Hygiene issue with dog and baby

[fluffyslippersplease]

I'm expecting a baby in October. Dh had the dog before we met 5 years ago. I really am not a dog person which Dh knew. The dog is quite old and seems to have chronic problems with skin, ears and particularly his eyes. We had his eyes operated on but the problems persist. It's constantly shedding skin and hair everywhere and its eyes are always filled with gunge. You clean them and apply drops and ten minutes later they're green again. Two vets have just said keep cleaning and use the drops. I'm very concerned about the hygiene aspects of having this dog around the baby, even around me. I've already had four miscarriages. I have suggested to dh that the dog should remain in the conservatory and the garden rather than coming into the main house. Dh is totally against this because he likes to spend time with the dogs and the conservatory, although it has tv, sofa etc, isn't as comfortable as the rest of the house. He acts like I'm Cruella Deville in this and just accuses me of not liking the dog. I don't dislike the dog. I feel sorry for it but I really don't like touching and stroking it because of its problems especially having a baby. We also have a youngish dc he had from a previous relationship that strokes the dog a lot and I worry about it touching the dog and then touching the baby.

Oh calm down @vodkaredbullgirl if swear words upset you maybe you aren't old enough to be using the Internet.

I guess I got an answer to my question

Advocating for someone to use shampoo on a dogs eyes is reckless and stupid. Clearly the dog needs better verinary assistance than what it's currently getting from the vet it's already at. I don't see anything about any part of this thread to joke about.

Veterinary *

If you are not planning in leaving your baby lying about the place unattended I'm not sure what possible harm the dog could be to it?

To be honest I think I would have similar concerns in the OPs position, I'm very much not a dog person and think they arent the most hygienic of animals (of course they can be very useful human helpers but I personally do not want to love with one and don't even really like being around them), but you knew the dog existed before you lived together. I think I maybe wouldn't have brought a baby into the situation if I had such concerns, it isn't fair on the dog. Some good suggestions about finding better vet care for the poor dog, I also wouldn't kick the dog out of the living room it's mean. I may not like being around dogs but I don't want to make them suffer!

@vodkaredbullgirl

I was joking about the fucking swearing.

You clearly weren't joking, you've just now been called out on it and are trying to back track.

You just know the OP will be back in six months complaining that her husband spends too much time in the conservatory-that's-not-a-conservatory with the dog and not enough time in the main part of the house helping her with the baby.

Assuming he hasn't bought a shed in the mean time.

The vet will have mentioned if the eye issue was an infection risk to humans. It's very unlikely anyway. Hair won't harm anyone unless they are highly allergic/asthmatic which you haven't mentioned so assuming isn't the case. I think YABU. Get the dog to new vet for the eye issue though - for his sake rather than yours

@DogInATent 100%!!! AIBU my DH spends every eve after dinner with his dog in the conservatory was instead of with me and it (the baby - must avoid being outing!)

@fluffyslippersplease won’t be happy until dog is banished to garden or conservatory full time and she has her DH and baby in the rest of the house and can pretend the poor dog doesn’t exist so she doesn’t have to look at its poor eyes and face.

I was thinking of baby getting tummy upsets. That's what I was worried about

Well only if baby is ingesting the eye gunk, but even then still unlikely.

I was thinking of baby getting tummy upsets. That's what I was worried about

How would a dog cause a baby to get tummy upsets??

I have suggested to dh that the dog should remain in the conservatory and the garden rather than coming into the main house. Dh is totally against this because he likes to spend time with the dogs

That's horrible. If you're that concerned leave the baby in the conservatory and your room!!

Tummy upsets? Unless you mix the gunk into the baby’s milk or slather it over your nipples I think you’ll be ok.

Op did you know that children that grow up with dogs have a stronger immune system than those that don’t? Less likely to fear dogs. And also (should - god bless the dog - he be around long enough) make wonderful companions for children. Have you thought about trying to view the dog in a different light? And furthermore (my opinion) when a dog is taken into somebodies home what they need and and want is to be treated as part of that family, not separated.

@fluffyslippersplease

I have a dog and I have two young children. The dog came first.

I'm actually really shocked at how you have been treated on this thread. I don't think it's ok to tell someone that their husband needs to 'get rid of them' when they come on here with concerns. I honestly think some posters just enjoy making people feel shit.

Objectively, I think your concerns are understandable. I think any concerns about the health of your baby are understandable when you are pregnant, particularly after 4 miscarriages.

I personally doubt there is any real risk of infection from the eyes but I think it would be totally reasonable to call the vet and ask their opinion on that.

Honestly, when your baby first arrives it will be in someone's arms constantly. It will be a while before it is crawling around and touching the dog. So for now, I would not worry too much. I would insist that anyone holding the baby washes hands first - this is reasonable in any circumstances, never mind the dog. This can include toddler hands.

I would get a baby gate on your kitchen and then if you have baby on a mat on the floor it can't get close. The mat can be kept clean and away from the dog.

Honestly I don't think it's reasonable to confine an elderly dog to one room, unless it is the room you are in. Dogs are pack animals and need company. I think he dog would find being 'put out' in the conservatory distressing which wouldn't be fair but may also cause you further issues with the dog.

Changing the food a good suggestion from pps. Also recommend cutting out the scraps and seeing if that makes a difference.

All the best x

The dog deserves care and love. It does not deserve to not be allowed in the main house. Im on the dogs side but can appreciate that this sitaution is difficult for you.

OP, does the dog need to be inside at all?

So you're actually suggesting that an elderly dog should suddenly be shut outside? Dear god!

Dogs are members of the family and your DH loves yours. Ask the vet whether the eye issue actually poses any risk and what other treatments are available for it.

You are not being unreasonable op. Allowing the dog access to one room plus the garden sounds perfect and reasonable.
The health of your little baby is the most important thing. You dont want your baby crawling around in dog hair and gunk. The kitchen and bedrooms should definitely be off limits.

I haven't read all the posts but unless you have any evidence that the dog is going to cause problems then you're being unreasonable.

You chose to have the baby knowing about the dog’s health so it would be unreasonable beyond belief to force an old dog to live apart from the rest of you in the conservatory.

It sounds like the dog needs more proactive treatment - can you get a second opinion from another vet? The poor thing shouldn’t be living with bad infections in its eyes.

Other than that, you’ll just have to be careful about hand washing and keeping the dog separate from the baby.

The health of your little baby is the most important thing

In what way? Is the hypothetical risk of catching something from the dog, they “hygiene” risk of crawling around in dog hair- vacuums do exist, and a crawling baby will crawl around in far worse than dog hair....

Does that risk outweigh the risks to the baby’s immune system if it isn’t exposed to pets in early life?

The dog is likely more beneficial to the baby’s health than not...