Pet allergies? How did you know?

memali26

How did you identify any pet allergies in your LO? The girls have been around dogs and cats a lot, but we have a dog visiting and both girls suddenly have runny noses, sneezing, watery eyes. It might just be a coincidence and they're getting colds or allergies to something the wind and storms are kicking up (since my eyes are all itchy, too), but I really wonder if it's the dog. DH is allergic to cats, but neither of us has a dog allergy as far as we know.

How do you identify a pet allergy? Is it possible to be allergic to one breed but not others? 

jbl126

My girls would break out in hives whenever the dog would lick them.  And sometimes even rolling around on the floor from the hair would make them break out in hives.  I actually had one of my girls tested for allergies and she is definitely allergic to cats and dogs.

However, a friend of ours has a lab, and my DD has yet to break out in hives from her. 

lgeorge06

I have bad allergies to cats, but am much better with dogs. It wasn't until my 6th sinus infection in one year of having our cats in our much smaller house did my doctor suggest we get rid of them due to my allergies. I was taking two Claritin a day to help with the cat problems and was still MISERABLE all the time.  I DO have some allergies to certain kinds of dogs (only ones with short hair- labs, boxers) but I am fine with our golden retriever. If our golden licks me too much or I find he slept on our bed and left hair all over I will start to get itchy eyes, stuffy, ect.