update: Am I being unreasonable re pet "allergies"?

[liz4949]

So..

My dog IgE test results came back the same as they did last time I had this test done - a score of about "100", which is above normal, but way below what you'd call a strong allergy (for perspective, a lot of allergic asthmatics have a score of around 1000).

Had another phone appointment, this time with my nurse, to follow up. Her attitude was as bad as the doctors. My favourite quote re getting rid of the dog: "we can't help you if you won't help yourself".

Am I missing something here? I had this test done as a child, and my results were the same. My doctor at the time - who is a leading asthma/CF specialist - basically said that yeah, that's an allergy, but definitely not enough of an allergy to justify getting rid of your pet, because it likely wouldn't make much of a difference.

I spoke to the nurse about stress and how it affects my asthma, and she told me that stress isn't an allergy. -facepalm-. I feel like I'm going insane every time I speak to these people! No other doctor / hospital team has ever been like this. What can I do?

[Claire-Rose]

I am only mildly allergic to cats and I had my gp telling me to get rid of them when my asthma was bad but when it was controlled my respiratory doctor said it was fine to keep them. They had been in my house 10 years before my asthma was bad I haven’t had cats for years and it’s the worse it has ever been I tried to explain to my Gp cats are not a trigger I sneeze and my eyes swell up but he didn’t care. I think if you know dogs are a trigger then re home

them if you know they are not and they cause a different reaction that you can tolerate then don’t.

[Mogget]

Have you had your bloods looked at for each individual allergen too? My IgE is around 800 but during a recent consultant appointment we were looking at the blood test results for the individual allergens (like mould, cats, dogs, tree pollen, grass pollen, dust mites) and I’m way more allergic to certain things than others. I also have non allergy triggers too like stress.

It sounds like specific allergen tests are something you maybe had done when you were child for the doctor to have commented on the dog allergy not being enough to justify giving the pet away!

[KnPoa]

I am severely allergic to cats and allergic to dogs (not as bad).

I have 3 dogs (long haired). My doctor knew I had dogs when I was diagnosed over 10 years ago, never said about getting rid of them (although as they’re long haired and don’t moult, they don’t overly affect me as much as a short-haired dog or cat!). My doctor prescribed daily antihistamines (that have changed over time) and daily eye drops. Then I was sent to a allergist and ophthalmologist, who I’ve been under on and off for 10 years. They’ve never mentioned it either.

It might be worth asking for a 2nd opinion or other options.

[Tree20862]

If the dog is older than your problems, the dog is not the culprit.

[Logo132]

Pets are like family members. My test came up that I’m allergic to cats but I now have two and the happiness and mental well-being that they promote is so important to me. I’m careful, I Vacuum regularly and wash my hands after touching them, but no way I’d get rid of them. Don’t get rid of your dog! But maybe next time you get a dog consider one of the low allergy types like a bichon or poodle

[ChrissieMons]

You know best if you’re uncomfortable with an animal or not. Trust your own instincts and be firm.