I've teased my wife a bit with a threat/promise to get a Dachsund... my grand parents used to have a couple of them, and as best I can recall, my wife didn't react too badly to them. Of course, the allergists say that both my wife and my son have allergies to cats and dogs, and its not just from their hair (so she tells me).
Still left with a choice between wife and more pets, and for now, she wins. Of course she could walk away, or chase me away I guess, and I'd probably have a new pet in just a few days
| Hairless cats are pretty ugly creatures... without the soft fur to rub, |
Yea, and my wife has allergies as well. But we have a Himalayan cat as well. 7 toes on one foot, 6 on the other! And sweet as you can imagine. My wife takes pills as he is her 'Sammy'.
I did suggest taking allergy meds also, but again, no sale for my missus.
Anyway, I did put a pre-order down on a compromise for my daughter -- Nintendogs for the Nintendo DS. It's one of the virtual pet type games. Play with the pet, train it, care for it, etc. It looks cute as all get out, and is already projected as a very big best seller. In my case, it cost me for the Nintendo DS as well as the game (which I only have a deposit down on currently). Worth it though, as my daughter brought home excellent grades for most of this past year (she was slow outta the gate, but got on track as the year progressed). She deserved some sort of treat for doing such a good job without complaining.
On the plus side, the virtual pet is certainly cheaper (long term) than a real pet, with the increased costs of vet bills, meds and food for pets, and other such issues. I know people (bless them for it) that have spent literally thousands on vet care for treasured family pets. I hate to seem like a cheap s-o-b, but if I faced a choice of $2000 for vet care or having to put a pet to sleep, I'd probably have to choose puting the pet down. I don't keep thousands of $$ on hand for such issues. It's bad enough just paying for birds (considered small animals), and I have been held up for $$ for their care in the past.
| Lucky for you Dr. Guy on the wife willing to take the meds and deal with the allergies. I wish I could have had my wife tough through the first few weeks of having a dog. She went just under a week with the puppy last year and couldn't take it. I suspect if she had gone for about a month or so she may have built up some tolerance and things might not have been so bad. I did suggest taking allergy meds also, but again, no sale for my missus. |
Hey terp....check this out:
Link
| On the plus side, |
On the down side, there is no pet to cuddle.
| Hey terp....check this out:Link |
Ahhh, have seen those before, but too pricey, and just don't fit the bill.
Regarding Dr. Guy's comment:
| On the down side, there is no pet to cuddle. |
very true... That is where the birds have to suffice. Thankfully the ones we have are quite friendly. Another advantage to birds, they tend to (or can) live a long time. I remember cats going for around 15 years (give or take), dogs around the same. Birds can go that easily, and many can go for 20 - 30 years, if not longer. If you get a good one, they can be very affectionate, and are quite intelligent. One of ours is quite the little talker, though most of what he says is jibberish. The keets love to chirp sweet little tunes, though they can be annoying at times when the just won't shut up at all.
| Hey terp....check this out:Link Ahhh, have seen those before, but too pricey, and just don't fit the bill. |
These might be more in your rpice range:
Link
Link
The very first one I linked to was a new model second generation Sony. And yes at 2K they're a bit pricy. I just found out Sony didn't make the first gen, Tekno did.
| They claim that those ionizing air purifiers remove pet dander (the most common cause of pet allergies) from the air...I wonder if they really work? |
I did a lot of searching for reviews on those things, and other anti-allergy solutions when we got the puppy last year. General results in the reviews were negative. The answers kept coming back that allergies are allergies, and nothing will do much to mitigate them.
I actually took allergy shots when I was much younger, and honestly, I'd have to say that the results of approximately 4 years of being stuck and sticking myself with the shots did not change a thing, or at least not noticably so.
One of the suggestions that was prevalent was to keep dogs clean, washed frequently. My kids did that too, but again, didn't make any real difference that we could see.
To be fair, I think my sons effects were about the same as usual for the time of year. He suffers from hay fever and other similar things in the spring time and summer months. He seems to have to received my allergies in that area: grasses, pollen, etc., though he seems to be worse off than I am. The pet allergies come from his momma's side of the family (his momma specifically).
My daughter seems to have been much more lucky as far as allergies go. So she will probably be able to get herself a pet when she is off on her own.
Back to drmiler I did get one of the Tekno type dogs for my daughter a few years ago. She enjoyed it a little, but as noted, the robot is not a real pet, and never could be.
| I did a lot of searching for reviews on those things, and other anti-allergy solutions when we got the puppy last year. General results in the reviews were negative. The answers kept coming back that allergies are allergies, and nothing will do much to mitigate them. |
My wife has allergies. It is not the actual pet fur (or hair), but the mites and dust in them that are the allergy triggers. We dont have an ION air cleaner, just a HEPA vacuum that I run (usually) once or twice a week.
| It is not the actual pet fur (or hair), but the mites and dust in them that are the allergy triggers. |
yup, which is where the recommendations to give the pets plenty of baths comes from, but for us, it just didn't seem to help.
I suspect some of my wife's symptoms were psychosymatic (spelling?), but would never be able to convince her of it. She is most definitely quite the hypochondriac though. Thank god she sort of phased out of that some, and has been less likely to spend a lot of time searching through home medical books finding whatever the disease is to fit her symptoms.
| yup, which is where the recommendations to give the pets plenty of baths comes from, but for us, it just didn't seem to help. |
It probably helped, but did not cure. The vacuuming (and special cover for the bed and regular washing of the bed sheets) helps her, but does not get rid of it.
It really is self imposed on her part. When I met her, she had 4 cats (One died). She brought me 3 (strays at the animal shelter that were about to be put down), and when we got married, well - we now have 6 cats! And instead of keeping them outside, she lets them sleep with us in our bed. They do not bother me, but bless her soul, she does suffer.
| Back to drmiler I did get one of the Tekno type dogs for my daughter a few years ago. She enjoyed it a little, but as noted, the robot is not a real pet, and never could be. |
No it's not and never could be. There's just something special when they look at you with them big brown eyes. And then drool on you!
In many ways I'm surprised that science hasn't gotten that much better in the area of allergies. I guess not that much attention and $$ are going to such things, though we certainly have seen much money and effort go into solving other issues (like that darn little blue pill and all of it's derivatives in the last decade or two).
| In many ways I'm surprised that science hasn't gotten that much better in the area of allergies. I guess not that much attention and $$ are going to such things, though we certainly have seen much money and effort go into solving other issues (like that darn little blue pill and all of it's derivatives in the last decade or two). |
You are actually very close to the truth. Science is not really concerned with it because it is not life threatening and aviodable. It is treatable, and the treatments exist now.
They go for the big bucks, not the (neccessarily) easy ones.
A great example comes to mind. Check out the great movie (done on HBO, one of their best): And the Band Played On
| A great example comes to mind. Check out the great movie (done on HBO, one of their best): And the Band Played On |
Been there and done that.
| and btw, you say that almost as if you had personal experience |
And who says I DON'T?
| And who says I DON'T? |
hehhee
I'm not touching that with a ....
| A great example comes to mind. Check out the great movie (done on HBO, one of their best): And the Band Played On Been there and done that. |
Opinion of same?
| Opinion of same? |
Depressing.
| 24 hours (give or take) and no replies. It seems I am destined to get the last word |
In your dreams.
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