Allergies and new puppy

[Teaandchocolate2222]

My son is desperate for a dog but sadly is allergic to them. He is fine if I give him antihistamines but I'm not sure if that's a good enough reason to go ahead. I do think he would get a lot out of having a dog. We did have one when he was younger so there's a chance that he might be ok. Would you risk it?!

[Crocky]

No, I don’t think I would. I’m just thinking about how heartbroken your son would be if it didn’t work out and his allergies got worse.

[Teaandchocolate2222]

I know, it's the heartbreak of never having one versus the heartbreak of never trying. I'm very torn as he is so desperate.

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

What about a hypoallergenic breed like poodles?

[Teaandchocolate2222]

We tried that but I think he's allergic to the dander/saliva.

[Wolfiefan]

@TooExtraImmatureCheddar there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic breed.
I am apparently allergic to dogs. I have severe asthma and had testing. I am fine with my wolfhounds but a golden retriever starts me off every time!
How old is your son?
How was the allergy diagnosed?
What form does the allergy take?
Have you ever met a dog he was ok with?
Apologies for all the questions.

[Teaandchocolate2222]

Funnily enough golden retrievers are the worst for him! He is fine with some dogs but we don't have enough friends with them to spot a pattern. A friend with a Bassett seems not too bad. He gets itchy and sometimes little hives. Also can set off his asthma but fine if he has his pump. Always goes away with antihistamines. We are looking at a cocker/beagle cross. Son is 9 years old.

[Teaandchocolate2222]

Also to add we had a Rottweiler up until he was 3 and he seemed ok there too so either the allergies only started later or he was fine or acclimatised time that dog.

[Andthen]

Bumping for you Op

[Stellaris22]

I have a basset and am mildly allergic with asthma. As long as I take an antihistamine daily and use my preventer inhaler I'm fine. The itching is really noticeable if I forget the antihistamine.

It is possible and for me just a nuisance, but good to find out if it's feasible long term for your son.

[Wolfiefan]

I would avoid a cross personally. Purely because you have less idea what you’ll end up with.
In non Covid times I visited lots of examples of the pedigree dogs I was interested. I asked first then got up close. Really cuddly wrap my arms round them and lie on the bed with them and bury my face in their fur!
Personally I would try a pedigree. Contact the breed club and meet as many as possible.
But do remember that allergies can get better but can also worsen. The very worst outcome is you have to give up a pup.

[OliveButler]

I have allergies (no way could have a cat) and I have a short haired greyhound mix. For the first few weeks I got a rash from where he licked etc but after that, no reaction at all. I do take strong antihistamine at a high dose because I am allergic to lots of things but I now sleep with my dog in the bed and am absolutely fine.
I don't know if I would make that decision on behalf of a child though. You could try dog sitting maybe and see how that goes.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

I always wanted a dog as a child but with asthma and hay fever brought on quickly I never thought I'd get one. I used to walk other people's dogs for them though and that was better for my allergies as I was outside.

I did a lot of research as an adult and ended up trying out poodles. I spoke to a breeder and she let me meet her adult poodle first and I made sure I had lots of contact with it. I was fine so when the puppies came I went and spent time with them.

I ended up getting a pup on the agreement that the breeder was more than happy to have him back at any time and keep him for herself. (She was lovely!). Her concern being that even if I wasn't allergic to the puppy hair, I could be allergic to him once his adult coat came in.

For the first few weeks I was slightly more asthmatic than usual. So I had antihistamines and used an air purifier. It never was anything other than slight though. He also was not allowed upstairs.

He's two now and I'm not allergic at all to him. He doesn't shed at all. Not a single hair.

There are a few non shedding dogs out there. As you said it's usually the dander and spit that cause allergies, so having a dog that doesn't shed helps massively. Maybe you could try to choose a few options but ask breeders if you can meet them a number of times before making a decision.

If I'm honest I'm not sure I would risk it if it had been my child that was allergic. As I said, I always was desperate for a dog as a child but I managed with walking other dogs until I was an adult and able to make the decisions myself. I would have felt awful as a child if I had been the reason for a dog being sent back to the breeder, and I'm not sure I would have been honest about how I was being affected because of that.

[Itsrainingnotmen]

Ime breed choice is a fluke. Our Rotty had me red raw and rashy!! Our Husky makes me sneeze but no rash! Lots of hand washing here and the odd anti histamine.. Ds 5 has asthma but isn't affected at all.
We had ddogs before ds. He has never been affected. Me on the other hand still itchy and snotty at 49!

[Teaandchocolate2222]

So we went to see the puppies tonight. My son had a reaction but it was loads better than he's had before. The puppies were licking his neck and face and he had a bit of an itchy rash. His eyes didn't swell like last time and he was ok without antihistamines. But.... not completely allergy free. He's obviously desperate to get one. Husband thinks wait a little longer in case he's growing out of his allergies altogether. Gah this is so hard!

[Wolfiefan]

I wouldn’t. He’s already reacted and the reaction could well get worse if he has to live with the dog 24/7.

[PollyRoulson]

Your Oh is right.

There will be way too many emotions involed if you have to give the puppy back. Including unsettling the puppy when the risk is quite high that it can not stay with you.

If your DS showed a reaction after being with the puppy for a short time this will obviously be increased if the dog is in the environment for 24/7.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

I wouldn't risk it either. Like I said - I always wanted a dog when I was younger. It didn't happen because of my allergies. It was fine. Not a defining part of my childhood. I managed to work a way to get one as an adult but I wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for a puppy having to be rehomed as a child. For my sake and the puppy's sake.

[vanillandhoney]

No, don't. It's not fair on your son to have to live like that.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Also he had a reaction being with them for a limited time. If he had a puppy at home the puppy hair would get everywhere. And so even if he limited his time with the pup (kind of defeating the object anyway) the hair would be all over, including just in the air.