Son Getting Hives from New Puppy

If you haven't bathed the new dog then do so. The previous owners shampoo or flea treatment may be the issue, if you did bathe him in the same stuff as the other dog then you may have to see if the dog has something else going on internally, it could be it's dander, etc...

It could also be stress. My oldest was 13 months old when we brought her new baby sister home. She wasn't jealous, just loved the baby, never got rough or aggressive, and never acted out in any way. BUT - she got a rash from head to toe. She's 24 now, and still likely to get sick from stress. She just internalizes it. I have no advice about the puppy, but I can tell you, if it's stress hives, they'll go away on their own - until next time. ;P

if you are sure its the puppy, give the puppy back. better sooner than later when your more attached.

For whatever reason, your son is having a reaction to the new dog. Before everyone gets super-attached to the new dog, I'd recommend finding it a new home and trying to adopt a 2nd dog when your son is a bit older, maybe 2-3 years. His immune system will be more developed and perhaps the hives won't be an issue.

Please note: I don't say find the new dog a new home lightly, but if you don't want to give your son medicine daily to control the hives, why should he suffer until he perhaps builds up an immunity? What if he doesn't? In 6 months you try to rehome a dog everyone is attached to?

Good luck!

I would get rid of the dog. I have an allergy to cats and it is not fun I would not want to live like that. My sone is also allergic to dogs, some more than others, and you want to hear something weird it is not the fur vs hair it is their saliva. Maybe your baby is the same and that is why the older is ok and the pup is not puppys like to lick, older dogs tend not to. is this the situation? maybe that is it.

Good luck.

yes, I love my dogs.....but why make your son suffer? ....especially if you're not willing to medicate his symptoms!

Eliminate that 2nd dog....NOW!!!....before the attachments are any stronger for both family & pet. It's truly the kindest, most generous thing to do!

Well, you're going to have to give the dog away. Your son is obviously allergic and hives are miserable! He may grow out of it, but he may not, and him growing out of it may take a long time. I was allergic to cats as a child, but by the time I was 15, they didn't bother me anymore. I had a house cat that was solely indoors for 18 years! So, it may not be permanent, but while he's so little and breaking out in hives -you need to find a nice home for the new dog and give it some time. Next time expose him to the breed you're looking at over several days before bringing one home so you can see how he reacts.

When you have an allergy (at least food) its best to avoid the allergy so I'd guess that environmental are the same way. I guess it would also depend if its the dander or the saliva thats bothering your son. If it is saliva and you can be strict about the puppy not kissing your son then you will be okay but if its dander time to rehome that pup since you don't want to give an allergy med.
My nephew is allergic to dogs and he can be around them as long as they don't lick him. He gets hives if licked because he allergic to the saliva not the dander. If he is allergic to dander he will most likely have the common symptoms of runny nose, itchy eyes, etc

when we got our dog when my daughter was a baby she also broke out in hives. her pedi said that sometimes when new animals come into a home they carry other allergens on their bodies. try giving the dog a bath and see if that works. if not it may be something else... my daughter and our dog are 2 peas in a pod. she breaks out in random out breaks of hives from environmental issues. we also bath our dog 2 times a month more if he goes camping.

We got a new dog a couple years ago. At first she was an inside dog until we realized that my daughter was constantly congested with a bad cough because of her. So, she became an outside dog. If my daughter rubs all over her, she will break out in hives. My advice...give the dog away or make it an outside dog :-( Makes me sad to say that. We also have my daughter on everyday allergy meds because she has other allergies as well.

Good luck!

If it is the dog, and you do decide to keep it, here are some tips to help with the allergies. Don't let the dogs (both) in your sons room, if you can help it. Vacuum often, especially the areas your son plays in, and where the dogs spend most of their time. Brush and wash them more often, you can even just wipe the dogs down with a wet washcloth or something to wipe off the dander and allergens.

