Desperate for a dog

[Grandadwasthatyou]

We would love love love a dog. I knew dh was slightly allergic when I met him. It's strange as he used to have a dog growing up and it never affected him but as he has got older he has become more allergic. Even when we borrowed a labradoodle for the day recently to test what he would be like he had a strong allergic reaction and I had to take the dog home after an hour.

Is it realistic/ healthy for him to take an antihistamine every day? He's willing to do it if it meant we could have a dog. The dc say they would rather my dh lived in the garage so that we could have a dog but I don't intend going that far!

[Soola]

It’s usually the dander (skin flakes) rather than fur isn’t it?

Schnauzer is meant to be a good breed for allergy sufferers.

[Soola]

“Many people assume that it is the coat of the dog, the hair itself that causes the allergenic trigger, but this is not entirely accurate. The actual trigger for allergies in people are the complex proteins that are naturally produced by the skin of the dog, which then coats the hair and is shed throughout the home. The protein compounds for each dog are slightly different, so some dogs will affect some sufferers less than others. Dogs that do not shed their hair prolifically mean that less allergenic dander is spread throughout the home, which can make all of the difference for an allergy sufferer.”

[SirVixofVixHall]

Yes, some dogs will cause more of a reaction than others. What breed did your DH have growing up ? He would probably react less to the dog with daily contact, but it isn’t a given.

[SirVixofVixHall]

I really would not rely on a daily antihistamine, not good for you.

[Grandadwasthatyou]

I think we've accepted that even the so called hypoallergenic breeds still affect my dh greatly. We were also in the home of somebody who owned a Bedlington terrier and he assured us that my dh would not react but not so... he had to leave the house and sit in the car.
It was more whether or not it would be reasonable to have to take an antihistamine every day but I think I know what the answer is realistically as above poster has pointed out.

[NotSoThinLizzy]

I used to take allergy meds every day. I'm allergic to my cats and I have two. When I 1st got them it was hell but now after 3 years i only take it once a week

[Soola]

It’s a difficult one, my daughters boyfriend is allergic to pets and she has a cat, rabbit and guinea pigs and when he started staying at hers he has to take an anti histamine but they’ve been together over a year and he seems to have built up more of a tolerance as he is not as allergic as much.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Most people will build up a tolerance, but it is very hard on the dog if that doesn’t happen, as then you have to re-home a much loved pet, who loves you too.

[Grandadwasthatyou]

Sirvix...that is our concern.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Does your DH remember if he stopped reacting to the dog he had as a child, Eg did he react initially and then calm down ?

[Summertimeatthebeach]

Allergic to ddogs.
I have 4.......
I wash hands after stroking, ddogs don't really roam the house, occasionally take anti histamines. No issues tbh. A woman I know spent ££££ on 2 supposed anti allergic dcats. Her dh was ill. Dr prescribed 3 months anti histamines. Worked a treat. He is fine around them now.
Ps. Most men love a man cave!!

[Grandadwasthatyou]

@SirVixofVixHall ..he had the dog ( a collie so quite hairy) until he met me and left the family home. Then gradually over the months every time we went to visit his parents we realised he was becoming more and more allergic. The dog is not around anymore but I always know when dh has stopped to pat a dog in the street because he comes back in with his eyes red and streaming. He loves dogs and still strokes them even though he knows he will suffer within a few minutes.

We spent the day at a country park today and seeing all the families enjoying time with their dogs just made us want one even more. I really feel for the dc as they constantly ask for one.

[SirVixofVixHall]

So it does sound as though the daily exposure desensitised him to the dog. At the time was he reacting to other dogs, but not his own, or not reacting to dogs in general at all ?

[SirVixofVixHall]

There is a lotion you can buy called Petal Cleanse, that is supposed to reduce the allergens on the dog , so that the humans have much less of a reaction. I haven’t tried it, so I can’t say how well it works, but it is worth googling and reading up.
I know about it as my brother has a cat allergy and I used to have a cat, so I mulled over using it then, but then my cat died.

[Grandadwasthatyou]

Sirvix...he wasn't allergic to any dogs at all but is now terribly allergic.

[GetTheStartyParted]

My DH takes antihistamines every day for various allergies, year round. We have 2 'hypoallergenic' dogs (my nephew reacts to them) and DH is fine. The antihistamines are prescribed to him. I'm not sure if there's a reason people shouldn't take them every day, as the doctor didn't seem to think there was.

[SirVixofVixHall]

There is an increased of dementia I think, if taking certain antihistamines daily for three years or longer.

[GetTheStartyParted]

Thank you @SirVixofVixHall
That's worth knowing and looking into

[Cherrysoup]

Labradoodles often inherit the Labrador coat.

I wonder if you could foster the type you want (find the breed specialist rescue website) as a trial? My bil is allergic and reacts when he comes to us, we have 3 of the same breed, yet when he got his own-same breed-he’s been fine. Possibly cos his wife does frequent housework.