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.

She asked if she is being unreasonable and most have said yes, nothing is wrong with people being honest to her.

Except the poster I mentioned didn't just say SWBU she said she was horrid and her husband should get rid of her. I don't think that is necessary or acceptable to talk to a first time mother who has anxiety about something related to her newborn baby.

Could you not put it in day care?
(the baby, obviously)

YABU a baby shouldn’t be left alone with a dog so why does it matter where the poor dog is? It’s not like your going to rub your baby all over the dog!

Try swapping to non allergenic food-we use forth glade and I recommend a product you can use in food and on their skin- it’s called non-stinky stuff- I put a teaspoonful in my dogs bowl once a day and u can also apply to dogs skin- it helped clear up a dry itchy patch dog had developed which vets couldn’t get to bottom if- thought it was allergic reaction- took couple of weeks and his sling is perfect now . Don’t restrict dog- by all means gate off areas - dog was here first- best way to bring up healthy child is with animals and not be too clean!

Poor dog. Yabu OP. Whilst I can appreciate your concerns regarding hygiene, the dog was on the scene before you. Your partner loves his dog and understandably wants to make it (him/her) comfortable in its later years. You'll have to put up with it! Or move out?! I'd love to see someone come into my home and demand my dog is relegated to an area of the house just for their convenience. They'd soon be shown the door.
The dog has needs as well as you so please be kind to it (sorry don't like using the word 'it').

Surely people get that a baby’s health is the most important thing (or not, judging by this thread!)

Except the dog isn't posing a health risk to the baby, unless the OP decided to rub the eye gunk all over her newborn, which is unlikely.

I think the point you are missing that everyone agrees a baby comes first but that doesn't mean treating a dog cruelly.

@Runtowintowalk my thought process was that I know in eye infections and puss you get staphylococcus. I was thinking of baby getting tummy upsets. That's what I was worried about

@Runtowintowalk well it might and it might not, depends on the type of infection. I wouldn’t take the risk until the infection was clear...would you?

You sound unreasonable, mean and over the top. The dog poses no health risk to anyone - behave yourself.

@OliviaPopeRules I do appreciate you sticking up for me here. Thanks

Children who grow up with pets like dogs have fewer allergies, we all need to be exposed to a variety of bacteria to have good health. Getting dirty is good for us ( up to a point, obv).
I had an elderly dog with small children. He certainly did not make them ill !
The dog needs a safe space to retreat to away from a baby, once your baby starts to crawl, but not a conservatory, which is generally either far too hot for a dog, or far too chilly.

I would definitely shake up the dogs diet OP. A really good Quality food could make all the difference. My dog had recurrent ear infections and when I did a bit of research I found that the food he was getting really wasnt great. I order her a very high quality food now and no more ear infections.
Once you have the eyes sorted you will probably feel better about the dog having more access in the house. I totally get though that with all youve been through with the losses that you might worry more than the average first time mom. I had a similar journey and definetly overanalysed everything. I doubt the dog is any risk to your baby but it would be good to get it sorted before the baby comes anyway for the dog's sake mostly but also for you to feel more comfortable too.

Sorry pressed send by mistake. I fully agree that the baby's health is paramount, it's just that I feel bad for the dog.

I don't think that is necessary or acceptable to talk to a first time mother who has anxiety about something related to her newborn baby.

But it's completly acceptable for the OP to refer to her stepchild as "it" and suggest locking an elderly dog away in one room when it's clear there is a health risk?

@GreytExpectations dogs are inquisitive creates so could quite easily jump up to a newborn.

OPs suggestion is not cruel. A second opinion from a vet is the way to go, meanwhile, keep the dog away from the baby.

I have cats, horse and hens. My baby crawls around covered in cat hair, licks the cat toys, sits in my stable while I muck out and shares a lawn with the hens.

Animals are fantastic for babies.

Yes they need supervision but a few germs are good not bad.

Let’s hope when you have your kid “it” doesn’t have bad skin or ever get conjunctivitis, you won’t let it in the house!!!

fluffyslippersplease no worries. I honestly can't believe how awful some people are being on here. I hope you can get to another vets and get the dogs eyes sorted so that you don't have to worry about it when the baby is born. Or as someone else suggested maybe you could zone of some areas in the kitchen/living area which might help. Best wishes.

[quote Somerandomshittyname]@GreytExpectations dogs are inquisitive creates so could quite easily jump up to a newborn.

OPs suggestion is not cruel. A second opinion from a vet is the way to go, meanwhile, keep the dog away from the baby.[/quote]
It's the responsibility of the parents to then train the dog and ensure the baby and dog are never left alone. Locking a dog away in one room is cruel and if you knew anything about dogs you would know that. A baby’s safety comes first obviously but plenty of households have raised children with dogs and had no issues and they haven't had to lock the dog away.

Does the dog definitely have an eye infection?

The gunk may just be tear duct overproduction, much like the “sleep” we get in our eyes. Some breeds are prone.

If it’s an infection you’ve got a shitty vet if they haven’t given antibiotics to clear it up..

@fluffyslippersplease if neither you nor your husband have gotten this from the dog when interacting with the dog I don’t see how your newborn could get it. Clearly if you haven’t gotten it and it’s a prolonged problem then it’s not contagious and your hand hygiene is sufficient and you can step it up even more once baby arrives. Putting the dog in conservatory all day is just cruel as clearly your DH and stepchild will still pet it and need to be vigilant with their hand hygiene so the dog not being the room makes no difference as a dog and baby should never be unsupervised regardless.

@Somerandomshittyname no I wooodmt take the risk. I’d get it swabbed and if not infected then it’s fine. See above - nothing to be gained from isolating the dog and no sign of transference to Op and her DH who has been actually removing the gunk so how on earth would it affect an immobile newborn.

@fluffyslippersplease

I will need to use the kitchen

Is the dog going to be up on the worktop rubbing its eyes everywhere?

@GreytExpectations

Yes. But the dog is sick. Dogs are spontaneous. If the dog gets proper treatment then OP has made it clear there is no issue.

YABU. You knew the dog was there both when you started the relationship and when you decided to get pregnant.

There's also good evidence of children who grow up with pets having better health
Fewer allergies: www.newscientist.com/article/2188610-the-more-pets-you-meet-as-a-baby-the-lower-your-risk-of-allergies/

Better immune systems, lower rates of asthma: www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/well/family/are-pets-the-new-probiotic.html

Anecdotally, I grew up in a less than clean home, and around dogs, and my immune system seems pretty strong - I was rarely off school as a child and never seem to pick up the bugs going around now I'm an adult.

By all means hold off on the dog licking the baby's face for a few months, but raising a baby in a sterile environment is actively bad for them.

Poor dog. 😢