Does anyone have a dog with a family member with an allergy?

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

My son has multiple allergies and desperately wants a dog.
He's made it his life's work, and 3 years down the line he's still desperate.

He's allergic to dogs - even the 'hypoallergenic' ones. He gets hives when the first touches his skin. So far is doesn't effect his breathing or eyes or nose. Just direct contact. He can stroke them no problem, cuddle them even.
But if he were the cuddle them with shorts and t-shirt he would get hives.

When our 2 year old goes to school we will have the time and money to have a dog. I'm in and out the house all day long so it wouldn't be on its own for periods of time, we would also employ a daily dog walker so it would never be alone for more than an hour.

Our hurdle is the allergies.
For DH and I it's a flat no because of the allergy.

But DS is insisting I explore all areas for example

"Is there something I can take?"

"Is there something we can wash the dog with to reduce the allergies?"

"Can we get a hairless dog"

The answers as far as I know is

No, antihistamines won't stop the hives. We have tried. It might reduce the itch slightly but it won't prevent a reaction.

Maybe, there's something you can buy to wash the dog with to reduce the dander. But is that bad/mean to the dog?

No. Hairless dogs are weird and it doesn't make any difference to the shedding of their dander.

I just wondered what other people's experience and opinions were from those who understand the world of allergies please and trying to be inclusive of those who want allergies.

And please don't suggest other types of pets.

We have other hairless pets and he adores them and looks after them so well. But the want for a dog just hasn't warned.

Please excuse my effing iPhone changing my words.

Why don’t you start with an organisation like Borrow my Doggy? You can take someone else’s dog for regular walks or dog sit. Then you can see how it affects your son’s health.

I’m sure you will get medical advice first .

@R0SEMARY

Why don’t you start with an organisation like Borrow my Doggy? You can take someone else’s dog for regular walks or dog sit. Then you can see how it affects your son’s health.

I’m sure you will get medical advice first .

We have done that, that's how we learned he was allergic. Before Borrowmydoggy, we didn't think he had a dog allergy.

I am allergic to so many things including dogs. I got a very small dog, think toy breed and over time I built up a resistance to him. The first few months were itchy, but I bathed and brushed him regularly and kept the house scrupulously clean. I had him 10 years in the end.

I'm allergic to dogs, but it's normally watery eyes.
I have a Keeshond, they have double coats. I've never been allergic to her in any way.
If you join the Keeshond club on fb I'm sure someone nearby will let you meet up and pet their dog, we are very proud of our keeshonds.
They are gentle dogs and adore children.
They do have a sharp bark and will let you know if anyone approaches your home.

I have many allergies too, including dander but I have two shih tzus and a cat. I take daily fexofenadine in the morning and otc piriton at bedtime. I sneeze occasionally, have watery eyes sometimes, but I put up with that because they're so important in my life. Good luck.

Ok so it's not totally ridiculous to consider it then.

My son is allergic to dogs and quite a few other things proven by allergy testing. We now have a dog.
My sister is also very allergic to dogs but also has one. We even went to crufts before she got hers so she could hang out with the breed she wanted.
We started our process by looking after her dog for a few weeks. First 24 hrs my ds was a bit itchy, second day not so much. We now have a so called hypoallergenic mix (not a doodle breed) and all is fine. Ds was a bit itchy/wheezy the first 24 hrs, a bit like an adjustment period but now fine.

Ds still can’t cope with labs or spaniel type dogs, even just walking one outside sets him off. It’s weird and I don’t quite understand it but 3 months in and our lovely crazy dog hasn’t caused ds any problems.

We have a dog and allergies/asthma. Like PP said you do get somewhat desensititsed to your own animal. My DH would get hives from someone elses dog but be ok with ours. I have a short-haired breed which is easy to clean, I don't have experience of a hairy dog.

Your DS would need to take antihistamines every day.

Here's what helped for us. (extra work for you/DH!):

• Dog doesn't go in bedrooms ever.
• Dog bed outer cover is washed every week (I made a couple of loose cover from fleece throw to make this easier)
• If dog goes on sofa, there is a fleece throw that is washed every week (buy 2 so you can put a second one on straight away)
• All the fleece blankets are tumble dried after washing to remove hair.
• Dog is brushed outside weekly with rubber dog brush
• Dog is wiped down when it comes in from walk to remove sweat/mould/pollen
• Dog is washed in shower fortnightly

Your son, especially fo rthe first few months needs to be careful not to cuddle or stick his face in the dog or let it lick him, just stroke it with his hands, he could use something like a grooming glove. Encourage him to interact with the dog by playing with toys or doing training.

How old is he? I ask this because with the best will in the world he will love it, but you will be looking after it because dogs are so much more responsibility than others pets, it’s not appropriate for a child to raise a dog. They can and do bite, dislike other dogs, need training, need obedience and are not toys. Loads of people get dogs for their kids, but you should get a dog for adult reasons.

