Keep the Dog, or Be Rid of Him?

K.,
Those allergy tests are very accurate. If they advise getting rid of the dog, you should do so. Also, bear in mind that it takes a long time to fully purge all the animal dander from your home, so her symptoms may not subside right away. You don't want her developing asthma over this.

Did you ask your doctor about allergy shots? I suffered for years before I discovered I was allergic to cats, which I've always owned. For the past three years, I've been getting shots to desensitize myself to cat dander (and all my other allergens -- I've got lots!) I have to say that they work very well. It takes a bit of a time commitment, though. But I think it's worth it. I'm nearly cured of most of my allergies, and I'll probably be able to discontinue the shots later this year.

Even though that won't help you in the short term -- you'll still have to give up your dog -- in the long run, she'll be healthier and better able to tolerate the presence of dogs, whether they're in her own home, or in the homes of friends and family.

If you live in St. Mary's County, I highly recommend Dr. Pradeep Simlote. He's an asthma & allergy specialist. He has an office in Leonardtown, and I believe in Lexington Park as well.

I wish you the best of luck in dealing with these allergies, and hope for your little girl's speedy recovery.

Take care,
Lisa

OK, first off, I am NOT an expert, but I have had dogs and cats for years. There are ways to make dogs more "hypoallergenic." Most pet food stores sell wipes that you can use on the dog's coat to cut down the dander, which is the thing that people are allergic to. Also, check what the dog is eating. A high quality food (like Newman's Own or Wellness) that has fewer fillers or grains, will also help your dog's coat stop giving off so much dander.

another source of allergies could be the stuffed animals that your child has. Our son had a lot of trouble with asthma and we stripped his bed of stuffed animals (it had been covered with them) and let him sleep with only one, that I washed frequently.

Good luck, it would be awful to have to give up a family pet, if there is something you can do to make him more tolerable to your son.

S.

I also suffer with allergies. My doctor explained things to me like this: If you are to carry a bucket of rocks you can carry some but you eventually reach a point when the weight is too much and you cannot carry anymore. It is the same with allergies. Your body can only handle a light load. You must cut out some of things that are bothering you. If you lighten the load you may get by. The doctor said to keep allergens out of the bedroom so at least the body can be free at night to recharge. Can you keep the dog outdoors or in a limited area like the garage? Af

Hi K.!

I see you already came to a conclusion. I have to say, I am glad I was never in a position of having to get rid of a pet when the allergies made an appearance in our home. I know one of course chooses their child over the pet, but it can still be a tough decision.

All of our kids suffer SEVERLY from allergies. To the extent we are frequently in the hospital with a new allergy, or anaphalyxia, or what have you. I wanted to mention something. Our oldest has allergies the worst, she used to have 21 food allergies, now it is down to 14, plus al th normal mold, dust, pet dander, seasonal stuff.. and that is a HUGE blessing. She has had trouble in the past with severe congestion, breathing issues etc.. it seems like she was asthmatic, but as she was 2 and even now that she is 3 the dr. is hesitant to stick that label on her. We used the nebulizer as needed, and it was kept under control.

One day I decided to change all our cleaning and body care products. It MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!!! I cannot tell you how much of a change it made in the congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, eczema area of life for my kids. We use only green products to clean house with, the laundry detergent is also green, and all my kids are washed in either Method squeaky green or California baby products.. (I prefer California baby, but they are pricier) I know it is a jump in cost at first, but if you can phase the products in as you use up current products it will help, and they work, and last so much longer than the other chemical based cleaners. Hope it gives you another alternative.

I know what a change in lifestyle it is to have allergies. Best of wishes as you make the changes! Feel free to contact me if you want to talk. For what it is worth, my daughter had terrible side effects from Zyrtec, it really caused anxiety and nervousness. Clarinex has always been more gentlefor us. Just make sure that your chuld brushes those teeth better the sugar content is much higher in most allergy meds, resulting in cavities for my girl. Something to check out if no one else has mentioned it is the Food Allergy Anaphalaxis Network (FAAN) their website is GREAT! Fun recipes, ideas of how to help kids understand, products for teachers,caregivers, and children for educational purposes..and all kinds of support and other info. Check it out! Hope all works out!

K.

