Allergy to dog????

[Joycey29]

My ds1 is 1 and has always been snotty and chesty sounding. Put up with it - then switched to goats milk which did help a little but still not right.Off for a chest x-ray soon but..... we were away for 2 weeks and the dog was in kennels. Everyone who visited comented on his chest being clearer and he was so much happier when we returned. Within a day of the dog being back he was chesty, coughing and snotty. Could it be the dog or yet another cold?
He rubs his eyes alot - but is that just tiredness?
Off to doctor again this week - can he test - obviously don't want to get rid of dog if not his fault??
V confused!!!

It sounds very much like your son is allergic to the dog I'm afraid! My dd is allergic to dogs, cats, rabbits and is anaphylactic to horses. To dogs and cats she gets snotty, itchy eyes, wheezy/coughs a lot. It is the 'dander' which causes the reaction which is the skin flakes & hair folicles and also the saliva of the animals. I have seen a spray on the market that you can brush into the animals coat to minimize the reaction though I'm not sure what it;s called.
Your GP won't be able to make a definite diagnosis without a blood or skinprick test which they are often reluctant to do on a baby unless the reaction is severe. I have to say also that my daughter started to show signs of allergy/asthma at 2yrs and it has got progressively worse over the years. If she goes into a house with a cat she will start to suffer within 20mins. Stock up on antihistamines, though this can make them drowsy and irritable! Best of luck. x

I had to get rid of my cats for similar issues with DS, but we kept the dog because i'M A big believer in the 'too clean' theory - I think it's good for their immune systems to build up a tolerance.
I'm allergic to cats but not to my own, because over the years I have built up the resistance.
I would invest in a brilliant hoover - 2 friends recommend the kirby and also regularly grooming and washing the dog... (she says, despite dredfully neglecting her own !!!)

Thanks for your input! Have had the dog for the whole of DS's life and he is not improving at the moment - happy for him to be around other dogs but not sure we should keep ours as seems a bit harsh if it is affecting him and making him miserable.
However, while we decide what to do might invest in decent hoover - what is a kirby???