Animal Allergies- Do they interfere with your job satisfaction?

[MissPickles]

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Hey everybody,
I realize there are a few threads about this topic, and most of the people said they were able to "manage" their allergies to animals, but I want to know how it effects job satisfaction or if it inferes with doing certain tasks. I am very allergic to dogs and I currently work at a veterinary clinic; thinking of doing an RVT program or maybe vet school but I get itchy rashes on my arms (little hives) and also itchy, watery eyes. I am not sure if this should deter me...I have worked at a veterinary hospital for 6 years but always as a receptionist, so I haven't had as much patient contact.

Anyway, if you all have some feed back, I'd appreciate it! 😍

 

[knabors]

I had severe allergies for a long time. My eyes would swell shut if I touched an animal. I started getting allergy shots once a week. After doing that for a while my allergies got MUCH better. I still have sneezing fits, watery eyes, and runny nose sometimes but no more swollen eyes. I just keep allergy medicine with me in case I have an attack. I have worked at a vet clinic for about two years and it never interferes with my work and i still love working there. My suggestion for you would be to make an appointment with an allergy doctor and begin getting the shots.

 

[skittles12]

I went and got an allergy test after a severe reaction in a poorly ventilated horse barn last year. I found out that I was allergic to everything on the test except food and tobacco, of all things. I get allergy shots every other week, and I take Zyrtec, Singulair, and eye drops every day. Since last year, my allergies have improved dramatically. I may sneeze once or twice around a horse, but that's it. Most of the time I don't even think about it any more.

 

[theunraveler]

I sneeze alot when I am near cats, is that allergy?

 

[bre8162]

People always laugh when I tell them I have allergies. I tried a billion types of pills before I found one that works. I still get hives from certain breeds of dogs who tend to have a certain consistency of hair like pit bulls, rotts, shar peis, etc. Also from my cats too and my rott at home. I never let it discourage. This is what I want to do and I don't think I would be happy doing much else. I had an episode where my face swelled up once and my eye closed, but I just took some benadryl. I guess it depends on if you want to deal with it... for me it's minor thing that will not deter me and has not for the 7 years I have worked with animals and my whole life that I have lived with them.

 

[CalliopeDVM]

Don't assume that your allergies will improve with meds, exposure, or allergy shots, because in fact they might get worse......there's no sure thing when it comes to allergies. Before investing time (and a lot of money) in vet school, make sure you've got a way to control them. That said, I know several vets who have various types of allergies to the animals they work with, including myself. Some get allergy shots, some take daily meds to control it.

I can work with cats, but can't own them because my allergic response gets worse with prolonged exposure (to the point of asthmatic attacks and sleep apnea), but is fine with the short exposure time at work (and having someone else to the cleaning). I'm fine around dogs as long as I don't wipe my eyes (or any mucous membrane) after I touch them, so I wash my hands constantly.....I do the same at home regarding my own dog.

On the flip side, I know a technician who had to change jobs and leave clinical practice because she developed a severe allergy - many years after graduation. She now works in industry, but it's an indication of how you never know what's going to happen when in comes to allergies. They might cause you problems later, but certainly don't start unless you have a firm belief you're going to be able to manage.

 

[Medic_9]

I went and got an allergy test after a severe reaction in a poorly ventilated horse barn last year. I found out that I was allergic to everything on the test except food and tobacco, of all things. I get allergy shots every other week, and I take Zyrtec, Singulair, and eye drops every day. Since last year, my allergies have improved dramatically. I may sneeze once or twice around a horse, but that's it. Most of the time I don't even think about it any more.

That sounds like my allergies. But at present I can't do the allergy shots (even though they were starting to work). Plus when I moved to Scotland to attend Vet school here I was told that they don't prescribe Singulair, only the hospital does for severe asthma.