[shecass]

Originally Posted by Francie

As someone who has Asthma...I can tell you from first hand experience...that "drugs" do not always work...and I have had several hospital bills to prove it. Unfortunately, some people are under the impression that "being allergic"...only refers to topical symtoms, i.e., sneezing or watery eyes. In actuality....severe allergies that lead to "Asthma", or narrowing of the brochial tubes, and can cause someone to actually die. Nothing is worse than gasping for breath and not being able to breathe. Long term exposure to the allergen also permanently damages the lining of the brochial tubes, making them less and less efficient. It's like drowning...very slowly...

. I would NEVER wish that on an another human being...much less an innocent child. If I even heard of someone keeping a pet in a household with a severely allergic child...I would call DCFS...and report them for Child Abuse.

We all cherish our pets...but I think any reasonable, logical person would concede that they do NOT replace humans beings. And I wonder just how fast the word "disposable" would be redefined, were you lying in your bed struggling to breathe and wondering if you would die that day.


Francie

I myself have asthma. I've outgrown the worst of it. It flares up every now & then if I have a really bad cold. So I do keep albuterol around. It was really bad when I was 4, 5, or maybe a little older. I can remember not being able to breathe. There is no worse feeling in the world and it is hard to explain to someone that has never experienced it.

So, 4 years ago we were at my grandparents around Memorial Day this was the first time we had been there at that time of the year. Anyway, my grandfather grows so many acres of his land for hay. My husband was driving a truck for my grandfather my son was with him in the truck. Later my husband went to his mothers and my son & I stayed at my grandparents. That night Ethan got to where he wasn't breathing very well. Nothing life threatening at that time but I knew from experience that it could turn that way quickly and so did my mom.

I got a humidifier from my aunt and plugged it up in my bedroom. Needless to say I slept with my son that night. I didn't get much sleep, hoping that he would not get worse of course if he had I would have immediately taken him to the er in the middle of the night. He got a little better thanks to the humidifier.

I got him dressed the next morning and took him to the er. They diagnosed him with allergy induced asthma gave him breathing treatments drops for his eyes because the hay irritated it enough he got congivitius(sp) and an hour later we left with prescriptions in hand. The doctor said with all the hay particles flying around in the air aggriviated his allergies enough that he had a mild asthma attack which could have gotten worse at any time. Ever since then I carry albuterol inhalers with me all the time. I've had to use them once or twice since if he has had a cold and I see that he is having a hard time breathing.


Anyway didn't mean to make this so long. Luckily he has not had a problem with our dogs. He has been around hay since and has not had a problem. My allergist said it was probably due to the cutting and rolling process which stirred up all the dust particles from the hay and that once it is processed it does not affect him that way. But I'm always careful.

That's why we have yorkies inside is because I knew they would not bother his allergies and bring on a possible asthma attack. We do have a chocolate lab that stays in the back yard.

Like me my son is allergice to numerous things. Dog & Cat dander just 2 of the list. My son would really like a cat but, because of his & my allergies that is not an option. If we ever do get one it would most definitely be an outside cat. No litter boxes for me.

Anyway this is my opinion and my reason that my chocolate lab is an outside dog. He does play with her outside and has never had a really bad problem as long as he takes he allergy mediciation.

Again sorry this is so long.