Is anyone allergic to their dog?

[ChickensThinkYouCanGetStuffed]

DH had some chest tightness when we first got Jasper, but it went away until this weekend when we had to sleep downstairs on the sofa bed. Jasper ran in in the morning and leapt all over DH's head (as they do) and his chest was a little tight then. Again, it went off until last night, when he started coughing again as soon as we got in to bed. I've washed the pillows today as they were on the sofa bed and Jasper pretty much rolled around all of the bedding. DH suffers badly with hay fever, as do both DC. Eldest DC has been a bit snotty on and off since we got the dog, but no itching. DS2 has eczema, which is always worse when the central heating is on, so not sure if his sudden flare up is dog related. We've had the pup for two months now, and I suppose I'm fretting that these mild symptoms might get worse. Does anyone have any experience of living with a pet if you have a mild allergy? I'm hoovering/dusting/mopping daily, we have wooden floors downstairs and pooch is not allowed upstairs.

[louby86]

Hello! I'm allergic to cats and was worried I'd be allergic to but it's quite common for people to build up an immunity. To be honest I do find it worse than usual if it's very cold outside when we go for a walk and then I've got the heating on when we get home. The heating always seems to make my chest feel a b

[louby86]

Don't know what happened there!

As I was saying, the heating on makes my chest feel a bit tighter but I have asthma anyway. With cats I'm worse if windows aren't open or heating is on really high, could that be the same? Sorry I've waffled a bit

[DooinMeCleanin]

I'm allergic to my cat and live quite happily with him. I build up a tolernce to him after a while. I only notice it now when I come back from a cat free holiday.

[ChickensThinkYouCanGetStuffed]

DS2 is scratching like mad all over, DH is trying hard not to cough and DS1 is sniffing like crazy. I think I may scream :(

[ChocDee]

Hi!
I am sadly allergic to my two dogs - well, I am pretty darn sure I am !

When I first started living with DH's dog I did indeed develop immunity. Or actually I do not think I reacted at all. So we got dog number two. Lovely!

But after a few years I started to develop hideous headaches, which got progressively worse. Baaaaaaad headaches which would last for 5 days, and no painkillers would touch them... I went to doctors and hospitals thinking there was something seriously wrong. Eventually I decided to listen when they told me that my allergy levels were very high.

Kicked dogs out of bedroom (at last!!) and stopped the evening snuggles on the sofa. That really helped.

Now we have gone a step further and as well as hoovering and mopping the floors every single day we have also bought an allergen air filter machine thingie. It seems to be working brilliantly! We have got one next to my bed and one in the sitting room. I dread to think what the electricity bill will be though!

We got both machine cheap since we are not in the uk, I know they can be incredibly expensive. One day I would really like a hideously expensive one.... I still get head aches if I over do it, or if friends bring their dogs over. Hopefully it will settle more once I get used to the new puppy.

Yup, I was that stupid.... But he is GORGEOUS!

[suburbandream]

Are you sure it's not the sofa rather than the dog - only because you mentioned sleeping on the sofa bed. My DS1 has just been allergy tested as he's a bit of a wheezer, and it showed up house dust mite allergy, a small reaction to cats (we have two but he hasn't been noticeably worse since we got them) but none to dogs thankfully (we are hoping to get a puppy soon). Unless you are tested it can be quite hard to work out where the problem lies, especially at this time of year when there are coughs and sneezes about anyway.