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(JD) · Jan 16, 2010, 10:59 AM

Hi Amanda.
Yep, I have allergies and a dog too.
Living with allergies requires a lot of extra time spent on just trying to be normal.

If you can, see your allergist. Mine could make a desensitizing formula made from the dog hair/dander etc. (ENT is deceased now )

BUT there are things to do that make living with your dog easier. (Oh and yes, a shedding dog can wreak havoc with an allergic person.)

Wash all the bedding in hot water, or at least with high heat drying. That will kill allergens built up in them.
Don't let the dog sleep on the bed with you. (sorry )
Don't have carpeting in your home, but surely not in the bedroom.
Vacuum down the walls and floors and even wash them with warm water if need be, to remove allergens.
You can put full covers on your mattress and box spring and pillows, to prevent dust and spider mites and dander etc from bothering you. (They used to be a horrible plastic that was hot and made crinkling noises: no more!)
WEAR A MASK when dusting, cleaning the house, and when brushing and washing the dog.
Hose the dog down with plain water often (this really cuts the shedding and dander!)
Change the air filter on your a/c or heater once a week until you have allergies under control. Use the full cover zig zag kind, not the see through kind.

I'd be careful about using the nasal sprays. They cause you to build up a resistance and needing more and more and still won't work then. Try not using any for a week or so, then slowly add back in. (They can cause nasal drip!)

It could be also that the winter fronts are bringing in tree pollens from another part of the country, and bothering you too.

Make sure you wear a mask and wash your hands after brushing or playing with the dog directly. They have dog shampoo that limits shedding, it's great but you have to follow the directions.

See if any of that helps. Eliminate all you can first for a week or so, and then slowly add back in etc to see how much you can tolerate?