]

Ahh okay, so you've managed to build up some resistance to it? My mum thinks she's been mildly allergic for about 20 years, but our new dog's breed is apparently a bad one for allergy sufferers.

Well groomed and bathed. Okay, we can do that. Cool.

Thanks for your help <3

[fern_tree]

He's a daschund cross, and a shorthair, but apparently daschunds are bad for allergy sufferers. I'm not sure why. But yeah, at least he isn't a longhair dog... I imagine that would be worse.

[space_oddity_75]

I'm allergic to cats (although I now own six, including the newborns), and even moreso to dogs and horses, but living with my cats for many years has made the symptoms fade a lot.

As a child, when I got close to these animals to pet them, I used to have huge problems breathing, a sort of asthma which was treated with anthistaminic products (Aliflux, Clarityn etc.), but I hardly have these symptoms anymore now. Only when I go to the vet do I feel worse nowadays, because of all the hairs that are in the air and on the floors. As soon as I leave the vet office I feel immediately better, though.

Anyway, every person is different when you talk about allergies, so it's always better to have some allergy tests done before you decide to keep a pet. Good luck!

[fern_tree]

Ahh ok, that's interesting. Thanks. So your allergies have faded over time? My mum thinks she's been allergic to our dogs for 20 years but didn't realise what it was. And our new dog's breed is one that's quite bad for allergies. So maybe the longer we have him, the better the symptoms'll get...?

Yeah, I'm trying to persuade her to go privately to get an allergy test done, which'll cost money, but if it means I can keep my dog it has to be worth it! I don't think I could cope if we had to give him away ;__;

[basaltgrrl]

I was told years ago that I had some degree of allergic reaction to dogs and cats. I've lived with a dog for years - however, it's a breed that supposedly is less allergenic. I also take claritin or zyrtec daily. I have heard that bathing the dog regularly helps, and I remember buying some product once that was supposed to wash more allergens off the dog. Don't remember what that product was!

[fern_tree]

Ahh okay... So your breed's a good one for allergies? We took ours on without knowing my mum was allergic and we've had him for months now... But this allergy just seems to have sprung up all of a sudden. Daschunds and crossbreeds (of which my dog is both) are supposed to be worse for allergy sufferers apparently :(

Claritin or Zyrtec... Okay. Do those give you any side effects ever, so do they seem to do the job well?

Yeah, we've bought some spray and wipe stuff that's supposed to pick up the pet dander and help allergies, but we have yet to test it.

Thanks <3

[basaltgrrl]

As far as I know, the non-shedding breeds are better for allergies.

Zyrtec is, in my experience, slightly more effective than Claritin. Both of them seem to basically have no side effects! I just notice an increase in symptoms if I forget to take them. I have tried nasal sprays in the past (I have a lot of upper respiratory symptoms) and those seem to have more side effects, plus are more annoying to take.