I have a non moulting dog and he’s good with kids but he got rehomed to me because being pulled around by a 2yo made him very anxious and upset.

How old is your son? Will he be doing all the work of the dog or will it be you? That might put me off regardless of allergy issues.

As someone with chronic hives it is very tedious. Having it for one day is one thing, having it relentlessly is another. Yes anti-histamines control it but the itch still breaks through and it drives me nuts.

With the dog I'd also be worried about asthma all the time. Once you have got it and he's in love with it, it would be a lot harder to get rid of if he did start coughing/wheezing.

Another thing that helps is having all hard flooring downstairs ( tiles, vinyl, laminate or wood ) and no rugs . And as a PP said, NEVER letting the dog upstairs / in your bedrooms.

When you borrowed a dog before, did your son become desensitised to that dog? How often / long did you care for it in your own home?

@AnnaMagnani

How old is your son? Will he be doing all the work of the dog or will it be you? That might put me off regardless of allergy issues.

As someone with chronic hives it is very tedious. Having it for one day is one thing, having it relentlessly is another. Yes anti-histamines control it but the itch still breaks through and it drives me nuts.

With the dog I'd also be worried about asthma all the time. Once you have got it and he's in love with it, it would be a lot harder to get rid of if he did start coughing/wheezing.

It would be a family dog, a combined effort. He's 10.

All the other stuff you have said is exactly what goes round my head.

You can say no to him. Some things are just not meant to be

I wouldn't do it - allergies can get worse over time in some cases and he may end up with life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Ds has a few allergies, dogs being one of them. We didn't realise until he was tested. Mil had a dog and we just thought there must be something in the dogs food Ds was allergic to as the dog used to lick him and he'd come out in hives - eejits that we were. Anyway once he was tested for numerous things we found out he was indeed allergic to dogs. Secretly I was happy as I don't want one while the rest of the household do want one. So we won't be getting one. I wouldn't put him through the discomfort. I also wouldn't want to be medicating Ds daily just so we could have a dog - unecessary imo.

It would be a family dog, a combined effort. He's 10

You need to speak to some families who already have dogs. It’s always the mum who does most of the work.

You’ve already said that your husband is against it, so why would he share the work? And your DS will be at school all day .

And he’s too young to walk the dog alone after dark ( unless you live somewhere very safe ) or take it to the vet or to training classes etc.

Who will walk the dog in the evenings ?

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou

Ok so it's not totally ridiculous to consider it then.

Yeah, it kind of is

I just came back to say that there are long term affects of the medications too - particularly if he had to take multiple courses of steroids.

I'm allergic to dogs. Then I met my partner who had a greyhound. We now have three greyhounds and I'm fine.

A lot of people are allergic to dogs and it's not just down to their fur. My ds is allergic to my dm's "hypoallergenic" dog. It's become worse as he has become older. Now he needs to take an antihistamine and his inhaler before he goes around and, if at all possible, he stays outside - when he comes home he has to have a bath and get his hair washed. My DM loves for us to visit but we've just about stopped going around whenever there is bad weather I can't imagine how you could manage having a dog in the house if he is as reactive as my son.

We had a dog who we sadly had to have pts earlier this year but I was allergic to her. Constant sneezing when I was home with watery eyes and occasional hives. I just took a daily antihistamine year round and used a nasal spray like Sterimar to help my nasal symptoms.

So no it's not totally unfeasible to get one.

So you know that your DS is allergic to dogs even the hypoallergenic ones. So why are you even considering getting one? The fact they affect his breathing is just too dangerous to even consider getting one.

My DS has allergies and it is an ongoing balance but I wouldnt stick some nuts around the place to see how he gets on. As I already know how he reacts. Chronic eye itching, runny noses , asthma , hives isnt a very nice way to live. It is very uncomfortable and therefore I think you should be talking to your son and saying no. He may grow out of it as he gets older but for now it should be a no

@mynameisbrian

So you know that your DS is allergic to dogs even the hypoallergenic ones. So why are you even considering getting one? The fact they affect his breathing is just too dangerous to even consider getting one.

My DS has allergies and it is an ongoing balance but I wouldnt stick some nuts around the place to see how he gets on. As I already know how he reacts. Chronic eye itching, runny noses , asthma , hives isnt a very nice way to live. It is very uncomfortable and therefore I think you should be talking to your son and saying no. He may grow out of it as he gets older but for now it should be a no

I think you need to re-read my first post. Because you read it allllllll wrong. 👍

@PuffinMcHuffin

I just came back to say that there are long term affects of the medications too - particularly if he had to take multiple courses of steroids.

I wouldn't have my child on constant steroids. That's a huge leap