Dogs & allergies/Asthma

[DivineByDesign]

I've just had my youngest to the docs today as he's not been quite right for a while. Our GP is an ENT specialist and had a good look over him. All of our children have suffered or currently suffer eczema, and the eldest briefly suffered asthma. GP has given him a list of meds to treat asthma and allergies and said its our call but if we want him to get better (he's only 9 months) then we need to get rid of our Pug. I'm devastated. Obviously my son comes first, but Betty (The pug) is a wonderful dog. Amazing with the children, immaculately trained and a part of the family. She already has her own bed in the utility, isn't allowed up on the sofas or beds as I was worried about the children reacting.

Has anyone had any experience of this? I'm petrified she'll end up in a puppy farm if we get rid of her as she's not yet been done (she's 17months)

Any advice or experience welcome. I'm not a "cry-ie" person but this has really got to me :'( xx

 

[Annemarie]

Aww no. I feel for you. I know its no consolation but do you have any family or friends that would be willing to take her. That way you will still be able to go and see her whenever you want. My daughter suffers with eczema, it's not bad. We have four cats, and she'd go mad if we got rid of any of them. Although I would give them awayif we really had to. The doctor has never said it was them though. I don't allow them upstairs on the beds etc. We have a big kitchen and back garden so they have plenty of room to room. I think there is a product you can get from the chemist that you can spray or comb on the animals fur which helps with allergies. It's a preventative of some sort.

 

[smallandcute]

I think dogs get blamed for a lot of things when actually they are not the cause. I also think that dogs help build immune systems with children and help them grow out of allergies etc. I wouldnt get rid of your dog, your doing the right thing with her. Can other thingsbe ruled out like laundery powder and conditioner or cleaner that you use etc as these are far more triggering then pets.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using SalonGeek

 

[laurakate]

At the risk of sounding flippant here, the doctors advice isn't always right. I was given an eczema cream once that made mine worse. Turned out the eczema improved when totally left alone re creams etc to be honest.

My point is that even if your child does have a dog allergy, that's not necessarily a reason to get rid of your dog. Modern houses are full of things that people can be allergic to. By your doctors logic, you should probably get rid of cushions with feathers, washing powder, soap and cleaning products too. Maybe even a few fluffy jumpers just to be on the safe side.

For what it's worth, I feel that your doctor has offered an opinion rather than a level of advice that will totally solve the problem anyway (for instance, if your doctor was a dog lover, I don't think they would have advised you get rid of your dog)

Hope I don't sound too opinionated here, that's just my two pence worth

 

[danii27]

I've just had my youngest to the docs today as he's not been quite right for a while. Our GP is an ENT specialist and had a good look over him. All of our children have suffered or currently suffer eczema, and the eldest briefly suffered asthma. GP has given him a list of meds to treat asthma and allergies and said its our call but if we want him to get better (he's only 9 months) then we need to get rid of our Pug. I'm devastated. Obviously my son comes first, but Betty (The pug) is a wonderful dog. Amazing with the children, immaculately trained and a part of the family. She already has her own bed in the utility, isn't allowed up on the sofas or beds as I was worried about the children reacting.

Has anyone had any experience of this? I'm petrified she'll end up in a puppy farm if we get rid of her as she's not yet been done (she's 17months)

Any advice or experience welcome. I'm not a "cry-ie" person but this has really got to me :'( xx

I've had severe eczema from childhood, hayfever and on & off with asthma. My gran had various Cats & Dogs whilst I was growing up and although I was never tested as a child I am sure I was allergic to all of them for a time.

I have since been tested and I do have a Cat & Dog allergy as well as dust and various other things. What I have found is with time I grew to be immune to whichever animal was living with us and when my Gran got a new one I would start from scratch - literally!

I'm still the same now, I don't have pets myself but my mum has recently got a new dog and its supposedly hypo-allergenic - everytime I went round there my symptoms would start up again. The new dogs been there a year now and I have completely adjusted again and am no longer suffering- until the next one!

 

[tonicj]

I've just had my youngest to the docs today as he's not been quite right for a while. Our GP is an ENT specialist and had a good look over him. All of our children have suffered or currently suffer eczema, and the eldest briefly suffered asthma. GP has given him a list of meds to treat asthma and allergies and said its our call but if we want him to get better (he's only 9 months) then we need to get rid of our Pug. I'm devastated. Obviously my son comes first, but Betty (The pug) is a wonderful dog. Amazing with the children, immaculately trained and a part of the family. She already has her own bed in the utility, isn't allowed up on the sofas or beds as I was worried about the children reacting.

Has anyone had any experience of this? I'm petrified she'll end up in a puppy farm if we get rid of her as she's not yet been done (she's 17months)

Any advice or experience welcome. I'm not a "cry-ie" person but this has really got to me :'( xx

Hi, just reading through this and you say that all of your children suffered
eczema. I presume some of the children suffered this before you got your dog who you say is only 17 months in which case it wouldn't be the result of having your dog! I also think it is very harsh and indeed very cold of your GP to say that it was your call if you want your child to get better or not!!! Of course you want your child to get better but does it have to be at the loss of your beautiful pet who is also very much a family member?? From what you say you sound to me like a very caring person and you clearly love your pet and I can only say that if it were me I would do all that I can to keep her. I would first start by checking out some of the household things, detergents, pillows as Lurakate says. I really hope you can find a solution to this heartbreaking problem and I myself will try to think of things for you too. You will get a lot of support from this forum as there are many animal lovers on here. Will be thinking about you xx

 

[georgieboo]

Hi, I have to say I agree with tonicj, if all of your children have suffered from eczema I would say that Betty Is obviously not the triggering factor.

