Pets and Allergies

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Pets and Allergies

Hey everyone, I know I should go and get myself tested to be sure, but until I get myself to the doctors, I wonder if you could all give me your opinions.

Neither of my parents have any allergies, and I never did growing up, but little by little I'm starting to notice that I might actually have them. They're not bad with like pollen and things, I get a little sneezy, but it's tollerable. The big problem for me is animals.

I went to Thanksgiving dinner over my uncle's house, and he has two cats. I was sitting on "their" couch (although I didn't know it at the time), and the next thing I knew my eyes were uncontrollably itchy, sore, and watery, my nose was running, and I was itchy. Whenever a cat comes into contact with me, I react that way.

Similarly, I did horseback riding, and whenever I was grooming the horse, I'd be sneezing uncontrollably. Not as bad as the cats, but still kind of bad.

Finally, I have always had a dog in the house growing up. Recently mine just died, but I never had a problem handling her. Then I went to college and didn't spend as much time around her. I came home and while I didn't react terribly, my eyes would itch slightly.

My family is considering getting another dog, and I would absolutely love that, but I'm a little nervous that I'm going to react terribly. Is it true that you can sort of "adapt" to the pet in the house?

What do people suggest I do? Not having a pet is out of the question. I'm a huge animal lover, and I will suffer if I have to. Is it possible for me to get used to it?

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	Sazzy	23-Nov-05

Well, actually, I'm in a simular sitation. If I rub my eyes after stroking any animal they get puffy and icty and sore. I sneeze and my chest is weezy. This was before i got a cat. One week, we decided to get cat, and we went to a womans house that was holding the cats. My nose was running, and I was sneezing uncontrolabley. I got a cat, and when we first got him, I suffered badly with my chest. About a month down the line, I was fine, although I still cant rub my eyes. I can now go into any persons house and be fine, unless I rub my eyes. I sort of became amune to the animal, and I rekon you will too. Hope I ed!!!

	~icrydiamonds~	06-Feb-05

u could try n get a dog thats hypoallergenic they can be pricey tho the dogs have hair instead of fur

	Amanda	05-Jan-05

I'd say there's a good chance that you will adapt to them. If not sooner or later, than you can get some sort of allergy medicine.

	Stacy	30-Oct-04

Hey! I am also allergic to cats (which really SUCKS! Cause I LOVE Cats!) but there has always been a cat in my house all throughout my life. Currently, I have 2. A Tabby and a Manx. I think you can adapt to the pet hair, because my Manx always used to give me HORRIBLE allergies!!! He would make me sneeze, my eyes would become itchy, and they would become red. But we've had him for about 2 years, and my allergies have gotten better because he's always around. So, to answer your question, yes, your allergies can adapt to pet hair. (and actually, to let you in on a little fact, it's not actually the hair itsself that causes you to sneeze, it's this stuff on their fur called dander. I don't know if you already knew that, but I just thought you might like to know) Well, I hope this ed.