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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Anyone have dc with asthma and have a dog??

22 replies

Purplerainbow2 · 09/02/2016 16:36

Iv been considering getting a dog for some time. A few things have put me off but I'm working on them. I now no longer work so I'm always around. My ds1 has asd which put me off but Iv read a lot about the benefit (i wouldn't go into this blindly have been doing so much research) and both ds have asthma. We have never had animals in the house so I'm unsure of how a dog would affect their asthma? My sister and brother have dogs and they seem fine being around them for a few hours. If dogs were going to trigger asthma would it be immediate- ish affect or would it take a few days to build up??? I see there are hyper allergenic dogs also which apparently both my brothers and sisters dogs are anyway... Just after some experiences really?

Tia

OP posts:

Lovehearts30 · 09/02/2016 17:20

I'm asthmatic as are 2 of my children. Dogs don't set ours off but hamsters are a trigger for me. I'm ok for a couple of hours but can't live with one. Could you arrange a stay and your sisters or maybe dog sit?

Doodlekitty · 09/02/2016 17:26

I'm asthmatic as is my dh and ds1. We have a dog. We had to be very careful as some dogs set me off while others don't. I tend to find 'wirey ' dogs are bad for me. Would have loved a boxer but mil has one and it makes me ill. My dm has a poodle which is allegedly hypoallergenic. Doesn't set off my Asthma but his saliva irritates my skin.
Our last dog was a goldendoodle which are allegedly hypoallergenic. We were lucky as ours had more poodle than retriever. My friend got one that was more retriever and I can't go to her house any more.

Could you dog walk for a shelter to see how your dc reacts to different breeds?

TeaT1me · 09/02/2016 17:27

Dogs would set me off if I stayed overnight with them. Also the build up of dander from the fur from any animal would affect me. People are different though.

You don't want to get an animal you have to rehome...

redannie118 · 09/02/2016 17:37

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, and so we've agreed to take this down now.

Original poster

Purplerainbow2 · 09/02/2016 17:59

Wow it doesn't seem that simple then! So it could be that they would need a build up or could be instant?! Both my brother and sisters are supposed hyper allergy so is that not really a good test? We've been there approx 6 hours in own go and not had a problem. Dog sitting not really an option with either logistically.

OP posts:

TrionicLettuce · 09/02/2016 18:56

The whole labelling of breeds as "hypoallergenic" is a bit misleading really as even the lowest shedding (or even completely hairless) breeds can still trigger reactions in people who are sensitive because it's mostly the dander or saliva that causes the problems. Whilst the low shedding breeds are less likely to cause reactions there's no guarantee they won't.

DH is asthmatic and reacts to some dogs but not all. In his case he seems to do best with breeds which have extremely short single coats.

If you have a particular breed in mind then the relevant breed club should be able to put you in touch with local breeders who might be happy for you to go meet their dogs and see how (or if) your DSs react.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 09/02/2016 19:33

DD has severe asthma, cannot be within 600yds of a cat but lives quite happily with Mollie the collie and our Copper spaniel.

TeaT1me · 09/02/2016 19:37

But I'd not react playing with a dog outside for half an hour anywhere near ad much as any house that had a dog living in it with all the dog dust in it.

bloom7 · 09/02/2016 19:44

I have asthma and have always had small dogs.
Our Yorkie was great as her hair just grew like human hair, didn't shed at all.

Original poster

Purplerainbow2 · 09/02/2016 20:01

It's so hard as I don't want to make a mistake but dc health comes first. It's hard not knowing!

OP posts:

TeaT1me · 09/02/2016 22:14

Can you go stay with someone with a dog for a few nights?

My friend that owns a cat came around tonight and I'm sneezing away. I've stayed with friends and it is such a struggle I really wouldn't want to put q child in a situation of looking OK but finding breathing hard.

That said not everyone will react like me
. I may have a bit of a "thing" about parents and my asthma though. They smoked with me in the back of the car and it was awful.

Original poster

Purplerainbow2 · 10/02/2016 05:36

There isn't anyone we could stay with that has a dog. There's a rescue centre that would allow us to spend time there but the general consensus looks like you need to be around it a longer period of time for any possible problem to present itself?

