Allergy shots

My fiance is desperate for a dog (and so am I). We've checked out some poodles and Westies but I am afraid I will still be allergic. I even volunteer at a shelter but most of the dogs are pit bull mixes and I definitely don't want a pit bull ( I saw one maul another dog a few months ago) so this experience has not helped me figure out whether I can have a dog.

Anyway - I tired allergy shots as a kid and couldn't toelrate them well so they were stopped.

I was tested and my allergy to dogs and cats is still significant so I'm wondering if I should try shots again.

Can anyone give me info on whether they really help pet allergies? My other allergies are so much better than when i was a kid so I'm only sick ofr a month or so every year.

I really want a dog and my allergist just said he didn't think it was a good idea.

Help!

im pretty sure you can get tested for allergies to breeds of dogs. also some dogs are known as being better for those who have allergies (I think poodles are in this camp).

I get injections and am highly allergic to cats... I have no idea if this has lessened b/c of the shots b/c i haven't been around any in years. But I do know that zyrtec is a good way for dealing with pet allergies... but you don't want to have to pop pills every day just to own a dog....

good luck.

I get allergy shots every week. I am allergic to EVERYTHING... seriously! There isn't a season that goes by that I'm not allergic to... molds, ragweed, grass, trees, etc. etc. I'm also allergic to dust, dust mites, and CATS. Here's the kicker - I have THREE cats!! I could never give up my kitties, even though they make me sneeze and rub my eyes!! So I started my allergy shots a few months go, and I go every week and get three shots at once. The shots combined with one-a-day Allegra have worked wonders. After 6 months of going every week, I will go every other week for another 6 months, and then eventually just once a month (for the rest of my life... ugh). I hardly ever have to take my Allegra now, just when needed. Not every day like I did before I started the shots.

I think it's worth it. My allergy symptoms have definitely improved! If you need a doctor recommendation, just let me know. I love where I go, all of the nurses are so sweet.

Good luck and feel better!!!

I agree that allergy shots are worthwhile. I was ALWAYS SEVERELY allergic to dogs, which upset me horribly because I always wanted to have one. DH's parents have a cocker and I couldn't spend more than 30 minutes in the house before I got REALLY sick. Plus, my folks have a dog (bichon...not as bad, but still allergic to it) and so do so many of my friends., So I basically started doing shots so I didn't have to be a social outcast anymore.

Now, 2 years later, I'm on 'maintenance' with the shots (i.e., I go every 6 weeks now rather than once a week) and DH and I adopted a puppy last month!! She is a Schnoodle (half schnauzer, half poodle) so she doesn't shed and my allergies are actually doing ok! It was rough the first week or so, but now, between the shots and some new medicine my allergist gave me, I am pretty used to it and having no reactions at all!

So, for me, it was totally worth it.

Good Luck!

This is so good to know!

I have bad allergies, too! And my allergy to cats is what's kept my DH and I apart for the first five months of our marriage.

My mother always told me the shots don't work. Don't know how she knows that, since she doesn't have allergies and never had the shots...

Anyway, I might look into this now. Over the past few years, I developed a dog allergy, and I LOVE dogs. So now I'm allergic to dust mites, mold, cats, dogs, and heaven only knows what else...

I had a yellow lab for 15 years growing up and I am allergic to dogs.

I did take allergy shots for 2 years and did not find that they helped me.

I was able to tolerate my dog without problems - there are other dogs that are problems.

My mom found that if my dog wasn't in my bed, and she vacumed each day that I didn't have any problems.

I would talk to your doctor - it is the dander not the animal itself that causes the allergy. There are many types of dogs that will bother you more so than others. He should be able to tell you what would be better to get - also I found that I was better to take certain medications rather than the shots - I felt much better and I think it worked better. Also many people outgrow (throughout their lives) allergies - sometimes being around them in time they get better.

Good luck!