Pet allergies

[JackReacher]

Ha. Not the chick I live with.

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

Ha. Not the chick I live with.

Issues with the pug-in-law?

 

[Vombatus]

Take the dog, leave the chick.

 

[JackReacher]

Issues with the pug-in-law?

She's rarely around him. Really, she's mostly worried about the health problems (breathing, I guess?). Otherwise, it's in the MEH category. Doesn't hate it, but isn't near the top of the list either.

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

She's rarely around him. Really, she's mostly worried about the health problems (breathing, I guess?). Otherwise, it's in the MEH category. Doesn't hate it, but isn't near the top of the list either.

Well, good luck getting a dog you're not embarrassed to take for a walk.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Most terrier breeds are pretty good too, though no dog is truly "hypoallergenic."

I prefer border terriers, myself. I could also be convinced to get a Norwich, thanks to "Best in Show."

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

These are pretty cool.

 

[MisterCreosote]

 

[cranberry]

These are pretty cool.

Yep. Aerdales, Welsh, Irish, Wire Hair are all terrier breeds that are all are pretty cool but don''t shed as much.

 

[Amy]

The obvious choice is a whippet. Quiet, minimal shedding, little exercise required, medium size - making a whippet the perfect townhouse pet. In fact, I have one I can lend you and you can return him when he quits chewing anything both within reach and valuable. My other two won't miss him at all.

 

[SFIND]

I highly recommend miniature schnauzers. They're my breed of choice. Great dogs. I can confirm they're good dogs to have with allergies. My mother is allergic to dogs. She did not have many problems with the dogs aggravating her allergies. The times she did have problems is when they were dirty. We'd give them a bath and she'd be fine. If you bathe the dogs biweekly and vacuum and keep fabrics clean, you're allergies should be limited.

As a side note, the first schnauzer we had was inherited from a relative. She wanted no part of that dog. But she grew to like the breed so much that over two decades later, they (my parents) still have a schnauzer.

 

[JackReacher]

We went to look at schnauzers last weekend. We liked them fine and will likely consider one if my allergies become a real pain in my ass.

 

[Buck]

#dolphinsmooth

 

[outofplace]

The allergy doctor should be a big help for you. One thing you need to find out is if your allergy is triggered by the dander or the fur. If it is the dander, getting a so-called hypoallergenic dog may not help you. Also, consider that a half hour or an hour around a dog or dogs is not nearly the same thing as having one live in your home. The greater exposure could create a much stronger reaction than you have experience to this point.

Another concern is that an allergy can worsen with more extended exposure to the allergen. I already knew I was dogs, but I had always tested negative for cats, so Mrs. OOP and I got one. After a while, my allergies began to bother me much more than usual, so I got tested again and cat turned up as positive. As it was explained to me, the allergy hadn't shown up before because I hadn't been around cats until I had one.

Good luck with it, but make sure you do your research before you commit to a dog.

 

[JackReacher]

Went to the allergist yesterday. Definitely need the shots. Twice a week for a few months, then once a month for roughly 82 years. Give or take.

$30/pop. Awesome.

 

[93Devil]

Be careful, because allergy meds jacked up my blood pressure 30-40 points on the top number.

 

[JackReacher]

My doctor makes you stick around for about an hour after the first shot, then 30 minutes after the others. He also said that 99% of his patients are fine and usually bolt after 2-3 minutes. I'll play it safe for the first couple, probably.

 

[cranberry]

Did you get a measles shot for the hell of it?

 

[Amy]

My doctor makes you stick around for about an hour after the first shot, then 30 minutes after the others. He also said that 99% of his patients are fine and usually bolt after 2-3 minutes. I'll play it safe for the first couple, probably.

I am not a doctor, but my father was an allergist, my brother is an allergist and I worked as a receptionist in the office, so I almost know about stuff like this.

My dad was a stickler about the 1/2 wait. The shots contain a tiny bit of whatever it is you are allergic to, dog dander, for example. The doctor wants to make sure you aren't having a reaction, like when you swell up and can't breathe and ****. My dad would whack the patient on the arm where the shot had been given and if the patient didn't wince in pain, s/he was good to go. At least that's what it looked like was happening from my vantage point.

 

[JackReacher]

Roger that, Amy. I'll definitely stick around for the first few at least.

Also, we settled on a Schnauzer. Pick him up Saturday morning.