Perhaps you can have him fostered by a friend or family member for a few months but the only way to know for sure is get him and his belongings out of the house, use a hepa filter vacuum, wash all sheets and towels in HOT water, make sure all his dog beds, blankets, etc are gone and try this for 2-3 months. If you can kennel him somewhere or have him stay with someone, it may work for you to do this by process of elimination.
It may work, even if difficult, to have your dad "board" him for several months.

I could not in good conscience keep a dog if i found my child had a severe allergy to dogs. There are only a few "hypoallergenic" dogs but a lab is not one of them.
Good luck, i know this is a very sad choice.

Tough choice. Labs do have a lot of dander and I would try to give him to your step dad if that's a possibility right now. Many people aren't adopting and many have to give up there dogs due to foreclosure, so I would do it. You can also try a holistic dog food or eating raw (BARF for dogs). My sister in law has a basset hound that is severely stinky all the time and the only thing that gets rid of the smell is the dog food. I buy the EVO brand for my dog and his poop just disintegrates in a week, no pick up necessary! It may help with dander, but maybe your vet will have some good brands to try.

Good choice to find a home for your dog. That should take care of some symptoms. The rest of her symptoms would be from the food allergies. Make sure you learn all the places eggs and egg derivitives are (i.e.Flu Shot). There are great websites and support groups if you need more help/info.

You'll need to rid your home of the dog residue and prepare for other allergens. Have carpets, furniture and drapes cleaned. Wash the linens and clothes which have been in contact. Air out mattresses, vacuum them and then put allergy cover on them. Get an air cleaner for your daughters bedrooms, clean them thoroughly. In the spring DON'T open windows to air out your house (you are just inviting allergens in). My oldest (8) has asthma and is allergic to almost everything outside (grass, trees, weeds, mold, dust, etc.). We have been able to avoid allergy shots by doing the above and his takind zyrtec and singulair. Good luck.

It sounds to me like the cat you had was probably the start of the eczema and the dog might have continued it, but as for the other symptoms I agree with the others that you might want to get your home tested for mold, unless you can think of any other changes that might have caused the other symptoms, because I really feel that the dog did not cause them if you have had the dog 2 years and the symptoms have only been for 7 months.
And if there are no issues there (and if you can afford it since your step-dad is far away) find a nice Kennel for your dog to stay in for a week. After you drop him off, go home and clean throughout your home and move anything of his(bed, toys, ect) out of the house. If her symptoms don't at least start to improve then you know the dog is not the issue.
I just thought of one more possibility, you said these newer symptoms started about 7 months ago, could it have been around the time she started school in her new town? Maybe there is mold or something else at the school that could be causeing these symptoms.
And if you do find it is something else you still might have to take the dog out of the house for a week or two so she can get all the symptoms out of her system as the dog might not be the inital cause but could keep them from clearing up.
Best of luck
A.

Get rid of the dog. It's not putting your child at risk. I have allergies, and sometimes around pets the synptoms can go into asthma-like wheezing because the allergen is so strong. I don't have asthma. My sister had to take her daughter out of daycare b/c the provider wouldn't keep her dog & cat out of the area with the chidren. Her allergic reactions cleared up almost immediately.

I have allergies, so I know how your daughter feels. There probably wasn't enough time b/t getting rid of the cat and getting a dog for the symptoms to completely be eliminated. When I'm arround the things that cause my allergies, it's really bothersome. Why keep the dog when you know for sure that she's allergic to it? It's just one more thing around her in her life that is causing these problems. I am sure her symptoms would lessen if not disappear when he is gone and all the hair he left behind is gone. Be sure to get those carpets and upholstry cleaned (furniture, curtains, etc.) as their dander can linger around in everything (dryer vents, etc.) It's expensive, but you might consider having your ducts cleaned too as there is probably tons of pet hair swirling around in there when the AC or heat runs. We had to do that and change our filters a lot. Good luck!

K.

You didn't mention which daughter (6 or 3yo)...since you've had your dog for 2 years + the symptoms for only 7 mos, it sounds as if there might be other factors involved...has anything else happened in the last 7 or so months...like moving to a new home? I'm thinking mold when asking this question since I used to live in Alabama and almost every house + workplace had it, even if you couldn't see it.

