Asthma and pet allergy

[Shell8124]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has experience of pet allergies affecting asthma.

I have grown up with pet dogs, and at the beginning of January decided to get my own. Unfortunately since then my asthma has gone from being well controlled to very much not. Some days are better and i feel like i'm improving, then the next day i feel awful again. She doesn't make me itchy or sneezy though. I have bought allergy lotions for fur, sprays for the room, and an air pirifier with a HEPA filter, none of which are helping, but at least i know i've tried.

To make sure it is the dog that's the problem, she is going to live with my mother in law for a while to see if my symptoms improve, although i'm not sure how long that should take?

I feel awful about the whole situation, although i know it's not my fault. Everyone has fallen in love with her, and will be devastated to see her go. We know my health come first though.

Just wondering if anyone has managed to successfully live with a pet that they are allergic to, and if there are any other things i could put in place or tips to help with it? Or is she just going to have to go?

Michelle.

[sarahjane12]

Hi shell8124 I got diagnosed with asthma in 2016 I had 2 dogs at the time and had to get rid of my long haired dog as she kicked my asthma of am also allergic to dust see if your doctor can organise an allergy test see what your allergies are.

[SecondLife]

Hi, I also grew up with dogs and had no problem however I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 30 and found that other people's dogs caused me a big problem but my own did not. As I was showing my dogs I found that an antihistamine helped but it didn't really solve the problem. I made sure my dogs were bathed regularly and it seemed that my breathing eventually got used to them. Although I no longer have dogs I notice that I still have the problem when I go to see other people and they insist their dogs are being friendly and want to let them jump all over me.

[Spikedog66]

They thought I was allergic to my dog he is 17 and had no issues before. Had blood tests which were negative. So tend to dust and hoover a lot. Ask for allergy tests to be sure. It would be a shame if you couldn't have your dog they are good for you in many ways.😊

[strongmouse]

I am allergic to dogs and cats. My sons have had both but fortunately the spray from Healthy House minimised the allergen affect when I visit them.

As you have had the dog at home since January then the allergens can remain in your house for a while. It will be on carpet, furnitire, surfaces etc. Even curtains and cushions if the dog sheds a lot of hair and dander. A vaccum cleaner with a hepa filter will ensure that any dust containing allergens is collected up doesn't go back into the air. (Damp dust surfaces). Definitely worth having an allergy test if possible. Could be co-incidental. Cleaning your house of any residiual hair, dander, saliva, is essential - but be careful as when you clean allergens in the air can make asthma worse if you are sensitive (You can buy face masks).

I love pets and hope you manage to find a solution.

[Shell8124]

Thank you for the replies. She is a Shih Tzu so shouldn't shed too much. I seem to be ok with other people's dogs, but then i'm not in the same house as them every single day. I do wonder if the fact she is a puppy makes it worse as she urinates on her training pads in the house, is constantly chewing (including me) so her saliva is everywhere. We took her yesterday to stay with my in laws, and tonight i will deep clean the house. We don't have any carpet or soft furnishings downstairs, and she didn't go upstairs so it shouldn't be too bad. Then it's just a case of waiting to see if i get better. If i don't, i will definitely push for an allergy test. Fingers crossed.

[MEZZ1]

Hi,i'm Mezz1 I have asthma had it for 35/36 yrs and have problems with some animals. Had pets most of my life, had a dog before I was asthmatic, I did find that after my asthma that I could not bath the dog anymore, but we kept her to the end.Six yrs into my asthma I got my own place and got my first cat had her for 20yrs, only had 1 bad attack ,also had a golden retriever from 1982 to 1995 , 2 rabbits, 1hamster, I did notice that when we came back from having been on holiday that my allergies were playing up for a few weeks, when these animals had all passed away, we tried to have 2 male cats but after half an hour of been shut in the room with them my asthma got bad , the cats had to go back. later that year we got 2 females I'm fine with them. animals give off dander which is dead skin cells that they shed . just found that certain proteins that are found in animal skin cells, eg,hair, saliva, and urine that cause the problem they are very small and are airborne, your dog must produce more proteins . Try spending some time with somebody's dog shut in a room to see if you have any problems. you might have to try a few before you find one that does not affect you has much . I sneeze a lot the sun makes me sneeze, if my animals caused me to wheeze and set me off into asthma attack then I would have to give them up . hope this helps you.