Dog allergies in young toddlers?

[Bellenden Belle]

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Has anyone had any tests to confirm dog / pet allergies in young children - either on the NHS or privately.

I ask because after seven months of Baby Belle-Carnell having the most awful hacking cough at night I am starting to fear he is allergic to his grandparents' dog (they look after him two days a week including overnight).

Any advice very welcome.

[Fuschia]

Two of my children have been allergy tested via the asthma clinic

One is allergic to cats and dust mites

The other ditto plus dogs

I think gp can refer to the allergy clinic direct

[Hollybush]

My son's had cat hair included in allergy screens at Kings (skin prick tests most recently although also had blood tests originally). The test doesn't say for sure that they are allergic but the probability of a reaction.

Do you have allergy/asthma/eczema/ hayfever in family - as this would make it more likely that child would have allergies and might be relevant to point out to GP if trying to get a referral....

[Fuschia]

Though the treatment would start off with a blue asthm pump anyway

[Strawbs]

My son had prick tests for various things through his allergist at tommies and was tested for dog and cat, both negative thankfully (Im allergic to both) but it can be done. See your GP and get a referral. x

[Mens]

King's also do blood tests for allergies if you request this instead of skin prick.

They give more detailed results. One of mine was shown to be mildly allergic to dogs and had different levels of allergy to other things.

[????]

I think we were told that until they are reasonably old (certainly older than 7 months) that allergy tests aren,t much use as things change too much so you are better waiting. That was from a specialist but I presume it reflects opinion and other professionals may see it differently.

[Bellenden Belle]

Many thanks to everyone for your replies.

I went to the doctors yesterday and he said that whilst they could test for food allergies when they're young through blood tests, testing for dog / cat allergies requires a skin test and shouldn't be carried out until they're at least two years old, or even older.

So it's another round of antibiotics and more piriton for us. Poor lamb.

[Fuschia]

You could take action to reduce his contact with the dog fur, as a precaution

Advice availsble on the net...

[Mens]

mmmm....blood tests definitely show up dog allergies as my daughter had one last month and it showed up cat and dog.

Might still have to wait until after 2 (although 2 of mine were tested for dairy before 2)

[gebbjane]

You can have skin prick tests before the age of 2, my son was supposed to have them in march for allergy related eczema but his skin was too bad. He is now having them in June and will be 8 months old, this is at tommies. He has already had some blood tests to test for most common allergies.