First time moms with pets

One of my friends asked me this question yesterday and it got me thinking...

What would you do with your pet if LO was SEVERELY allergic?

I've had my cat for 11 years. He lived with me at my parents' house and stayed there when I got married because DH is allergic (so am I, but not bad). DH agreed to take him and just live with the allergies. We're both allergic, so I think there is a good chance DS will be allergic too. If he can live with it, I most certainly want to keep the cat, but if he's SUPER allergic, I've already asked my mom to take the cat back. She says she has to think about it. I'm just curious if anyone has a plan!

Re: First time moms with pets

To me, my cat is my first child. I have no plan. If LO is allergic we will work around it any way we can. Giving her away is not an option. I wouldn't give my baby away, and i wouldn't give my cat! lol

Re: First time moms with pets

I don't think we could get rid of our dog. It is such a hard decision but I think we would keep our dog unless we absolutely could not and then we would ask a family member but truly a last resort.

Re: First time moms with pets

We thought about this before our DD was born and the reality is, as much as we looooove our dog if our DD was severely allergic there was no way we would torture her and medicate her as a baby, we'd have to find a new home for the dog. I wouldn't want to and it would kill me but I would have had to put the baby first.

ETA - Luckily it wasn't an issue and at age 4, our DD and the dog are total BFF's.

Message edited 12/2/2012 6:13:55 PM.

Re: First time moms with pets

GAH! I never thought of this before. I am madly in love with my pup and I can't imagine giving him away. I'd have to see what happens. I would do extensive research and try everything possible so that they could co-exist.

First time moms with pets

I could never get rid of my dogs. Neither of us are allergic so I don't think it's really an issue for us (fingers crossed) but we would have to figure it out.

First time moms with pets

Ugh it would break my heart to give my two dogs away, even to a family nember. I honestly would need to see what happens when the time comes. But i imagine If our child was severly allergic we would ultimately have to do what was best for him/her.

First time moms with pets

This was actually one of the first things we discussed. We have 3 dogs and a cat. I hope that we never have to get to that point. Neither of us have animal allergies, so hopefully everything will be ok.

Re: First time moms with pets

I asked my husband this question last night, knowing his answer would be comical.... He said that if his child was severely allergic to our puppy that he would put the kid in a big plastic bubble! haha! But for real, we would just keep trying until we found a way to live with the situation. My BFF had a dog growing up and she is crazy allergic to animals, the family made it work! I would never get rid of my first son!!! NO WAY!!!

Re: First time moms with pets

I cannot imagine giving my dog up...I would try and make it work. First son had no allergies..praying the twins do not either, but allergies run rampant in my DH family...time will tell.

First time moms with pets

the joke was if Audrey was allergic to Casey or Ozzy we would have to get rid of Audrey. With heavy hearts we would have asked the rescue groups we got both animals from if they could help rehome our pets.

First time moms with pets

there have been studies that children brought up with pets are less likely to develop allergies.
If it was life threatening from the beginning then I would have to make some kind of adjustment.