Is this allergy?

[Marasme]

A few years ago, we decided to get a family pet - partly, on my part, to help with anxiety / intrusive thoughts. We eventually settled on two kittens which we visited and adopted, but had to rehome within 2 weeks - I had trouble breathing and felt generally unwell around them (very tight chest, but no hives, no skin reaction, no running eyes or nose). The histamines I got prescribed helped a bit, but I still felt a bit rubbish when taking them. My GP told me to just accept that this was not sustainable and to stay away from cats. I still occasionally go to my neighbour's who has two, and never feel unwell at all, which messes with my head.

This year, having moved to a "dog friendly house" with garden and the DD being old enough to walk home from school to look after a dog, we decided to adopt a puppy, which we visited 2 weeks ago. We saw the litter, the mum, who are living on a working farm (loads of cows, sheep hay, saw dust).

At the time of the visit, I had a sort of cold already, and when we left, I was coughing a bit. But so was my DH, so I tried to forget about it - I still went to the GP, who did a skin prick test for dog allergens, which came back negative, against the big fat positive control histamine blob. GP took my history and, with the negative result, said that there was no reason for me to be allergic to dogs (I used to live on a working farm and never had allergies. I don't suffer from hayfever. The farm I lived on used to have 7 dogs, who lived in close quarters with us (all over the kitchen and sitting areas). My IL, friends, neighbours have dogs - I never had issues around them).

Now puppy is here, and I get the same sore throat feeling (like a lump at the back of my throat, and slightly tingly tongue - nothing else, and breathing is fine). The sad thing with my sort of anxiety (health anxieties, as well as "risk" anxiety - I compute a worst case scenario for everything) is that every little thing gets dissected - DH suggested I popped in a piriton tablet last night, which I did and regretted not long after (tongue feeling weird, feeling super hot and thirstly, lips feeling swollen).

I don't know - I am VERY confused just now (and sad). We have not bathed her (the pup) yet, so she is still very "farmy". We might try this later if she is up for it and not too spooked.

Would welcome perspectives just now.

[Wolfiefan]

TBH if you were so allergic to the cats that you had to get rid of them in two weeks then you may well be allergic to the pup too.
I’m allergic to cats and dogs too. I am allergic to one of my two cats but not the breed of dog I chose.

[Halfcharged]

Sounds like it could be your anxiety playing tricks on you. It doesn’t really sound like an allergy. If it is it sounds very mild. Give the puppy a good brush and a bath.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

I also don't think it sounds like an allergy but based only on how I am affected by allergies. It's more about itchy eyes, sneezing and snotty nose, it can also effect my breathing (I have asthma too but I have always had it).

It sounds very mild to me too.

It's so hard when you expect something to happen, to work out if it's in your mind or not.

[Marasme]

You are right - very much aware that the anxiety could be playin tricks :(

I am not feeling so unwell that I need to medicate (no problem breathing, no snot, just the sore throat thing and maybe lips that feel a bit eh) - I'll bypass the piriton tonight (and foreever, based on yesterdays night sweat and thirst) and see how I get on.

[Wolfiefan]

Piriton shouldn’t cause those symptoms.
What breed? Have you spent time around this breed of dog before?

[Marasme]

Cockapoo - my neighbour has a grown-up one who does not trigger much at all.
I've spent extended amounts of time around dachsies, great danes, springers, whippets. Farm ones I lived with were of unknown breeds / crosses.

If you do not mind me asking @wolfiesan : how do you cope with your cat you are allergic to, on a day to day basis?

[Wolfiefan]

That’s not a breed. It’s a cross. That means you have no idea what sort of coat it’ll have or whether you will react to it. I can’t understand why you wouldn’t go with an actual breed you knew you wouldn’t react to.
Not sure how a sore throat is an allergic reaction though.

[Barbie222]

It sounds like an allergy, sorry. You won't know until you live with a dog. I'm allergic to all the cats I meet, but only some dogs.

[Marasme]

You asked for breed, I told you what we have.

As for why we went for that specific dog, I would answer that it was for a set of several reasons, including having one next door and seeing how good it has been with the kids.

Don't take it the wrong way - I appreciate the answers and time taken to give input, but you have reminded me, in one reply, why I've stayed away from MN for several years and probably felt better for it. Plus ca change...

[Gingerninja4]

I do have allergy but for me I had to take antihistamines for a few months and then my body got used to my dog so am fine and no issues 5 years on even though is hairy lab

Other dogs can still trigger reaction if indoors with then (itchy eyes that swell ,runny nose,cough
Cats are a bigger issue for me struggle to go into someone's house if they have cats

[LochJessMonster]

@Marasme I'll get slated for this but in your defence, a poodle/poodle cross is the most likely breed to not affect your allergies. We have several -poo dogs in our family and my Grandad who is severely allergic to dogs does not react to them at all.
He has also built up a tolerance to my (highly shedding) dog through exposure.

The Winter is the worse as all doors and windows are closed, dog gets wet more often so more hair flying about. Summer should be easier when you can air the house more.

[Wolfiefan]

@LochJessMonster
Not true. A poodle cross is a crossbreed. Who knows what sort of coat it will have.

[LochJessMonster]

The fact is, most cockapoos shed less, produce less dander and are tolerated more by allergy sufferers. So if you are allergic to dogs, a cockapoo is a good choice.

[Wolfiefan]

No. @LochJessMonster. The fact is that they may or may not shed. No one can tell by looking at a crossbred pup what sort of adult coat it will have. It’s a bloody awful (irresponsibly bred) choice.

[LochJessMonster]

irresponsibly bred hmnn and how do you know that? Oh of course, all cockerpoos are puppy farmed...

[Wolfiefan]

Or BYB. Decent breeders don’t breed crosses for cash.

[LochJessMonster]

No, they breed crosses because its what families want. There is no point them breeding wolfhounds because hardly anyone wants wolfhounds. Families want cockerpoos and labradoodles. So that is what they breed.

[Wolfiefan]

Yep. They supply the demand for cute puppies. Who are often bought by people who have no idea what they’re taking on. Just so they can make money.
Buy a poodle. Or a cocker. Or rescue. Don’t put money in these people’s pockets. It’s called worrying about animal welfare.