I, too, test positive to many non-food items including cats, dogs + horses...yet I have 3 dogs (beagles + chihuahua). The only dog that really bothers my allergies is an Irish Setter.

Have you taken a vacation in the past month to somewhere other than your home and w/o the dog? Again, I'm thinking about the "eliminating" factor. Of course, if your house has mold, then her allergies may have abated in this case, too.

Perhaps your stepfather could take your dog for a few weeks as a test run for both families...

why not get her tested at an allergist and be sure?
khairete
S.

That's a tough question. Sounds like you need to do some experimenting. My son was tested for allergies and they said he was allergic to dairy, tomatoes, and carrots, so we went for a month without eating those and then reintroduced them. We discovered that he wasn't allergic to any of those things. It sounds as though your daughter's symptoms are pretty serious, so I would try taking away as many possible causes as you can and then reintroducing them. Is there someone who could take the dog for a couple of weeks or a month?
Good luck!

Get rid of the dog. Allergies only get worse if the child is being exposed to the allergen, and worse usually means that it can turn into a life-threatening event. As for different breeds being 'better' for allergies, note that it says better, not that they will not trigger the allergy.

It takes time for an allergic reaction to form and to get to the stage where you can see it. And as you are exposed to an allergen, you add more symptoms. The next could very well be asthma, which can be life threatening. The body does't form allergies the minute it is around the dog, it forms the allergies when it decides to make the offending antibodies and when the reaction crosses the threshold to having symptoms. More symptoms are added the longer the body is exposed. People live in one place all their lives, and in their 50s develop an allergy to a pollen that was around for years. Why, we don't know, but it is how allergies work. They are still very much a mystery.

If it does not totally clear up after the dog is gone and the house is sanitized (remember it's the dog's dander/saliva/other items that she is allergic to, and they are left behind even if the dog is gone), that means that the other sources for the allergens were very important too, so you will have to keep removing allergens until she is symptom free. You have to get everything out of your child's life that she is allergic to. If she is severely allergic to molds, you will have to change your household management as well. This will be a life-long issue with her, so you need to learn how to change her environment to make it safe for her.

You are making the right decision to give away the dog. As a person with allergies to dogs Labs are one of the worst. They are big, shed a lot, and have a ton of dander. Keeping them out of her room will not help in the long run. The longer you have the dog the worse her allergies will get because the dander will build up in the carpet, furniture, drapes, everything. If she also gets hives from the saliva then she'll barely be able to play with the dog. It is not worth it. There are plenty of other dogs that are worth a try (poodle, for example) once her allergies are under check but even then a doctor won't recommend it.

Hi K.,

I know what a difficult time you are having. Obviously you would choose to get rid of the family dog if it means your children getting better but, its the family dog and everyone has become attached so of course you would want to only get rid of the dog if there was no other solution. I have some new information and suggestions that you haven't received yet. The dog could be a major source of your daughters allergies but what you are cleaning your house with could be enhancing those symptoms ten fold. Most store brand products that you would buy at the grocery store, Walmart, Target etc. have harsh chemicals and toxins in them that( without going into a long science lesson)basically make matters worse. I have a friend that was in a very similar situation that involved the family cat who had been around for some time and when the new baby joined the family the baby began to have problems. My friend switched all her cleaning product in her home and her son now hardly ever has problems with his allergies and eczema and when he does its very minor symptoms, nothing like before. They still have their cat. Because your daughter has had the eczema for a long time my guess is that her issues extend beyond the dog and getting rid of the dog won't solve everything. I have a ton more information for you but to type it out would be like a novel. I would love to speak with you about this and get you the rest of the information about a solution that I know will help you children.

I would either get rid of the dog on a temporary basis first or all the other things first from the diet....and see if it works....preferably chsnge all the other issues first and see if her health improves with the dog still being there...if it turns out the dog still being there causes a problem...off he goes.

THere are some other great breeds out there that are hypoallergenic...like poodles, Italian Greyhounds (we have 4 of these, etc...same with cats..Maine Coons and Russian Blues for example.

If you would like some more info on Italian Greyhounds, I would be happy to chat with you about them. I think you would go through a pleasant shock goimg from a big dog with lots of shedding hair to one that doesn't shed :)

L.

