allergic to your pet???

handmaiden_2

evening all, i have been puttin off posting this thread a I am worried about the answer i will get. I got my gorgous pup back in november and he is settled in beautifully, but since iv had him I have noticed a rash and itching on my skin tha has gradually got worse and worse, I ahve been to see the doctor who has said its most likely that I am allergic to my dog? If this is right are there any of you that have a pet but are allergic to them but still have them live with you ?

I cannot bare to rehome him as we all love him so much , but my skin is on fire! any advice would be welcome.

(the house is as spotless as can be and he only has access to the lounge and garden, dog hairs are hoovered etc etc)

Sunnyday

Hi,

i was allergic to my cats some years ago, my face would turn red and so would any part of my skin that came into contact with them, it also itched like crazy.

The doctor told me i had to rehome them but i just couldn`t bring myself to do it. i also had mild asthma.

Eventually i did get more and more tolerant but it did take a long time. After around 3 years my body seemed to have got used to them and i now have no problems with my current cat or the dogs. It really depends how badly you are affected, i was awful at first.

Is your dogs fur still at the stage where it`s a little bit rough/wiry? i did find with the dogs once they were used to being in the house their coat softened quite a bit which helped. When it was really bad i used to take antihistamine tablets, ask your doctor about these as there are lots of non drowsy ones about now.

Good luck.

SD

handmaiden_2

everyone is getting really fed up with me scratching, moaning and scratching more, and asking them if they can scratch me!!!!! the pup sheds alot of hair but i hoover about 3 times a day just to keep it looking clean. its got so bad this week, my face is puffy , i have had runny eyes since about a week after i got him, but i am going insane with my skin itching so much and being sore , my daughter is fine and so is my partner, but i am going mad. my hands face and back are blotchy and red , . i am tryng to keep away from him but it seems so unfair . he has had all his jabs and so hs also been flead by the vets regually, so its not that.

my pups hair is soft, but long and wirey on the top of his back. i groom him often, but omg i am going mad with the pain

tiamai_d

Me! I'm allergic to my dog.

I've got hayfever symptoms, stuffy nose, watery eyes, dry nose etc. When I groom him I itch like mad and have to get changed, shower and wash the clothes straight away.

It is very strange as I grew up with all sorts of dogs but it's only him I have a problem with. Luckily it's not too bad when I'm on medication, but I'm pregnant right now so just have to get on with it! I keep away from him as much as possible, regular baths, hoover to get rid of the hair and he has a wire cage and vet bedding.

I am also allergic to long haired rabbits! When I worked in the pet shop I could not go near the bunny area if there were long haired ones in.

Can someone else groom and bath him? All you can hope is that it's just the puppy hair and when he is a bit bigger it will settle down.

You do get wipes that you can wipe over them once a week (simple solution) but I have no idea how effective they are. http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=435&pf_id=5234

floyd

As I am typing this I have half-closed puffy eyes and an itchy throat because my cat is snoozing on my lap

I have had cats for about 14 years and always been allergic but I just cope with it and take antihistamines if it gets really bad (asthmatic so I have to be careful).

I find that keeping a few of those single dose saline eye drops around is great as I can ease the itching quickly and it stops me rubbing my eyes. Flixonase is also very good at preventing a nose flare up but I wouldn't use it regularly, I use it if I go to houses with dogs as I am even more allergic to them than cats.

Try grooming gloves, that way pup will think you are giving him lots of attention and your hands won't be in direct contact with the dander, you may still get an itchy face though as its airbourne.

Avoid letting him lick you as its frequently the spit that causes the most serious reaction, a friend thought I had burned myself when he saw my arm after his mastiff had drooled on me

Sagz_2

I'm allergic to cats and dogs and have owned them for 20+ years. I've built up a tollorence over the years but when my summer hayfever starts it kicks the pet allergies into gear again.

Have you tried antihistamines? When I'm in full sneeze mode I take half the recommended daily dose in the morning and that is enough to control it.

Doctors can be a bit quick to blame pets for allergies - have you ruled out all the other things it could be? Did you get new perfume or bath smellies for Christmas? Change of washing powder? etc

Hope you find a cure soon xx

tiff

I have asthma which came on a couple of months after getting our dog. I had a dog before this one and wasnt allergic to him but have been allergic to other dogs, all cats, feathers, dust etc.

suki1964

Im also allergic, cats more then dogs and am a dog owner - to a breed that casts daily:D

My own body has built up a tolerance to my dog but cats I often have to take antihistamine. And I still suffer if I groom my dog

Bronnie

I have had cats as pets practically all my life. Over a year ago , I began to suffer quite badly with what I thought were recurrent sinus problems, following on from this, the area around my eyes became swollen and irritated. I am sure this is an allergic reaction to my cats, although it could be other things as well!
I have been referred to hospital and am awaiting the results of an allergy test. In the meantime I was prescribed a Flixonase spray and am taking a small amount of Antihistamine when I wake up and just before I leave work to come home.
The symptoms are much relieved and my eyes are 100% better.

The oldest cat is 18 and has scarcely gone out this winter.
I'm hoping when the weather improves, they will be in the garden as much as poss. I have replaced carpets and furnishings (which fortunately were due to be replaced anyway) and vacum regularly. I restrict them from the bedrooms

The problem I understand is not so much with the fur as with the dander (skin flakes) and animal saliva. This forms microcscopic particles which are airborne and basically permeate every surface of your home. So hoovering up the hair is only part of the story. This is why it's important to keep the filters on your vacum clean. There is loads of info on this if you google.

handmaiden_2

thanks for all your replies, i am going to google that thanks!

I have repaced every carpet we had with laminate flooring, pup is not allowed upstairs .

my mum did say before we got him that iwas allergic to our dog and cat when i was a baby and she had to rehome them. (this was over 28 years ago thouh ) I dismissed this though as i have a cat and had no problems.

i have ruled out other causes for my skin reaction, he is not let to lick me , or anyone but he does nudge me with his nose an awful lot which is why my arm is looking like it does.

i have take tablets but i ant honestl say they have mademy symptoms any better. roll on the summer when we can all be outside lol

Bronnie

handmaiden wrote: »

thanks for all your replies, i am going to google that thanks!

I have repaced every carpet we had with laminate flooring, pup is not allowed upstairs .

my mum did say before we got him that iwas allergic to our dog and cat when i was a baby and she had to rehome them. (this was over 28 years ago thouh ) I dismissed this though as i have a cat and had no problems.

i have ruled out other causes for my skin reaction, he is not let to lick me , or anyone but he does nudge me with his nose an awful lot which is why my arm is looking like it does.

i have take tablets but i ant honestl say they have mademy symptoms any better. roll on the summer when we can all be outside lol

Forgot to mention regular bathing of animal is meant to help. Obviously I can't bath my old cat, but she does have some difficulty washing her back now as she is fat and not so supple. DD gives her a nice 'blanket' bath using warm flannels,twice a week dd is very patient and cat is quite happy with this.

Also, not wanting to appear to be giving medical advice, but justify it by saying it is not money saving to be using antihistamines that are not effective. Have you tried a different brand as they contain different active ingredients and some are more modern formulas than others? Lots of info again if you google.
Good luck!