When you bring a baby into the household, you might be worried about how they’ll get along with your pets. One big concern is potential allergic reactions.
Allergies occur when your child’s immune system reacts to animal dander, feces, urine, or saliva.
When the immune system comes into contact with these things, it reacts by releasing histamine and other chemicals. Histamine causes inflammation of the nose and airways.
When Do Pet Allergies Show Up in Babies?
Many concerned parents want to know: When do babies develop allergies to pets?
The length of time an allergy takes to develop can vary. When you first get a pet, your child might not have an allergic reaction immediately.
In many cases, the child must be exposed to the allergen for several months before they develop symptoms.
Babies are more likely to develop a pet allergy if you or your partner is prone to allergies. Even if you don’t have pet allergies, this genetic predisposition can manifest differently in your child.
If you’re thinking about getting a pet, but you’re not sure if your baby is allergy-prone or not, you should wait until they’re about 6 years old.
The symptoms of allergies tend to manifest less severely in older children.
How To Tell If Baby Is Allergic To Dogs?
Runny Noses
When a baby has an allergic reaction to dog dander, the immune system releases histamines into their bloodstream.
This causes the accumulation of mucus in the nasal passages. If your infant is dealing with nasal drainage without any fever, it might be a symptom of dog allergies.
Stuffy Noses
Nasal congestion is caused by too much mucus accumulating thanks to the inflammatory action of the histamines. An infant doesn’t even need to touch a dog to develop these nasal symptoms.
Sneezing
Another symptom caused by the histamines in the blood is sneezing. If you notice that your baby sneezes only after coming into contact with dogs, this might be a sign of an allergy.
Sneezing might continue after the dog is removed from the home, since indoor environments can house dog dander for months after the dog leaves.
Wiping Nose
A baby’s mucous membranes might start to itch before any other symptoms appear. If a parent notices their baby is repeatedly rubbing their nose, some kind of allergy might be the cause.
Rubbing Eyes
Another sign of allergies is excessive eye rubbing. Histamines cause the eyes to itch, which then causes the child to rub their eyes.
This can sometimes be a vicious cycle, as allergens might already be on the hands if the child has been interacting with the dog.
Skin Rashes
Babies have soft and sensitive skin. When an infant comes into direct contact with the dog, their skin might develop a rash.
These rashes may develop in places the child has touched the dog. They tend to be red and itchy, and they may include raised bumps
Final Thoughts
It’s very possible for a baby to develop dog allergies. Parents should be concerned if they have a predisposition to allergies themselves.
The overactive immune system can wreak havoc on your child’s sinuses and skin.
If your child has a pet allergy, you’ll probably need to find a new home for that pet. However, if the baby is particularly attached to the dog, treatments by an allergist might help.
Resources:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/181928-signs-of-infant-allergy-to-dogs/
https://www.livescience.com/14566-baby-year-important-pet-allergies.html
https://www.babycenter.com/0_pet-allergies_1227639.bc
