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Hi, I have been with my boyfriend for three years and have been living with him for a year. I would really like to give him a black lab since he has wanted one his whole life. The problem with this is that he's allergic to dogs. It is around the mild to moderate range and he is highly allergic to cats, too. If he is around dogs for more than a hour then he gets the usual symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, itchy watery eyes but if he's around more than one dog for too long then his chest feels tight. I remember only one time he told me of this.) He gets hives if a dog licks him but I think his symptoms do get better with allergy medication. I was wondering how black labs fall allergy-wise because I do not want to cause him misery even if he does really want a black lab. Also, he has been getting allergy shots for a year so I'm hoping that they will help with his allergies.
There's no such thing as a really "hypoallergenic" dog and from what I understand, an individual might be OK with one dog or cat of a particular breed, but not another. It's not the fur but the skin (dander) and saliva that triggers allergic reactions. Out of curiosity I did a quick Google and found this - which is a generally excellent website:
I think with any individual who is allergic, the trick is to spend a little time with the potential pet to see if or how they react. A good friend of mine had wanted a cat in forever but was quite allergic...she spent time around different cats at rescue places and a couple of cat breeders and has now had a cat for five years she has almost no reaction to. It did take some trial and error, though.
Labs have a thick double coat, and they shed quite a bit. They also like to lovingly lick and 'slime' their people. It wouldn't be my first choice for someone allergic to dogs.
Hi, I have been with my boyfriend for three years and have been living with him for a year. I would really like to give him a black lab since he has wanted one his whole life. The problem with this is that he's allergic to dogs. It is around the mild to moderate range and he is highly allergic to cats, too. If he is around dogs for more than a hour then he gets the usual symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, itchy watery eyes but if he's around more than one dog for too long then his chest feels tight. I remember only one time he told me of this.) He gets hives if a dog licks him but I think his symptoms do get better with allergy medication. I was wondering how black labs fall allergy-wise because I do not want to cause him misery even if he does really want a black lab. Also, he has been getting allergy shots for a year so I'm hoping that they will help with his allergies.
Thank you!
Your heart means well and your brain is preventing you from acting impulsively.
Please don't give a dog to someone with a known allergy issue. What happens to the dog if the allergy shots don't help? Many dogs are surrendered to shelters where they languish before being put to sleep to make room for the new arrivals.
I would suggest contacting a lab rescue group and looking into fostering a lab. This way 1) if the allergies act up you can end the foster; 2) If the allergy shots work, you can move forward with your plan.
labs would be a no no they have a thick doily double coat that sheds HEAVILY! the oil in the coat also means more dander!....BUT...Id suggest looking into stanard poodle or portugese water dogs...they have the stigma...but ive yet to meet anyone who hasnt fallen in love once they spend time with them, they are both water retreiver breeds like the lab (so similar personalities) but due to the lower dander count and curly coat, they ted to be a little more allergy frinedly.
before buying or rescuing ANY dog howeve ri suggest meetins some and possibly even fostering to be sure as even poodles which are considered "hypoalergenic" can cause issues in some folks.
the only realy hypoalergenic dog breds are those with no hair...xolos, AHT's cresties, peruvian inca orchids ect all tend to be GREAT for allergy sufferers (no coat for allergy enducing dander to build up in) but obvisuly those breeds are not for everyone and the skin requires almsot as much upkeep as a curly coated breed.
If his chest gets tight it could mean he has more then allergies he may have asthma too (you can develop asthma at any age) and allergies can be triggers for asthma. Asthma needs to be taken seriously as yes people die from asthma and during a bad attack the airways can swell and spasm so the completely close off within minutes of the trigger exposure. I recall a man from out of town coming n the ER with a very severe asthma attack and it happened suddenly after walking into a house with a dog ( yes he knew he was allergic to dogs but had never had this bad of a reaction). It took several days on a ventilator with large doses of drugs to get him over that attack. So with any chest tightness I would take that as a serious sign and stay away from dogs. Sorry.
There are allergy shots for dog allergies. I suggest that your friend take the shots and see if they work. If he can then be around dogs, he makes his own decision to get a dog and picks it out by himself and gets exactly the one he wants.
Then there is no question that the dog is wanted. It's a load of hokum that the advertising industry foists on us that a cute puppy makes an adorable gift. It is a live animal and should only be obtained if it is completely and totally wanted by someone who has made a 100% commitment to it.
It seems like the majority is "no" which is very understandable. I do not want my boyfriend to be miserable let alone develop asthma! I still don't know what the oil in the dog's coat has anything to do with allergies, though. And I had no idea that a person could foster a dog so maybe we will do that. He and I would really like a dog so we'll do more research.
PS Neither of us would ever get rid of a dog that we would adopt. We would love it too much!
Understand that allergy shots are a big deal. My son had to go in weekly for about 7 mos and then it tapers off to once a month. And there's no guarantee that they will work for everyone.
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But no allergies to animals.