As a Pug owner myself I can honestly say I would find it very difficult indeed to lose mr Puggles (My pug) he is as much a part of the family as any one else, I'm sure your children would miss Betty too!! Sorry i'm not much help, hopefully some clever clogs will be along soon to give you the answer. Big Hugs!! :hug: xx

 

[AcidPerm]

I'm not a medic so this might be completely wrong, but my bro's symptoms improved enormously after he had his diet analysed.

Wheat (most grains in fact), dairy, tomatoes etc were definite triggers.

 

[nicole333]

There are so many things that can trigger eczema, that I would be asking for a referral to the allergy clinic for thorough testing before making any decisions.

 

[Crystal colleen]

Have you had the tests done for animal allergies etc it's called skin prick tests and is done in hospital not at the doctors.My daughter has had it done and unless you have had that done there is no way that your doctor can diagnose it for certain.They will put little bobs of liquid up his arm of dust mite,dog,cat,trees etc and then prick each one into the skin it didn't hurt no blood or anything it's left for half hour and then if he's allergic to anything it will show in a little lump.

I wouldn't make any rash decisions until you have seen a skin or asthma specialist.

My daughter was diagnosed with asthma for a year and it turned out she had cronic lung disease and the right middle lobe of her lung was collapsed so it just goes to show that doctors do not know everything.x

 

[DivineByDesign]

Have you had the tests done for animal allergies etc it's called skin prick tests and is done in hospital not at the doctors.My daughter has had it done and unless you have had that done there is no way that your doctor can diagnose it for certain.They will put little bobs of liquid up his arm of dust mite,dog,cat,trees etc and then prick each one into the skin it didn't hurt no blood or anything it's left for half hour and then if he's allergic to anything it will show in a little lump.

I wouldn't make any rash decisions until you have seen a skin or asthma specialist.

My daughter was diagnosed with asthma for a year and it turned out she had cronic lung disease and the right middle lobe of her lung was collapsed so it just goes to show that doctors do not know everything.x

Just to update everyone. We took our middle son to the same practice the next day but he saw a different doctor. She again confirmed asthma (mild) and prescribed the usual. I told her what the previous doctor said and she was horrified and basically reiterated the comments above. I have decided that I am going to go back on Monday and ask for the allergy tests as the 2nd GP mentioned them to me. If indeed he is showing his allergy is Betty, then I have an alternative home now in waiting with my dog loving Auntie and Uncle. If not, Betty stays exactly where she should ie, with us, and we will work on what ever it is causing the boys problems.

Thanks everyone for your responses and support, I'm feeling far less "Tragic" now xxxx

 

[blossom]

Aww, I'm keeping everything crossed that your son is NOT allergic to dear little Betty, she sounds adorable and I hope it works out that you can keep her...

How lovely that you have somewhere for her to go if it does come to it, keep us posted xx

 

[beckawall]

I have eczema and asthma and have a dog.. With animal allergies ..we removed carpet etc so fur and things couldnt grab onto anything and can be hoovered away and made sure cuddly toys werent near dog etc, ive now had her 12 years and dont have any problems really with her anymore think my body got used to her of course everyone is different but hoefully your little one will be fine x

 

[beckawall]

And lets face it i could name a million things that trigger off eczema and asthma and there things that are around us everyday anyway, you could get rid of the pup but he will have the same problem again just with something different id keep him lol

 

[littlemissm]

I have suffered with asthma since I was about 5 & I'm now 37. Asthma cannot usually be diagnosed in children under 1 the docs call is bronchialitis .i am allergic to animal fur some animals more than others but 2 yrs ago I got a Shih Tzu & was taking anti histamine tablets but as time got on I don't really need them any more I seem to have become immune to my dogs fur. Why don't you get an allergy test done on your son & see if he actually is allergic to the dog.

 

[littlemissm]

I have just read this off the asthma website. Wheezing can be caused by a number of other conditions and infections. Bronchiolitis, or inflammation of the small airways of the lungs, is the most common condition besides asthma that causes wheezing in young children. Caused by the RSV virus and other viruses such as influenza and parainfluenza, this condition can mimic asthma in infants by causing recurrent wheezing

 

[Eyekandi]

I was a bad mum because i brushed mud off my horses side into my daughters eyes by accident. 2 days later her eyes were red and itchy so i took her to the Dr's and was told she was allergic to horses and resulted in conjunctivitis..even though i told him about brushing the mud at her.
She has fortnightly lessons at a riding school and is with me most days around lots of horses and needless to say she hasn't had another episode!! Sometimes they are quick to blame the most obvious thing but at least you are looking at tests to find out for sure