Son allergic to new puppy

[Peachy27]

We have had our new puppy for three weeks now, all totally in love with her but my eldest has started itching his eyes really badly since we’ve had her. I’m trying to get him to wash his hands lots, cleaning thoroughly, keeping her in one part of the house only but he’s still itching. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it something that he is likely to grow out of/come accustomed to? I tentatively mentioned that if he couldn’t cope with the itching we may have to consider rehoming the puppy and he was distraught. Any advice would be much appreciated

My allergies faded after a month or so (cats though, not dogs) and then resurfaced four years later as full on asthma, which left me no choice but to rehome my cats. I kind of think rehoming as a puppy (done properly of course) would be easier than years worth of allergy management which may then end up in a serious illness and rehoming an 'attached' animal.

There is no way I would keep a new pet if my child would have to take daily medication. Your child's health is more important.

I say that as someone who takes anti hists daily. Allergies don't always fade or ease.

I'm allergic to cats, which was only clear when my parents bought me a kitten. The breeder asked for her back because her mummy cat missed her so much. (I was 12 and yes, I fell for it.) I'm glad they didn't put me on medication or expect me to live with the itching.

I was really badly allergic to our dog when we first got him nearly 4 weeks ago, he licked me and my face was sore and itchy. As it didn't bother anyone else in the family I took antihistamines and waited it out, I've forgotten to take any for a good 10 days now and haven't reacted at all. I sometimes have the same thing with my parents dog so I wonder if more exposure reduces the allergy symptoms?

Have you got the time or inclination to hoover the entire house every day, boil wash everything and try and keep the dog off all surfaces and textiles for the next ten years or more?

This is why it angers me so much when breeders of "designer" dogs claim that because their puppies have a poodle parent, they are "suitable for people with allergies."

THEY AREN'T. They really, really aren't - not automatically. Even the labradoodle guy who started off this Poodle = hypoallergenic craze was very careful to match each puppy with each individual . It isn't a simple equation.

Tragically BYBs, puppy farmers and even genuinely kind, misguided people propagate this myth. It must have caused more heartbreak, and more abandoned puppies than any other "fact".

Having to part with a pet when you have grown to love them is dreadful - but sadly, sometimes it must be done.

See what your GP suggests and take it from there.

If you must part with the puppy, and the breeder won't take her back, please be very careful about re-homing. An unspayed bitch is particularly vulnerable to abuse as you can imagine. You could contact a breed rescue* for advice, or to take her if the worst comes to the worst.

• breed rescues almost always take breed crossbreeds, too.

I am allergic to cats when I don't live with them, but built up a resistance when living with them. I had cats all my childhood and when I went to university and then came home for the weekend I had really bad reactions. This continued throughout my 20s. If I visited anyone with a cat my mouth would itch, eyes swell etc. Now we have our own cat, I am fine with cats. You can definitely build a resistance.

You can definitely build a resistance.

andcdotally, yes. you could also get much worse, which is more likely. I wouldn't risk it. would not be fair on the child or the dog.

I use to live with a cat, fast forward a couple of years cat was no longer living with me and I became allergic to this cat, fast forward a few more years if I visited a certain friend with a cat she had to put the cats outside and Hoover the house from top to bottom so I didn't have a bad reaction. It did get better but it took 10 yrs from first reaction to manageable reaction. But I also have other allergies, some worse than others.

I had a reaction to our family dog but after about 4 weeks I built up an immunity and happily loved with him for years, the same thing happened with our cats. It sounds silly but it may be worth not being so careful so his body can build up an immunity so less hand washing etc Does your son have Asthma? I did so kept the dog/cat out of my bedroom so nights weren't a problem but had lots of contact during the day.

My old cat lived for 18 years and my allergy to her did not magically fade away.

You can build a resistance, equally you can build a resistance for a while until your allergy comes back as a life-threatening illness. I wouldn't wish my first asthma attack on anyone and I'm not exaggerating when I say it was life-threatening.

Well good news about our little puppy we gave her a bath end of last week and my son has been fine ever since no eye itching at all!!! Don’t know if it was something on her from the breeder’s farm but we are all so happy he’s stopped itching cos it was horrid for him and the thought of parting with her was terrible. Shouldn’t have listened to the in laws advice that we shouldn’t wash her for a month that’ll teach me! Thanks to everyone who replied to the post

Wonderful! Actually, I've had that experience- I should have thought. It's worth asking the breeder if they can think what it could be, bedding, or a cat, or something.

That’s a good idea, thanks I will!