Dog Allergies in Infants

Allergies can cause your infant discomfort, such as congestion, wheezing and persistent coughing. Your dog could be one possible source of your baby's allergy. Fortunately, this doesn't mean you have to find a new home for Fido. There are ways to keep this allergen at bay and treat your baby's symptoms if she does, in fact, have a dog allergy.

Detection

• Many of the symptoms of allergies--sneezing, runny nose and congestion--can also be a sign of the common cold. It is also possible for a child to have lingering symptoms after they have a cold, for up to three or four weeks. Parents may wrongly assume their baby has allergies as a result. Consult with your pediatrician if you believe your infant has a dog allergy, or if you believe his cold symptoms are lasting too long. However, if the baby's symptoms are not serious, it may be necessary to wait two to three months after your baby's cold before it can be determined that allergies are to blame. Consider working with an allergist, too; he can perform skin tests in order to confirm whether your baby is allergic to dogs, or determine if a different allergen is the problem.

Dog Allergies

• Dog hair is rarely the problem. Dander is the most likely culprit of an infant's allergy; it contains skin cells, saliva and proteins that can cause an allergic reaction. Dogs regularly shed dander, and the particles can float in the air and stick to surfaces, such as bedding, carpet and sofas. Dander can be inhaled, or it can come in contact with the infants eyes, nose and skin.

Precautions to Take

• There are ways to cut back on dog dander that could help your infant's allergies. First, keep the dog out of the baby's bedroom, and consider confining the dog to certain areas of the house. Purchase a HEPA filter to help remove dander from the air. Make sure the house is well-ventilated and open windows when possible. Vacuum often, and choose a vacuum that has allergen-trapping filters. Be sure to vacuum your furniture, too. Dust your home frequently, using a damp cloth to avoid releasing the dust into the air. Wash dog bedding frequently. Brush the dog regularly, outside of the home if possible. According to the Humane Society of the United States, a weekly bath can reduce allergens on fur by up to 84 percent.

Treatment

• There are many treatment options available, including antihistamines, nasal sprays, decongestants and allergy shots. Discuss allergy treatment with your pediatrician. Over-the-counter products must be used with care, and some may have specific age requirements. For example, over-the-counter antihistamines should only be used for infants older than 6 months. In some cases, the prescription medications can have fewer side effects.

Prevention

• Some research suggests that being around pets from a young age can actually help prevent allergies in the future. A study published in a 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that children who were raised in a house that has at least two dogs or cats were less likely to develop allergies than children who were raised without these pets. The study found that 3.5 percent of the children who had dogs were allergic to them, while 8.6 percent of the children without dogs were allergic to them. The children in the study were followed from birth to age 7.