Dog Allergy help

MellyK12 · June 2013

Re-post from Food Allergy: I'm looking for some support or positive stories for young children with dog allergies. DD is 12 months and we've suspected a dairy allergy since 6 months - she breaks out in hives if she even comes into contact with a dairy product, runny nose, itchy watery eyes, wheezing etc. Doc referred us to a specialist and her blood test results just came in - highly allergic to dairy and also dogs. Great that we have confirmation on dairy and I've come to terms with it over the past few months - sucks but it could be so much worse and we've already been changing our diet.

She has been a very sick baby so we've suspected something else. She's always sick and wheezing - doc thought it was asthma. Now the dog allergy totally makes sense since we have two golden retrievers. We are just heartbroken because they're our family too. We've had them for over 6 years and DD just loves them too. Does anyone have experience with this? We're trying Zyrtec, she's on a daily nebulizer, vacuuming/dusting a lot, keeping the dogs out of her room, got an air purifier. She's still wheezing and sneezing. Does it just take time or do we need to look at re-homing our dogs? We would like to try other things first but we will do what's best for our daughter if it comes down to that. It breaks my heart seeing her so miserable but we're not the kind of people that just gets rid of their pets either. Is it accurate to say that DD will still feel the effects of the allergen even with all these precautions? She can't tell us and we don't have allergies so just trying to figure out how she's feeling.

LatteLady5 · June 2013

I would definitely try some allergy meds to see if that helps. Also, I just bought a furminator for my Aussie and it's a machine. In one combing secession I took off enough hair to make a full on doggie wig. You might consider investing in one. They are kind of pricey (retail about $62) but I got mine brand new on Ebay for $14.

I would keep combing, vacuuming, maybe try an air filter and definitely allergy meds before rehoming.

amex0107 · June 2013

As a person with asthma & suffers from endless allergies (especially to dogs), I think you may have to resort to re-homing. I'm sorry & understand that they're part of your family. You can try the precautions to see if they work, but I have a feeling that they won't. Even if you kept the dogs outside only (if that's an option), you'd have to change your clothes every time you came into contact with them, as well as wash your hands, arms, face, etc. And still that may not be enough. I had a boyfriend that did this, & I was still miserable. My allergist told me to stay away from dogs, etc. It's a bummer because alot of my friends have dogs. Even though I take a prescribed nasal spray, I still have an allergic reaction. I'm okay if I don't touch the dogs, don't sit on their couch, & visit my friends for a couple of hours.

I hope I don't sound harsh. I'm just being honest, & have had allergies since I was very young. Good luck, & if you have any questions, just ask away.

kalette · June 2013

Frequent bathing of the dogs can help a lot.

thatgirlnicki · June 2013

I don't have a lot of experience with this in children, but I can tell you my mother's experience. My sister was a pretty sick baby with asthma. My parents were told to remove all carpets from their home and get rid of their dog. They did that and my sister did improve, but always had allergies/asthma and required allergy shots through much of her childhood. And now...my sister is a dog groomer. She has dogs and a cat and has developed a tolerance for the allergies. She still gets allergies and asthma at times, but doesn't seem to be related to pets. So, I would follow your doctor's advice and I hope that the treatments work so you can keep your dogs. There is hope that your little one can adjust, but it might take some time. Sorry you are going through that - I worry that my son's allergies might be dog related too.

Also, my doc said there are often false positives in allergy testing done at a young age. So, maybe you can hold out until age 2 and test again?

MellyK12 · June 2013

I think deep down I know they aren't going to work because she's still wheezing and sneezing. It's hard to believe but she doesn't sound any better even after we've taking these measures. Her allergist said to give it two weeks but it's so much harder now that we know what's causing it because of the guilt. I can't imagine giving my dogs away either though since they're our babies too.

Does Zyrtec help take away the reaction? Or will she always feel some of it? Allergist is increasing the dose to see if that helps.

preggersin2011 · June 2013

Environmental allergies are a whole other ball game!! it takes a solid two weeks of the same daily antihistamine for it to become fully effective. Also, carpets are a no no. HEPA filter in the bedroom is a must, not the <$100 machines either. I grew into a dog allergy during puberty and grew out of it during my pregnancy. For me my dog allergy is worse from the saliva than the dander around the house. It takes about 2-3 hours for the allergens to settle in the air after sweeping/vacuuming. I would break out in hives the second i went to my aunt's house for holidays because she always vacuumed right before people came over. I finally got her to do it the day before one year and I lasted the entire meal before I broke out in hives. I have a good vacuum that has a HEPA filter on it that i do the hardwood floors with that way nothing is being swept into the air. Central air/heat helps too and changing the filter frequently it a must. It sounds weird but I don't have pollen/grass allergies, but since i am soooo highly allergic to dust they are a huge irritant for me and i have symptoms just like allergies to pollen.

Personally the only thing that is an immediate effect for environmental allergies is benadryl. Long term is immunization therapy... did the allergist discuss that?

The allergist who finally got me all balanced told me to switch to all free & clear, plus the equivalent for fabric softener. My sister's washing machine has a steam cycle on it which has helped her dust allergies to the point I want to get one now too. I would imagine it would do the same for dander too.

Nel11 · June 2013

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I could not imagine giving away our dog either. I don't have any direct experience with this but I do have a few thoughts based on other allergy experiences.

1. Definitely give it more than 2 weeks to see if your preventions are working... like PP said, it can take a long time to see any results.

2. I like the idea of going to a pet-free house or on vacation for a week... it might give you a better idea of what your dealing with.

3. I also know many people who have/had pet allergies and "grow" out of them (quotes because I'm not sure what the correct term would be).

4. I've read that false positives are pretty high for young kids, especially those under 2. I've also read that it takes quite a bit of time for your body to decide it's allergic to something, so kids under 2 aren't usually officially diagnosed with an allergy.

sozay23 · June 2013

Do you mind sharing where you are located ( or pm me). I know a lot of golden retriever rescues that could probably help if you are in TX. If to google for your area- ther are probably rescue groups where you are specific for the breed.

And as a fellow golden retriever owner I'm so sorry you are in this position!!

skibunny59 · June 2013

I have no suggestions for you but I just wanted to say that I am thinking about you and I am really sorry you are going through this. That totally sucks. We also have a dog whom we love dearly and I would be completely devastated if I found out DD were allergic to him and we would possibly have to rehome him. I would do exactly what you are doing and try every other possibly thing before rehoming your dogs.

MellyK12 · June 2013

Thanks everyone. We're hoping she will outgrow this but it seems like she has a severe allergy to dogs since she is wheezing around them all the time. I guess I don't want to get my hopes up. We got a really good air purifier for her room and keep the dogs out of there and it seems like it's starting to work. She actually woke up this morning with a clear nose, no sneezing or coughing which is a first! But as soon as I took her out to the kitchen where the dogs were, the sneezing and runny nose started. This was even in a room with tile floor. I think I'm getting to the point where I can't justify doing this to her anymore as her parent now that we know it's an allergy and not asthma. We are heartbroken but think we need to at least try taking the dogs to my mom's house for a couple weeks to see if it makes a difference. I'm thankful to have that option at least.

I actually volunteer for our state's Golden Retriever rescue and one of our dogs came from the rescue. Breaks my heart even more to think about rehoming her for this reason. I'm hoping it will work out for my mom to take them so we can still visit and be in their lives.

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