I am pretty allergic to dogs and cats, and a lot of outdoor allergens (pollen, and I'm pretty sure grass as well), but I have a dog, and he is both indoor and outdoor. He has never been allowed in our bedroom, and he isn't allowed on the furniture or anything. I don't have issues with him anymore, my allergies all come from outside now. I will add that I often have allergy attacks because I have been running or biking outside and the allergens have covered my body. If I shower right away, I can normally keep it under control, if not, I have really bad allergies (this happens high pollen count days and the days my neighborhood has the lawn taken care of). So your dogs are bringing in all of that stuff and rubbing it all over your house, that could be part of the issue, and why I suggest wiping them down and bathing them more often.

Perhaps not to the point but thought I'd share anyway.

Some years ago, as an adult (around 60 years old),
I went to a dog show.
This was in a very large room in a convention center,
with hundreds (thousands?) of dogs being groomed, brushed,
and prepared for showing in a ring.

I walked around looking at the various breeds
for more than an hour . . . maybe close to two hours.

No drips, no sniffles, no itchy eyes or throat.
If any of those symptoms would have occurred,
I would have taken an antihistamine
or would have left, or both, depending on the severity
of the symptoms and/or my degree of tiredness.

So, there I am, walking, admiring, enjoying.
Suddenly, w/immediate onset, no gradual build-up . . . .
SNEEZING, ITCHY, WHEEZING.
It was as if someone had flipped a switch.

I looked around and saw that I had reached the part of the room
that had COCKER SPANIELS. I had never known that I was
especially sensitive to cocker spaniels.

I was so pleased that I had already seen most of the other breeds
before I got to that part of the hall. And since then, I know I need
to avoid cocker spaniels.

It may or may not be the dog, since you have another one of same breed. Or one of the dogs may be temporarily be coated with more allergens. Yet, before you get rid of the dog, try Allerpet D http://www.demite.com/allerpet/ which is supposed to control pet dander. The website contains also a few articles on allergens/allergies. Perhaps an indoor air filter might help too? Hope this helps. I wish your family can stay happily together, furry animals included ;)

Have you spoken to an allergist to make sure the Hives are his reaction to this puppy?

I ask because usually people react to dander or hair and have itchy eyes, runny nose, etc as allergic reactions to animals? Is it possible that puppy is getting into something outside that your son reacts to? Or something the dog is eating in the puppy food? My experience with allergies hives are usually from eating something or an infection. Perhaps puppy had something, or it wasn't puppy at all - just bad timing.

As you said, if you already have one of the same breed - unless it's a mix where the results can be unpredictable (we have two Goldendoodles and allergies vary) you should be safe if he was OK with the first dog. Before you get rid of the dog I would make absolutely POSITIVE its the dog and not just a fluke, poor timing, something your son has gotten into.. etc.

http://allergies.about.com/od/faq/f/causeofhives.htm Causes of hives on About.com -- seems to support hives aren't a common reaction to animals.

right now with 2 dogs... there is DOUBLE the dander and allergens in the environment... for your son's system, to battle.
Hence, with the 2nd dog, he is reacting more... per his allergies.
You have simply, INCREASED the amount of allergens, in your household... having 2 dogs now. And, your son... is being exposed to it at a higher concentration, now.

Dander/fur etc., does accumulate in the household... like any other airborne or surface irritant.

Since you do not want to give her allergy medicine, you have to get rid of the dog.
Hives... are really very uncomfortable.... and aggravating.

There is no guarantee.. that exposing him to the dog will make him not allergic to it anymore. Even scientists cannot predict that....
so meanwhile, your son, will be reacting with hives.

I have an allergy to cats. But I have had them as pets, as well as other animals with fur. Since childhood. It has NOT in all these years, made me any less allergic to them. I simply cannot pet an animal... and then touch any part of my face... otherwise, I itch all over and my eyes swell shut. So, I have learned that I have to wash my hands right away if I pet an animal... AND I have to change my clothes. BUT, indoor pets, leave their dander/hair everywhere, and you cannot control that.

all the best,
Susan

Hi S. S. Since you already have one dog with no problem I doubt that this dog is the cause of the hives, it could be the shampoo that was used or flea remidiy. If this puppy is already attached to the family it would be awful to give it away, but I do agree with you about daily medicine, I would not either. Do the hives bother him? I think most will tell you get rid of the puppy, but I would make it your last resort. J.

try washing the dog with baby shampoo.. this may help.. good luck. also have your son be near the dog when outside..this may also help.