Would you keep the dog in this scenario?

[MegBusset]

DS1 has many allergies - eczema, various food ones and cats. He had never reacted to dogs (has had regular contact with them at his childminder's for eight months). At his last hospital appt his paed said that if he hadn't reacted to his CM's dogs for six months then we should be fine to get a dog ourselves.

So we have given a home to a very lovely rescue dog, he came a couple of weeks ago and we all love him. DS1 has been fine stroking him, however his hay fever has been bad so I took him to hospital today for testing just in case it was caused by the dog. Skin prick test came up negative.

So far so good, except... the paed we saw today (different one from last time) seemed very disapproving of our having got a dog. He was at great pains to point out that DS1 could still become allergic to the dog even after a couple of years. DH and I are now worrying that we have done the wrong thing, I would love to keep the dog (obviously if DS1 started reacting to him then we'd have to rethink) but is that irresponsible of us? What would you do in this situation?

[VeryStressedMum]

I'd keep the dog, he's not allergic to it. He might in a few years but then again he might not.

[ameliarose2012]

I'd keep the dog. Are you going to restrict contact with everything he might become allergic to? Seems a silly way to go about it to me! xxx

[Merrylegs]

Tricky. You can grow out of allergies as well as develop them so I would be wary of living my life 'what if'.

OTH it's miserable to be wheezy and sneezy in your own home.

Could you have someone else look after the dog for a week and see if the hayfever eases?

Plus invest in a cat and dog miele hoover or similar and lots of mopping to repel dander?

[MegBusset]

Thanks all. He's not wheezing at the moment, he has a stuffy nose and itchy eyes but that's the tree pollen around at the moment. He has been prescribed cetirizine which he hadn't tried before so hopefully that will help.

I definitely need to get a hard-core vacuum cleaner! Dog is not allowed upstairs or on the sofa, and we have laminate flooring downstairs.

[naty1]

Im allergic to cats but not dogs.
It may help if you keep the dog out of bedrooms etc. and wash hands after petting. My OH parents keep theirs in the kitchen mainly.
If you did want a dog and no worry about it i think poodles have hair not fur.
Cats are quite different their saliva etc irritates
And they climb on beds get in your room etc.