Can You Have A Dog If You Are Allergic To Pet Dander?
February 24, 2010 by admin
Filed under Pet Allergies
we are just about to nuy a house and my husband wants a dog
I had pets as a kid and never had a problem with allergies to pets and now when ever i am around dogs or cats i get all itchy my eyes piff out i start weazing i believe it is pet dander like pets that havent been bathed in awhile what can i take to not have a problem and still get a puppy?
I have always had allergies….and dogs. I got my latest dog about 1 year ago and at first I was sneezy and getting hives but eventually I got used to it and I no longer have pet allergies.
You should consider whether you would keep the dog no matter what….even if your allergies don’t go away. If the answer is no, I would not get a dog.
I’m allergic to dogs but i still have a collie cross, you might be better off getting a smaller, short-haired dog because i don’t have many problems with them and taking hayfever tablets daily should help a lot =)
There are several non-allerginic dogs out there. For example a Bichon frise.
A short haired dog may be ok, but you will need to vacuuming daily or weekly.
The problem with taking over-the-counter meds daily is that sooner or later, you will develop a tolerance and they won’t work anymore. I had that problem with one antihistamine that I used to take so I could be around horses.
And having a pet doesn’t mean you will get used to the dander. I had cats for seven years and never did get used to them. Recently had to get rid of them and now my sinuses are 100% better.
So it’s really up to you what you want to put up with.
try getting a non allergenic breed, also you may only be allergic to certain kinds of dogs…some long haired dogs can make you react worse than others
Poodles and Yorkies have hair instead of fur which may help tone down your allergies. They are also small which is an advantage to keeping the dander minimal.
However, like another poster said, if you got a puppy and your allergies became too much to deal with, do you have a backup plan? A reputable breeder will let you visit the puppies before they are ready to go home with you. This would be a good first step in seeing how bad your allergies get when you’re around that breed. A good breeder will also take back any puppy that isn’t working out in the home it was adopted to, so this would also be an option should you find the puppy isn’t working out.
That said, if you choose a dog breed carefully, you can most likely have a dog. My husband has pretty severe allergies and asthma, but we did some research and got a Toy Fox Terrier (which I do not reccomend in general as they are a very dominant and headstrong breed. We love her to bits but she was an extremely difficult puppy.). We chose her because she is a single-coated breed, so while she does have fur, not hair, she has no undercoat and sheds very little. She’s also small and easy to bathe so I wash her once a week to help reduce dander.
I also purchased a Dyson Animal vaccum and I vaccum the carpets 1-2 times a week to help keep the dander at bay. We had an ionic air cleaner thingy but it broke. Haven’t replaced it and we’re doing fine.
You can also try and OTC or prescription allergy medication. The side effects are something to consider, but again, how far you’re willing to go to have a dog is really your call.
My husband does occasionally break out in hives (mostly when they rough-play and she scratches him), but we both agree she is totally worth it.
You’ll have to decide what compromises and lifestyle modifications you’re willing to make to have a dog. If you think you can work with some of the above suggestions, by all means, find a breed and get a new loving family member. Just have a good Plan B (new loving home or breeder take-back) in case you can’t keep the dog.
I have allergies and a dog too. Over time your system will adjust and build immunity to the new member of your family. If your allergies are really severe you may want to consider a hypo-allergenic puppy like a bishon frise or poodle ect.
I am allergic to both dogs and cats. I have 2 dogs. I take prescription allergy medicine and if I had time I would go to my allergist and get shots. I wouldnt want to give up my pets so I dont let them sleep in or on my bed. I wash my hands frequently and never touch my eyes after having contact with the dogs. Vacuum frequently and if possible, dont have carpeting where dander can get. I also have severe asthma when I am around cats and because I clean houses, I have to be in homes where cats live. Again, seeing my allergist has enabled me to be around the pets because the shot I am given has what I am allergic to in it and it builds my immunity up to the the things I am allergic to. Good luck!
You need to get a dog that has hair and not fur. Labradoddles are considered a hypo-allergenic dog because they have hair not fur. They are part Lab part poodle.
Some dog breeds are less allergenic than others, though none is totally non-allergenic. Here’s a link with a list of less-allergenic:http://www.wikifido.com/page/Hypoallerge…
I think the best thing to do is visit/spend time with the breed you wish to buy/adopt, and see how you are affected.