New puppy - Allerergies showing- any positive options

[Heligan77]

We got a new puppy 2 weeks ago. We have fallen head over heels as have the kids. We adore him and he has settled into our family so well.

The problem is DH seems to be allergic. Eyes watering stuffy nose. He has asthma and is allergic to dust mites. He is on an inhaler years but never had a full blown asthma attack thankfully
He is obviously very anxious about this now ... he doesn't want to be taking long term medicine (ie anti histamines) but worried maybe symptoms will go away after a few months ... however worried they build and result in worse issues .. no way of telling now
We are so conflicted on the decision but know we need to decide sooner than later

Anyone been in similar position? any thoughts ?

Really appreciate help advice guidance

Get a robot vacuum to go round every day to pick up any stray hairs. You or the kids take the dog outside each day for a brush as part of their routine.
Keep the dog out of the bedroom and maybe downstairs completely to create some dog free zones. Windows open when the weather improves.
I’d speak to the GP anyway, their might be some other options to antihistamines, there are some good homeopathic options too.

There's no fix for allergies, though there are things you can to that may help.

Opening windows daily.
Wipe clean sofas instead of fabric ones.
Hardwood floors instead of carpet.
Daily vacuuming, mopping and sweeping.
Bathing and brushing dog regularly, though frequent bathing isn't great for their skin.
Daily antihistamine for DH.

However, they're not solutions and ultimately your DH is the one who will have to decide whether doing all that everyday and still struggling is worth it.

Unfortunately allergies, asthma and pet ownership rarely go hand in hand!

It depends on which but if the dog he's allergic to. One of ours is allergic to dog pee, particularly puppy, and an extended family member is allergic to some types of dog coat. When they went looking they would literally hold the dog right up to their face to see if it kicked off the allergy. They do live with a dog in the house but the dog is regularly groomed and house is kept immaculately.

I'm allergic and have asthma, but just have a generic antihistamine every day. My allergies just make me really itchy but if just having a daily antihistamine means I can keep my dog it's worth it.

Get rid of your carpets, get an airfilter or several, but ultimately and speaking as an allergic asthmatic (cats not dogs) it's awful feeling allergic all the time, it makes you feel seriously unwell and if that's how it is the pup will have to be rehomed, imo

It’s not hair that causes the problem, it’s dander and saliva, and wee.

I’m severely allergic, vacuuming makes no difference. The allergy molecules stick to walls and everything else. And they cling tightly, and can stay there for 6 weeks

The other thing is to speak to the breeder, they probably had a waiting list and might be able to find another lovely home. It’s much easier to rehome a 10 week old pup that’s a 6 month old

Thanks for all.your replies
The puppy is a supposedly hypoallergenic breed but I dont think a dog can ever truly be
We have all wood floors down stairs and the puppy hasnt been allowed into sitting room as soft furnishings
Windows opened
Wash his blanket etc daily

DH has runny eyes and nose on amd off but he doesn't want to take an anti histamine forever ... I dont believe its good health wise?

The worry is that the stuff will build causing breathing issues down the line and that's v hard to predict and wouod be so cruel to then have to rehome him then

Its a real need for a crystal ball :-(

A woman I know paid £££ for 2 non allergy dcats!!
Seems her dh didn't get the memo he wasn't to be ill.
His GP prescribed 3 months of strong antihistamines until he had 'acclimatised' to them. He was fine after that. Though threats of living in the shed were mentioned and I don't mean the dcats...

I am also allergic and have 4 ddogs and 2 dcats! The odd pill and lots of handwashing. All Thai Covid scrubbing was nothing new here!! Had ddog for 10 years +

You are right, dogs are never really hypoallergenic and it pisses me off when people trying to sell them claim they are.
You can try and wash everything etc but only time will tell if this will be enough long term or whether you will have to decide to rehome (one of them)

You'll have to get rid of your DH!
I joke of course but all the above advice is really good :)

Get rid of the dog!

Being allergic to your own pet is miserable - I've been there and the kitten almost killed me.

Hoovering is a fool's errand to combat it, cos it's the animal dander in the air that is constantly re-settling.

I ain't miserable! I would be very much so without my dpets though! Ds 7 has asthma
. Bed changed frequently and no more than a few times a week of his inhaler and he isn't miserable at all.

He knows to wash his hands after a cuddling sessions.
He would be distraught if we had to get rid of his bff's..

@Santaisstilleatingmincepies

I ain't miserable! I would be very much so without my dpets though! Ds 7 has asthma . Bed changed frequently and no more than a few times a week of his inhaler and he isn't miserable at all.

He knows to wash his hands after a cuddling sessions.
He would be distraught if we had to get rid of his bff's..

I didn't give up the kitten lightly, don't get me wrong, but something had to give.

A friend of mine was planning on having a kitten from the same litter, anyway, so we gave our cat to them.
So we didn't give him away to any Tom, Dick or Harry.

I’m allergic to all types of furry pets but I’m a dog person so I:-

Take antihistamines everyday (sometimes 2-3 times a day if it’s bad, along with nasal spray and eye drops)

Use a special allergy shampoo on our girl every couple of weeks plus a full groom every 5-6 so her fur doesn’t get too long

Use a air purifier machine

Use a house allergy spray

It takes a lot of sorting but I love my girl and there’s no way on earth if ever be without her, my husband wanted her gone when we first rehomed her as I was so bad but now he just goes out and tops us my allergy meds when I’m running low or buys new shampoo when that’s low, he said he’s rather get rid of me than our dog 😆😆😆

Should add I’m also asthmatic and I was given a pink inhaler as well as my standard blue and brown! That one seems really good at helping when my allergies get really bad 👍

I’m allergic to my dog, the first 4 weeks were pretty awful, puffy face, red eyes, breathing not great. It started easing off and within about 12 weeks I didn’t have any symptoms. I do get itchy skin if his saliva or nose touches me.

I became allergic to my rats. I coped with daily antihistamines and inhalers and the asthma tablets. I didn't get more after they passed, because they required handling and cleaning in a way that wasn't working with the allergies.

We have dogs and cats now - I take the meds as the dogs sleep on the bed, if they didn't I'd probably be totally fine!

It's up to your DH really, but personally I'd be rather peeved if a partners reluctance to take an antihistamine deprived my family of pets entirely.

It might settle in its own - I can almost always go without the meds at all now, at the moment I'm taking them because I don't want a flare up of an allergy cough to be mistaken for covid!