allergic to dogs

[Browningmirage]

As a person who considers dogs to be pretty much the best thing ever, it hit me kinda hard, this Christmas when i returned home from university and found out that i was allergic to my yellow lab. As i really would like to have a dog once i am done University (preferably a lab), I was wondering if anyone else out there suffers the same problems, and what solutions you may have to cope with the runny nose, itchy eyes, and other things that come with an allergic reaction. Any input would be great

[Rob]

I heard there is a shampoo that can work. I am very allergic to cats(which is fine by me), But my wife wants one. Ill get the name of the shampoo in a few minutes and get back to you. How allergic are you? any breathing problems?Rob

[Sasquatch]

Get a non shedding dog. German Wirehair, or a Griff, or....ahem, a poodle.

There are a lot of breeds that don't aggravate allergies.

[newhunterette]

first of all make sure it is the dog because we have a our lab and my brother in law has her sister - I am allergic to Copper, whenever I am around her I have massive allergy attacks yet when I am with my dog Hunter nothing happens, they are from the same parents and litter - we discovered it is because Copper goes to the spaw for shampooing and my Hunter gets a bath at home - it was the shampoo the groomer was using on Copper that I had the allergy too.

You can have allergy tests done to be sure

[Caveman]

first of all make sure it is the dog because we have a our lab and my brother in law has her sister - I am allergic to Copper, whenever I am around her I have massive allergy attacks yet when I am with my dog Hunter nothing happens, they are from the same parents and litter - we discovered it is because Copper goes to the spaw for shampooing and my Hunter gets a bath at home - it was the shampoo the groomer was using on Copper that I had the allergy too.

You can have allergy tests done to be sure

Sure it isn't the In-law you're allergic to?? :-P

[tomahawk]

I was diagnosed with allergies to Dogs back some time ago after being tested. I took 2.5 yrs of allergy shots, which is a slow introduction of a syrum of the things your allergic to, so that your body can build up an immune system to the allergy. I do not have the allergy to dogs anymore. Most dog and cat allergies are due to Dander, not hair.

[Browningmirage]

first of all make sure it is the dog because we have a our lab and my brother in law has her sister - I am allergic to Copper, whenever I am around her I have massive allergy attacks yet when I am with my dog Hunter nothing happens, they are from the same parents and litter - we discovered it is because Copper goes to the spaw for shampooing and my Hunter gets a bath at home - it was the shampoo the groomer was using on Copper that I had the allergy too.

You can have allergy tests done to be sure

Pretty sure its dogs in general...i was in contact with 4 different ones, and got the same reaction each time. Actually same with a cat i was in contact with (girlfriends sisters), but that doesnt bother me...cats arent exactly my favourite animal.

I first started with the allergic thing after my dog swam in salt water, it was an immediate reaction (this was a few years back, i didnt know what it was at the time). When they gave her a good scrub down, i had absolutely no issues. Im thinking the solution may be to minimize dust would be a good solution, although i think a trip to the doctors is in order (shudder...not a big fan)

[PGK]

Ha ha. Sucker

[GoatGuy]

Simple solution, probably never should have gone to school in the first place - waste of time! :idea:


You could always look at a labradoodle????

[hannibal]

I'm allergic to damn near everything with dander, yet I still have 2 dogs and a cat. First go to the doctor and they can send you to a specialist for allergy tests, real simple just skin patch testing. Keep the offending pets out of your bed room, end of discussion. Good air cleaner on your furnace, change or clean regularly. Wash your hands and face often. Keep the pets off the furniture. Sinus rinses every night suck but work really well over time to keep inflammation down without drugs. Find pet soaps that don't aggravate your condition. Brush your dog frequently- outside of course. Change the animals diet, it can affect the dander and oils from the pet. Be prepared for further complications, like developing asthma. Screw it and don't bother with a pet, because a point will come when you wish you didn't have them because of constant allergies or worse, but you love them way to much to get rid of the pet , so you suffer.:redface: Remember no animal is hyper allergenic, some a simply less of a trigger than others. It's the dander and oils, not the actual fur/ hair. Good luck.

[dakotawinters]

One word "claritin"

I'm allergic to my dogs, but I would be miserable without them, I just need to have a claritin every once and awhile if its a bad week. You just need to be around your dog again.. .and you will build up an immunity again for him.
Most of the time I don't even need any.