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 10/02/2016 08:15

Our dog sheds and it doe at affect DD's asthma at all.
The cats can make her a bit wheezy but only if they sleep on her bed - which they aren't supposed to.

mrslaughan · 10/02/2016 11:31

My two children, myself and my husband are asthmatic - both my children have been in hospital with it - to give you an idea. We have a dog, a shedding variety, have had cats and have horses,.....none of these things are triggers for our asthma.

So I guess what you need to try and understand - it what are the triggers?

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 10/02/2016 11:39

We have a poodle cross for this reason.

Kids are more allergic to small hairy creatures. But I find any dog hair that gets into my eyes causes a high reaction. Skin also irritated by some animals.

Speak to the shelter - they may offer a loan dog or 48 hour placement to test the water - it's not uncommon

ICanSeeForMiles · 10/02/2016 11:46

I have asthma and allergies to all furry animals, and I'm (more or less) fine with our poodle cross lhasa apso. If he licks the thinner skin on the inside of my wrists or my neck I have a reaction to his saliva, elsewhere it's fine. There's really no definitive answer though, sorry.

iamnotaponceyloudperson · 10/02/2016 11:47

Good question, we have the same dilemma. The DCs would love a dog but DC1 has asthma. We have a very old cat which doesn't seem to worry him although he can get slightly wheezy if he strokes her and his door is kept closed at all times so she can't get in the bed. He does get wheezy if we stay too long at some houses with dogs but not at all at others. Would need to do our homework a bit more too but I think I'm really too nervous to take the risk.

1frenchfoodie · 11/02/2016 21:41

I'm asthmatic, usually well controlled by occasional ventolin, and triggered by some dogs but not all. Seem to build tolerance so for eg was wheezy when sering OH and labrador just at weekends but fine a few weeks after moving in. Simoak experience when living eith ex's parents and schauzer. But cats are a much bigger trigger for me than dogs so you do need understand what are triggers for your kids. Would your gp do an allergy RAST test?

My mum has much worse asthma (daily meds) and is allergic to most dogs but had poodle and now poodle x cavalier with no problems - but she has been lucky as if cavalier coat was prevalent I unserstand she would probably have had problems.

Original poster

Purplerainbow2 · 12/02/2016 06:07

Thanks. Both boys had those test( I think that's the dots and pricking up the arm isn't it?) when they were younger and I don't remember anything coming up on them, I'm pretty sure I would've remembered although I could ring gp to ask them to check records. When we have been around cats and dogs for a few hours / a day at a time they have been fine and I wrongly presumed that meant they would be ok, as on here people have said over time it caUsed them issues. Not really sure how I can get this sorted one way or another?

OP posts:

1frenchfoodie · 12/02/2016 07:11

RAST is a blood test though the skin prick test is also commonly used. From a quick look on the the Asthma UK site they recomend either/both to identify triggers.

There can be no harm in discussing your DC's skin prick results with your GP. Another thing to discuss with them and/or Asthma UK is likelihood of change over time as childhood asthma can often change I'm one of three children and for all of us it improved from teens onwards but I don't know if triggers can also change.

But a poodle / poodle cross may also be the answer (other breeds with similar characteristics exist, I'm only familiar with poodles). Because of a straight poodle x 'other' risking the coat of the other I've seen recommendations of poodle crossed with a poodle cross - so 3/4 poodle IYSWIM for those not wanting pure poodle. Growing up our medium sized poodle was a great family dog though. We walked a big (standard) poodle for friends and he was too bouncy for kids but that was mainly lack of training.

CatThiefKeith · 12/02/2016 07:24

I am asthmatic. I remember as a child going to see several different breeders houses before we found a breed that didn't set me off.

We ended up with a boxer, but have also had a spaniel, short haired terrier type bitsa and my current black lab with no problems.

Original poster

Purplerainbow2 · 12/02/2016 07:37

I like dashund but I read they aren't great with kids yet I know a few people with young kids with them and they say they are great. I like Bichon friche (sp) have read good things about labradoodles (asthma as well as for kids). I will try to ring gp about their rash tests although they had them years and years ago I wonder the result could well be different now as uou can develop allergies.

OP posts:

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