Fuzzy Politics of Pets and Asthma

I thought I would share my personal story and see if others have similar experiences. I'm a middle-aged male in decent shape (5'8" approx. 160 lbs.) and in good health, living with my family in California. I've never smoked or taken illicit drugs. I commonly have a strong asthmatic reaction triggered by [most all] cats and dogs (cats are more serious, but who walks their cat!?). As I have aged, I've become more sensitive to animals. My reaction is "dramatic," where I begin to wheeze, become short of breath, struggle to breathe and have to lie down. Oxygen saturation remains normal at about 98%, but the lungs restrict greatly and it’s an effort to breathe. As an example, a year ago one of my boys pet a neighbor's Alaskan dog outside, then came into the house and sat near me. Almost immediately, I felt the usual "hazy” feeling quickly followed by wheezing, increased lung restriction, then an intense effort to breathe / shortness of breath. These episodes last hours and are usually reduced and/or resolved after I have left the area and had a few puffs of "rescue" inhaler (Albuterol). This reaction has [also] sent me to the ER and Urgent Care. To avoid "family politics" since all of my relatives have either dogs or cats in their homes, I've tried using a mask during dinner (pulling it up and down, etc.), but each such time after leaving [their] home(s), I've reacted and the lungs quickly restrict, leaving me to struggle to breathe. Ultimately, I have to puff on the inhaler. Of course, no friend or relative cooks well enough to warrant my asthmatic reaction!

I'd like to read if any of you encounter a similar situation - and whether you may have any constructive advice. More and more people take their dogs along to various venues. Though I don't engage in a pointless argument, many dog owners quickly become well-read "physicians" and tell me their dog is a short-hair, or is "hypo-allergenic" and I thus cannot possibly have any asthmatic reaction to their animal. I’ve told some as long as a dog/cat produces saliva and/or urine, I’ll have a reaction. Of course, hypo-allergenic means "lower" rather than “none." I've instructed my teenage boys over the years not to touch someone's dog; to advise the owner that their Dad is very allergic; etc., to little avail. Having a dog locked in a room in their house is not acceptable to the owner - just being in their home is too much exposure for me. When my boys return from visiting friends’ homes, I have them take a shower. I’ve been “thrown out" of the house on hot days so the dog can be inside in the cooler environment (honestly, my personality is not that repulsive! 😀 ). I've angered family members and this issue becomes as political as ever. Celebrations and holidays are made more stressful. My family recently travelled to England and Wales and we noticed people are decidedly not leading dogs around everywhere. Of course, I carry Albuterol inhalers in case I am around any pets. We stayed at a higher-end hotel a couple years ago in CA which advised me they did not allow pets on a particular floor of the hotel. I found an immense turd behind a couch (I fell to the floor laughing and gagging - rather than struggling to breathe). My issue is avoiding arguments/politics with family and others over their animals, and I would rather simply avoid the animals. I do not want to have to go for periodic shots, am an "under-medicator" and try to take as little medication as possible. These days in California, it is commonplace to see dogs brought into stores, restaurants, aircraft and hotels. If you have any constructive suggestions, I would like to read them. Thanks for reading! - J in California.