I grew up with dogs until I was about 22. Now, I’m 35. Somewhere along the way, I became allergic to dogs. Hives, runny nose, sneezes, itchy throat & eyes.
I’ve been living with two cats for a few years, and things are ok. We got a new puppy, and I’m sneezing, etc.
I’m hoping its just a matter of taking OTC allergy meds for a while until I develop immunity.
Anyone have any tips without dispensing actual medical advice? Thanks!
There are wipes and shampoos that remove dander that work very well in my experience. I also use arm & hammer allergen remover spray on the carpets, curtains and couches. Keep the puppy out of your bedroom and off of the furniture if possible. There are also a bunch of dogs that are generally allergy friendly, should you decide to get another one.
I had the same experience as you (grew up around dogs, then became allergic as an adult). My own dog’s allergens don’t bother me much anymore, but other dogs still give me a reaction.
Get an air cleaner, take out the carpet, and take some OTC generic loratadine.
The home is all hard wood floors, and the dog is a whippet (short hair)
I’m sorry to hear it. I also developed an animal allergy when I got older - we had animals my whole life, until about 14. That next year, I developed an allergy to animals, and until I haven’t had a furred or feathered pet (it’s a Shih Tzu, which has hair rather than fur).
I’m afraid that in my case, there was no way my body was going to develop an immunity, but we tried. When I moved to Maryland, my husband’s cats went to live in Georgia with a Doper friend.
It could be that you’re allergic to the puppy’s shampoo or any flea dips, powders, perfumes, etc. that have been put on the dog.
Wash the puppy well in baby shampoo. If you still suffer symptoms, there are a couple of things you can do to help ease your suffering.
Brush the puppy frequently to get rid of excess dander. That’s what you’re allergic to, not the hair. There are also wipes and food supplements that, like anything, help some people and don’t help others. You’ll just have to experiment.
Air filters. Some of them are designed to collect partculate matter and I’ve heard a lot of allergy sufferers swear by them.
Don’t let the puppy on any furniture, especially your bed.
If your floors were carpet, I would suggest you get a really good, high-quality vaccuum cleaner. Since they’re wood, you’ll want to get one of those dry-mops and go over the floors frequently to collect the dander. Keep the house well-dusted, too.
Feed the puppy a high-quality food. It will help keep his skin healthy which may lead to less dander. You can also occasionally add an egg or some olive oil to the dog’s food.
And lastly, your body may adjust. When my husband and I first married, he had allergies to my dog after a while, they seemed to go away on their own.
I was just going to post and ask for pictures. A whippet puppy must be so cute! I hope you get over your allergies, Bearflag, so you can enjoy having your puppy to the fullest.
I won’t be able to post pics, but this is pretty close.
Mine’s more black tho, and not so brown.
This black one is pretty close too, but mine has a white marking on the forehead.
