Wheezy baby & cats

[Kittypickle]

DS (6 months) has had loads of colds and coughs pretty much since he was born. I suffer from hayfever and did very badly when a child, and several of DH's nieces have asthma. DS had bronchiolitis when he was 3 months, but not badly enough to be admitted to hospital. He's been coughing and pretty wheezy again for the last few weeks do DH has just taken him to see the doctor.

The doctor confirmed discussed his wheezing and asked if we had cats ( we have 2) with a subtle suggestion that these could be contributing to the problem. Obviously, without question, DS's health comes first. I just wondered if anyone else had been in the situation of re-homing their animals for this reason and if there was an improvement a few months later ?

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Yes, huge improvement straightaway although it does take a long time to get rid of hairs. Still feel guilty 8 years later for his problems with our dog and cat. DS is allergic to dogs and cats still today.

whilst cat hair can be a problem- it is very common for young babies to wheeze at this time of year. Our GP referred ds1 to a paed at 8 months because of wheezing. The paed said that because babies air passages are so small they get an infection and it can take months to clear, they then get another and so it starts again- he said the problem goes as they get older and the air passages widen (which is has with ds1- ds2 has been rattly all winter- I guess its the same problem). Also recent research showed that children who grew up with a cat in the house were less likely to develop asthma. Which isn't to say that cats aren't a problem for your ds, but that they'renot necessarily. So if they're much loved it might be worth looking at allergy testing first (although I think it is hard to do on a tiny baby).

They are much loved, DD would be devestated if they had to go and one of them is 15. Also, we have just had a whole knocked in the wall which has made things pretty dusty at the moment which I'm sure isn't helping. I think I might ask the doctor about allergy testing and immediatly get a very decent hoover, take up some of the carpet and keep the cats to just one part of the house. I do have a very horrible feeling though that he is allergic to the old one, my Mum doesn't react to any other cats apart from him.

Yes, had this problem with dd1 and our dogs. She had chronic chest infections from 5 weeks and was v. wheezy, culminating in almost constant chest infections for 6 months. Asked doc a number of times whether dogs would be the problems but he said probably not. Dh then got pneumonia (great time - was also 8 months pg) and had allergy tests as well. Turns out he was allergic to the dogs (v rare apparently) and that made it far more likely dd1 was. Rehomed youngest dog (5). Oldest dog was 15 at the time, so she was banished from all family rooms and we were v. careful about vac. all hairs etc. DD1 started to get better almost immediately, and has only had mild coughs/colds since. I realise this is probably not what you wanted to hear, and really do sympathise.

Crikey this sounds just like my history, I have 17mth DD, who had brochilitus at 3 mths old, and has had coughs every 2 weeks since (see other thread under Health-asthma).
I have 3 cats who really only live in the utility /kitchen area. But I hadn't even registered it could be a problem....DUH!

My DP will be happy to get rid of them, as he's not that much in love with them!

I did re-home one cat a couple of years ago as he was very unhappy with my DS, and I actually caught him coming out of his room one morning with DS screaming his head off. Unfortunately he had to go, (cat that is not DS!) and went that day to cats protection league, who found him a home within a couple of weeks. It was easier to deal with than I thought as it was the right thing to do for the cat as well as us.

Not sure how I'd deal with getting rid of my other 3. Now I sound like 'mad cat woman' who had 4 cats!!!!