Dr Rosemary Leonard

QAFTER years of being single post-divorce, I’ve met a lovely man. We get on really well and I’m keen to spend more time with him. The trouble is he adores dogs and is planning on replacing his late, much-loved Labrador very soon – but I’m allergic to them.

Is there any way around this? A friend suggested a hypoallergenic one. Does such a thing exist?

ATHE main source of allergens, which trigger allergic reactions from dogs is a protein found in their saliva, but dander, which is made up of dead skin particles, is thought to contain allergens as well.

Reactions can vary from slightly irritated skin and runny swollen eyes to more serious puffy, extremely itchy skin. Dogs can also trigger asthma and eczema.

The reaction can vary according to how sensitive you are, as well as how much allergen you are exposed to.

All dog breeds can potentially cause allergies, but those which only shed small amounts of hair and skin are less likely to cause reactions than others.

You do not say how allergic you are, but it can help to minimise contact with any dog and certainly don’t let it lick your face.

Keeping some rooms a dog-free zone, especially the bedroom, is sensible too and the same goes for furniture – don’t allow the dog to lie on the sofa where you sit.

Vacuuming on a regular basis, to remove dander, can agitate the air and, in some, make symptoms worse.

If you do stroke or cuddle a dog, then washing your hands as soon as you can, and changing your clothes afterwards can reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction.

If this man is as wonderful as you think he is, hopefully you’ll be able to reach a happy compromise where he can have a canine friend that does not cause you too much bother.

QMY MOTHER is 88 and currently in hospital suffering from bipolar disorder. In the past she has completely recovered from these episodes. I have been advised that she will not be given CPR although she is otherwise fit and healthy and has a good quality of life.

I am not very happy with this decision. Could you please tell me what your guidelines would be?

ACARDIOPULMONARY resuscitation (CPR) is a treatment to try to restart the heart and breathing when they stop as a result of a heart attack, a severe rhythm disturbance or another illness.

It involves repeatedly pressing hard on the chest, delivering high-voltage electric shocks across the chest, attempts to get air into the lungs, and often injection of powerful drugs too.

The likelihood of recovery varies greatly according to individual circumstances, but unfortunately the proportion of people who survive and go on to make a complete recovery is relatively low.

Attempting CPR carries a risk of unwanted effects, which can range from relatively minor, such as bruised ribs, to being alive but in a nearvegetative state.

When the heart stops because a person is dying from an irreversible severe health condition such as cancer, attempting CPR will not prevent death and for some it may just prolong suffering.

Decisions about whether or not to attempt CPR are usually only considered by health professionals when a patient is thought likely to have a cardiac or breathing arrest in the near future.

However, a person can make the decision themselves and many older people (who have often seen the damage that attempted CPR can do) say they would prefer a peaceful death than risk being on a life support machine.

If medical professionals make a “do not attempt CPR” decision, this should be fully discussed with the patient, and ideally, their nearest relatives as well. If it is considered that the patient does not have mental capacity to agree to the decision, their next of kin should be involved in the discussion if possible.

I suggest you ask on what basis the decision was made in your mother’s case and whether it was her decision

‘Keep some rooms, especially bedrooms, dog-free zones’