daily coughing/phlegm (but not constant) and dog allergies

[ks1968]

About 3 months ago, I got a puppy.  Shortly after that, I began experiencing a sore throat off and on for about 2 weeks (I think); then I had a daily dry cough.  About 1 week after having the daily dry cough, I went to my doctor and he said that it was allergic bronchitis and I should take Claritin.  Within about 1 week after that, I began coughing up phlegm;which has continued ever since.  The coughing/phlegm is not constant.  But every day, usually about the same time of day, I cough/cough up phlegm (sometimes) and experience the need to constantly clear my throat.  This last for about a couple hours and then I am fine for the rest of the day.  (For a couple weeks, I did also have a coughing session for a couple hours in the late evening - this was not associated with the need to cough up phlegm; it was just a dry cough which seemed to make me wheeze slightly.  I have had asthma since I was 3 years old; but it is usually never a problem.  I have never had to be hospitalized for it and I do not need to have an inhaler with me.  Some wheezing usually occurs when I am sick with something else; otherwise, my asthma is not a problem.  

My question:  is it possible that a dog allergy can cause these type of symptoms which I only experience for a short period of every day?  (Note:  when I experience the daily coughing and phlegm, it usually occurs in late morning hours when I am not around the puppy.)

[wutthechris]

It's possible.  You need to see a doc and have allergy testing done or at least a normal blood panel to test for IgE levels.

[star queen]

You may be having an allergic reaction to the dander of the dog or you may be having problems with something that the dogs get into when they are outside and are bringing in with them.  Do you have anything in the yard where they go to the bathroom or play that you are allergic to?  Perhaps a shrub they go under, or a chemical in the garden they may be rubbing against?  If you have a known allergy to one of these, and you can prevent the dogs from bringing the germs to your problem may go away.  If you don't know what may be causing the reaction, then an allergy test is the best thing to do so that you can identify the problem and rectify it. There is a blood test out there that docs can use and test for hundreds of allergins.  Check around and see who gives that test and go there.  Less painful that the ***** testing.  Good luck