At what age can you tell if a baby is allergic to dogs?
Humberto Batz
2025-08-20 12:28:58
Count answers
: 23
Kids aren't born with a pet allergy — they develop it with age and exposure. Asthma, eczema and a family history of allergies all increase the risk. So while furry little Sprinkles might not have been a problem initially, that doesn't mean your child's newly developed symptoms aren't pet-related. It's possible you may not recognize the signs of pet allergy right away, especially if your child lives with a pet full-time. If your child isn't regularly exposed to pets, you may notice acute symptoms during or right after meeting a new animal. A good rule of thumb: If your child has any ongoing cold-like symptoms that tend to coincide with exposure to a pet, it's worth getting checked out. The allergens your pet sheds should lessen with age.
Anais Hahn
2025-08-10 04:28:14
Count answers
: 22
Researchers studied 565 18-year-olds who had been followed from birth. They found that only during the first year of life did exposure to dogs and cats have a major effect on later sensitivity to the animal. We think this is a critical window, said study author Ganesa Wegienka, an epidemiologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Most children with pets in the home during their first year of life had a reduced risk of allergies. Both boys and girls with a cat at home during this time had about half the risk of being sensitized to cats later on in life, and boys with a dog at home during this time had half the risk of being sensitized to dogs later on. Girls with a dog at home during their first year had an increased risk of later being sensitized. But, she added, it now seems that researchers should further study the first year of life.
Tracey Quigley
2025-07-31 11:12:29
Count answers
: 21
Animal allergies are common in children, especially in those who also have asthma or hay fever. Allergies to dogs and cats are particularly common, with an allergy to cat dander being twice as common as an allergy to dog dander. Comprehensive animal and pet allergy testing can be done to determine which allergens are affecting your child. This is usually done through a blood test and/or skin prick testing. Working out which animal(s) your child is allergic to is an important part of managing and treating their symptoms. If your child has animal allergies, you may notice they have one or more of the following symptoms: A runny or blocked nose, An itchy throat, mouth and nose, Itchy, red or watery eyes, Sneezing and coughing, Redness or hives when licked by an animal.