Did the allergist give you any levels to indicate how allergic you child is to the dog? My oldest son is allergic to dogs but on the more mild level for an environmental allergy. We had been letting the dog (a collie) sleep in his bed but he was constantly stuffy. When he tested positive for dog (he has many other allergies as well) we made some changes. The dog no longer sleeps with him and we try to keep him out of his room. We use an air filter and vacumn alot. When he starts getting really stuffy we give him Claritin (before bed) and Nasonex (prescribed by our allergist).

We decided at the first sign of wheezing we would get rid of the dog but so far its just stuffiness so for now the dog stays.

K. W.

Get rid of the dog immediately. There are two breeds (other than the hairless breeds) who don't shed hair or dander and those are schnauzers and poodles. My parents always had schnauzers for this reason. Ask your doctor to confirm this and get yourself one if you really feel like your family is incomplete without a dog. I don't know about the new labradoodle breed. I guess it's possible that they could have inherited the poodle's no-shed DNA, but I would ask the AKC that question or a vet. That way you could still have a lab-type dog. Best of luck!

Kara - I'm glad you are gonna do it. And still have the dog in the family - It's a really hard choice to make with pets being another member of the family.

Just last week my husband (late 30's) realized how allergic he is to labs. My Mother in law has one and brought him to our new house we just moved into - which has never had a dog live in it. My husband was SICK for 3 days with the same symptoms he had had for years. 2 years ago after a LONG odyssey of allergies, shots, untreatable nasal infections and finally surgery to clear out clogged nasal passages (and the loss of our family dog) he has been away from dogs for several years and his nasal surgery has healed beautifully with no return of symptoms. BUT - 1 visit from the black lab and it triggered everything again. Once the dog left and we washed things and vacuumed - he's all better. The point I'm getting to is that he connected all of this and feeling really awful in his younger years to the fact they they always had labs. This one recent episode made it crystal clear that his family should have done something long ago about the allergies he was diagnosed with. He was just struck and awed by the fact that he felt rotten for so long because of the dogs and it could have been avoided. And who knows if the problem he had surgery for wasn't perpetuated long ago by the dog dander. Good for you, Mom - pets are wonderful - but our kids come first. It was a sad but inevitable day when our 1st born ( a Welsh Corgi) became just a dog when our son was born. I hope your daughter feels better.

So since she has the allergies for the past 7 month and only the eczema for a few years it can't all just be the dog right. You said you moved about a year ago, have you had your house tested for mold? I'm asking because a couple of years ago we were living in military housing and there was a family that had a big problem with mold. They didn't find out about the mold until there daughter had some serious problems with allergies and asthma. Maybe you want to check out your house before you get rid of your dog. Do you have friends that could take your dog for a few weeks to see if that helps. Of course if there is no other way than your daugthers health is more important but i would try everything else before getting rid of the dog since he is part of the family too, right!

Hi K.,
I am sorry to hear that your little lady is having allergy problems! I have to agree with the other poster on this. See if your step father would be willing to take the dog on a trial basis and see if your daughters symptoms get better. If not then there is another thing in your home causing the allergies. I would do this first, before getting rid of your furry friend for good. There are so many things that could be causing her reactions, that just getting rid of your family pet and not know if he is the actual cause would be a little hasty in my opinion. I have always had animals around, and would not be able to live with myself if I got rid of my dogs and then found out that they were not the main problem.

Good luck and I hope that your daughter feels better!

Honestly, I'd ask someone nearby to take the dog and that way, I'd at least see dog sometime again. Next, I'd get the entire house scrubbed top to bottom and leave kids at grandparents or friends while it's being done so that they're not suffering from reaction to fumes. Then, I'd make sure all clothes and such have had cat hairs and dog hairs removed. Next, make sure you wash her clothes with a mild detergent and try to keep her skin hydrated using products like Dove soap, Lubriderm, olive oil, Eucerin cream, or vaseline (for drier skin). Finally, I'd also make sure they've tested daughter for Lyme disease, which can be very subtle in early stages and sometimes can be carried from pets. (When you wrote heartburn and bowel movements, that's not allergy related symptoms, to my knowledge, unless there's another diet-related allergy; usually milk, ice cream, yogurt bring on those symptoms. Is she still experiencing those symptoms after eliminating pork, tomatoes, etc.? If so, talk to pediatrician about that and ask about Lyme disease, which I think comes from tick bites.)

