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.

I think it’s too late for you OP. You should not have married a man who lives with dogs if you do not like living with dogs yourself. I don’t blame you though, they can be very disgusting. You will just have to work harder to keep your baby clean and safe. I’d tell your DH that he is sole carer of the dogs from now on.
While limiting dogs to outside and conservatory is too much to ask, I don’t see a problem with limiting your bedroom and baby’s bedroom to humans only. Also teach your step child to wash their hands after petting/playing with dogs AND before touching newborn if you are worried about hygiene.

Baby shampoo diluted in warm water is great for sticky eyes. Try it on the dog .

On a purely factual basis, I can sort of understand your concern, when you are pregnant the urge to proctect your baby is very strong and will continue after birth.

I searched as genuinely didnt know if dogs carry a risk of infection to children, I found this article, it lists both negatives and positives of dog ownership and some of the infections are not around in this country, like rabies. I was suprised that you can catch norovirus from a domestic dog though.

It is a little cruel however to force the dog to live in the conservetory, you day your DH wants to be in comfort and watch the flat screen, is that in your kitchen then as you state the dog is currently only allowed in the kitchen.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5319273/

"Think of a newborn baby breathing it that smell"

Oh not! Not a smell!!!

Nobody is saying the dog comes above the baby ffs. You don't get to treat a dog like shit just because you've got a new baby. OP, what qualified person has told you the baby won't be safe? Because that is your anxiety and dislike of the dog talking. The dog is not a hygiene risk and if you bothered to actually read the replies you'd see plenty of posters have grown up and their kids grow up with pets and haven't had any harm come to them.

GreytExpectations so the dog will still be in the house, exactly as I said. He never goes upstairs now anyway so she is only reducing the rooms he can access by 1 (or maybe 2). WTF is wrong in your life that you think it is acceptable to come on here and berate a women who has had 4 miscarriages and is understandably nervous about her new baby being around a dog with an infection. Maybe you could consider explaining to her a little more kindly that the infection would likely not be passed on to the baby (if that is the case) instead of treating her like some mass murder.

The poor dog is old and in not too great health leave him be. He isnt going to be licking and pawing your new baby by any means. He probably just wants to potter around and chill out near his human

plenty of posters have grown up and their kids grow up with pets and haven't had any harm come to them.

and read the papers and you will see where babies have been killed by dogs. Someones personal experience doesn't give you a balanced view. Of course the op knows that for the vast vast majority of household with kids and dogs there will be no issues but that doesn't really help her particular situation.

How exactly have I berated the OP? I've said pretty much the same things as many others on this thread have said, yet you seem to be targeting just me @OliviaPopeRules

Also, she has said it limiting the dogs access to just one room, not sure why you aren't getting that.

How on Earth is the sex of this dog outing?

Even putting that aside, YABVU. The dog was there before you. It needs proper medical care, not shutting out ffs. You sound like the baddie in a kids film.

and read the papers and you will see where babies have been killed by dogs.

That's not relevant in this case as the OP's concerns are hygiene related and the dog hasn't been described as aggressive or a risk in that regards.

You are being completely unreasonable and actually rather horrid.

Babies need germs.

Your husband should get rid of you tbh

and read the papers and you will see where babies have been killed by dogs

If you read the papers you will see where babies have been killed by their parents...

Ok so I’m going to ignore the whole “dog should be kept out of the house” bit and tell you about our dog who had skin/eye/ear issues. We took her to one vet for a year who prescribed vvv expensive injections which did nothing for her, at the end of our tether we changed the vet who prescribed a simple steroid that cleared everything. She is now on regular steroids and hasn’t had a problem since. If whatever your vet is prescribing isn’t working, he/she is wrong, try someone else and get a different diagnosis.

I honestly can not believe some of the comments on here! I do not think OP is being unreasonable at all!
Dogs have this horrendously awful smell that makes me feel like throwing up

Which is fine, but surely anyone who felt like that would not get into a relationship with a loving dog owner.

Also, she has said it limiting the dogs access to just one room, not sure why you aren't getting that

He only had access to 2 rooms before so it is still only 1 less.

I'm not singling you out I said lot so people replying were a disgrace. You quoted what I had written so I replied to you!

As you're so keen on the bloody conservatory, why don't you live in it?

It sounds like your dog has trachoma, repeated infections of which can cause eyelid changes that make the eyelashes turn in towards the eyeball, it is hugely irritating, painful even and starts a vicious circle of irritation and infection. The solution for severe cases may be surgery to reposition the eyelashes. Have you has advice on alternative solutions from your vet.

I don’tthink confining the dog to a couple of rooms is a humane solution but lots of people separate dogs and children for very sensible reasons, only allowing supervised contact - wouldn’t this be the best? As for your SC I guess it depends how old they are but ‘wash your hands if you touch the dog’ is understandable even for 3 year okds - speaking as parent of a 4yo human and owner of a 4 yo dog.

I've read some shite on MN, but dogs causing miscarriages and being a health risk
YABU.

Megan2018 did you read the op had 4 miscarriages and is having he first baby or do you just not have any empathy that you think is acceptable to post something as vile as you have.

but dogs causing miscarriages she never said the dog caused the miscarriage, I think she included the information to maybe explain her anxiety but never mind you just use it as a stick to beat her.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay because o will need to use the kitchen. Why does the dog need to have access to the kitchen where food is prepared? Surely the dog just needs a warm place to sleep and chill out and some company

Baby and dc come first
If the conservatory is warm and clean and nice environment for the dog then there no issue get a sofa in ther and Dh can spend time with dog there and he’s an adult so can wash his hands etc well after
Dog may prefer leave and quiet tbh

Also change vet and try to get better treatment for dog too.