Someone I work allerginc to pets - reaction to "me"

Person_one

Fosterdog wrote: »

She is prepared to put herself through the initial discomfort and additional medication for the sake of the pets she loves so much, maybe one day she will want a dog that causes less reaction but I doubt it she has always loved the breeds she has chosen.

Dogs are dogs, and this is just stupidity, sorry.

The thing about allergic reactions is that they can get worse as well as better, sometimes suddenly with no warning. One day she could have a massive asthma attack or anaphylaxis, would it be worth it just to have a dog that looks a certain way?

Person_one

gettingready wrote: »

Well, got in today and the girl has moved several desks away.... so I guess problem sorted,

Why I feel bad though?

Don't feel bad, its not personal, she's just being sensible and taking action to minimise risk.

Fosterdog

Person_one wrote: »

Dogs are dogs, and this is just stupidity, sorry.

What you have just said is stupidity, if dogs are dogs why do you choose breeds that cause a lower level/no reaction?

Just as some breeds are better for allergy sufferers other breeds have other traits that other people find desirable. She happens to like those breeds and has chosen to have them, I've never asked her whether it's just because of the looks or down to other traits that she has chosen them.

No breed is 100% allergy friendly so there is also every possibility that your own allergies could worsen and you react to your own dogs despite them holding a lower risk. Is that worth it to you just to own dogs?

Not everyone is allergic just to animal fur, some have reactions to other things like their saliva and as has been said already people can develop new allergies at any time. Should we all walk around in bubbles just in case it happens?

Person_one

Fosterdog wrote: »

What you have just said is stupidity, if dogs are dogs why do you choose breeds that cause a lower level/no reaction?

Well there's really no point trying to respond sensibly to that, I'll just go and find someone with a peanut allergy and feed them a Snickers instead.

Fosterdog

Person_one wrote: »

Well there's really no point trying to respond sensibly to that, I'll just go and find someone with a peanut allergy and feed them a Snickers instead.

Exactly my point, you are the one who said dogs are dogs as if they are all the same, I was pointing out that if that was the case why do you have dogs when you are allergic.

You have them because not all dogs are the same and you are minimising your risk by choosing a certain type of dog, my friend has minimised her risk through medication and building up her immunity. Her doctor seems to think that is fine so I don't know what makes you think you know better to judge her for it.

candygirl

I used to work with someone that absolutely stank of fags, and another of really bad BO.I never said anything though, just just to try and keep them at nose's length:mad:

Person_one

Fosterdog wrote: »

Exactly my point, you are the one who said dogs are dogs as if they are all the same, I was pointing out that if that was the case why do you have dogs when you are allergic.

You have them because not all dogs are the same and you are minimising your risk by choosing a certain type of dog, my friend has minimised her risk through medication and building up her immunity. Her doctor seems to think that is fine so I don't know what makes you think you know better to judge her for it.

If nothing else, its an irresponsible risk to take for the animals sake.

If her allergies got worse to the point where she couldn't manage, they'd have to be rehomed, wouldn't they?

Me and my dogs will never be in that position, because I'm sensible enough to get animals that don't make me permanently ill!

Fosterdog

Person_one wrote: »

If nothing else, its an irresponsible risk to take for the animals sake.

If her allergies got worse to the point where she couldn't manage, they'd have to be rehomed, wouldn't they?

Me and my dogs will never be in that position, because I'm sensible enough to get animals that don't make me permanently ill!

You'll have to explain that one to me.

She isn't taking an irresponsible risk at all, she has had dogs around her her whole life and has always been fine once she builds up the initial immunity. She also has a job that means she sometimes has to be around animals, she manages the allergy just fine, just like she manages her hay fever (or maybe she should also move to somewhere that doesn't affect hay fever sufferers, maybe the coldest part of Alaska just to minimise the risk).

Her allergies have equal chances of getting worse as not, there is nothing to say they would even get suddenly worse but possibly gradual and not be that bad until the dog has long gone.

She is also sensible enough to get animals that don't make her permanently ill, maybe you missed the few times I've said she has built an immunity to every one of her own dogs and a relatives cats.

She has a lot of family support so if she did ever get ill and the current dog had to go between her parents, her sister, her husbands parents and siblings who are all animal lovers and regularly dogsit for each other. I'm sure one of them would have them.

Again if you think like that nobody would have pets at all, me and OH could both die tomorrow and it would leave our dogs and rabbits needing a home, would that make us irresponsible owners?

We could both lose our jobs and become homeless, there are a million different things that could happen to cause the exact same situation so the only truly responsible thing is for nobody to ever have any pets. You can't live life by worrying what may or may not happen at some time in the future and giving up on things because of it.

If you are prone to allergies you are just as likely to develop an allergy to your own dogs saliva and end up too ill to keep them, by your logic you are just as irresponsible as my friend.

Person_one

You know, whatever you say, I still think its madness to get an animal you know you're allergic to just because you don't like the look of the non-shedding breeds (and we both know that's probably the reason although I understand your wish to defend your friend).

Her life though, I suppose, I sincerely hope it keeps working as it has.

SmallL

I love animals, but I could never get a dog that sheds.
Whenever I visit people with dogs/cats I react from being in a 'doggied/cattied' room.

I terribly miss the days of being able to fuss and cuddle a cat or dog but its simply not possible, rather selfishly my flare-ups are extremely painful and I run the risk of a skin infection.
I would never want to own a cat/dog regardless of whether it sheds or not, the risk to myself and the risk of the animal not getting the attention it deserves is too great.