You need to get rid of him and asap...it will realy decrees her problems...there are breeds of dogs that are hypoalegenic that you can get if you realy want a dog at home.They have hair instead of fur some great breeds with children are the Bishon Frise the Maltese or any mix breed of those two like a Maltepoo or a Zuchon all of these breeds are hypoalergenic and would be a great option for your little family.But I would get rid of your lab...they have some of the worste pet dander out there and it will alwats bother your poor little girl.Good luck

K.,K.,K. remember what you said "You won't cry" Of course it's the dog and the cat get rid of them. I understand the pain of losing a pet well having to get rid of a pet(family member)but you have to think of the kids health. I don't know where you live,but do you best on giving him to your step-dad.Think of their health and the suffering, the itching,etc.. Good Luck

I would get rid of the dog, especially if there is a chance that the eczema will go away.

I know how hard it is giving up a 4-leg family member. In your case, I would say to give him to step dad and let him know if for some reason it doesn't work out you will get him back. You don't want him to end up in a shelter.

I agree with Julie I would definitely ask your step dad to keep the dog for awhile & see if that helps your daughter's allergies. I would also get the carpets steam cleaned to get rid of all of the pet dander that vacuuming alone doesn't always get. If your daughter's symptoms go away unfortunately you know the dog is the problem & you will have to get rid of him. Good luck I hope everything works out & you get to keep your dog. Has the doctor put your daughter on allergy medicine?

If you don't mind me asking where did you get your daughter tested? I would like to get my daughter tested to see what her allergies are. She is on allergy medicine year round which I hate. If I could figure out what is causing her problems maybe I could eliminate them & be able to reduce her medicine or maybe even be able to get rid of it all together. Her pediatrician has never once suggested testing her. I am currently looking into finding her a new doctor & I plan on asking the new pediatrician if we can test her.

I have a friend that was in the same position you are in. She didn't get rid of her animals. She sort of kept them away from the child who had the allergies. Not allowing the animal on the furniture etc. Her school of thought was to help build his immunity. She was fairly successful with this.

However my son who is deathly allergic to cats cannot even be around someone who pet a cat. It would send him into anaphalactic shock. We started him on the allergy shots. I was not a big proponent of those until I saw what it did for my son.

Since your daughter is so young, you may want to consider moving the animals out of the house. I would also talk to the allergist about allergy shots.

I am sorry you are having to deal with this. It like giving away a family member. You can always try again when she is much older. Right now, you may want to just relieve her symptoms.

Best of luck.

Hi K., I'm going to be honest with you here, the dog must go. If there is even a small chance that it's the dog that's making your daughter sick, then he must go. Try to look at the bright side and be thankful that your father is looking for a dog at this time. It's hard to get rid of a pet due to allergies I know.
It seems that the older I get the more allergies my body pops up with. I almost lost my life because of my daughter's pet rats 5 months ago. I'm talking tubes down your throat keeping you breathing kind of stuff and all because of allergies to a pet. A pet we've had in the past with no problems too!
The human body is a strange wonder. Allergies can pop up at any time and should be taken seriously. As long as you know the dog is going to a good home, it's the right thing to do for your family and the dog. Best of luck.

Hi K.,

I feel so bad for you. I LOVE my dog and would HATE to get rid of him, but the reality of the situation is you probably really do need to get rid of him. Do try and keep him in the family 9 you mentioned your dad) or give him to a friend who will LOVE him as you do. There are VERY few breeds who are hypoallergenic. Some are Wheaton Terriers, Standard poodles, and I know that there are a few more. Labs probably one of the worst because of their short oily coats. You would need a dog with "hair" not fur. They do exist. If you have trouble Put in a request at your Vet, as well as others. ALso try Best Friends Fur Ever in Joppa. They adopt out a lot of dogs to good homes. Best of luck to you!

Hello K.,

Sorry to hear about your daughters and the dog. Dont get rid of the dog. Take a look at this website, www.melaleuca.com and check out the products. They have shampoo for dogs. Also look at the products they have for you and your family. Also check out my website www.livetotalwellness.com/P. and read about what your household products are doing to you and your families health. I look forward to hearing from you.

P.