My daughter has allergies and need advice

[JakesMom]

We just found out that my daughter has allergies to dogs. We love our 3 furbabies and they are our family so giving them up are NOT an option.

Any suggestions on to what I can do?

Would really appreciate some help on this one

[Patti]

Have you talked to an allergist to see what options you have? I hope you can find a good solution.

[ritapatt]

My daughter has bad allergies- we have always kept the bedrooms off limits- over the years we have removed all carpeting. We have leather familyroom furniture. I vacuum and dust when she is not home. The pups are trimmed rather short and get bathed weekly. I try to convince her not to rub her face on them but...

[JakesMom]

I have been to the allergist and he said he would get rid of the dogs
Got rid of the rugs and have been cleaning and dusting as well. I have been trimming my dogs rather short as well.
She is 13 yo and loves the dogs so much!!

[gracielove]

There are products that you can put on your dogs that keep the dander down. It is the dead skin cells that come off the pet that actually cause reactions usually. The dander can get into the air. When it is dry inside your home try running cool mist humidifiers as the moisture in the air keeps the dander down it also keeps the airways moist and less irritated. If she comes in contact with the dogs make sure she washes her hands with soap and water. If she touches her face or eyes after touching the dogs she could set off a reaction like itchy eyes with sneezing and runny nose. If you can eliminate any other things that she is allergic to it will relieve some of her symptoms. Of course vacuum a lot and make sure the vacuum filter is clean. Some people find air purifiers helpful. Of course antihistamines will help relieve symptoms.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by JakesMom

I have been to the allergist and he said he would get rid of the dogs
Got rid of the rugs and have been cleaning and dusting as well. I have been trimming my dogs rather short as well.
She is 13 yo and loves the dogs so much!!

Are you sure the allergy is to your dogs or possibly to other dogs? I found this and hope it helps you.

Let's Talk Yorkie -- Yorkie | Yorkie Puppy | Yorkshire Terrier | AKC | Teacup Yorkie

YORKIES ARE ONE OF THE BEST DOGS FOR ALLERGIES

Believe it or not, there really is a select group of dog that hold the title "Best Dogs for Allergies." Yorkshire Terriers are classified as “hypo-allergic” because they have hair instead of fur, do not shed, and have less dander than most dogs but no dog is non-allergenic - not even a hairless breed - because a person could be allergic to the saliva or urine of a dog as well as the dander and fur.

And even though Yorkies are on that list, I cringe every time someone asks: ”I have allergies – will I be allergic to a Yorkie?”, because there is no way to be sure. Just as every person is different, every dog is different too and even dogs of the same breed can affect an allergic person in varying degrees. It is also possible for a person’s allergic response to a puppy to worsen as the dog reaches adulthood. So the best answer I can give someone who is planning to bring a Yorkie into their home but has had allergic reactions to other dogs is: “You can’t know for sure until you spend time with a Yorkie“. Ideally, you should spend a full day or better yet, overnight with a Yorkie. Some people can tell within minutes if they are allergic and if you are sure that you will know right away, then perhaps a visit to a breeder who has Yorkies but no other animals in their home would be a good idea.

If you find you are allergic to your Yorkie but can’t bear the thought of giving up the family pet it may be possible to improve the situation (notice I didn’t say cure because there really is no cure) by doing the following:

1. Although a Yorkie’s long flowing coat is a thing of beauty, people with allergies should keep their pet’s coat clipped as short as possible. This is not because less hair means less dander, but because it is easier to keep the dog very clean, and a clean dog will be less bothersome to the allergic person. I have a relationship with a groomer here on Long Island and would be happy help you make arrangements to manage your dogs grooming at a reasonable rate.

2. Bathe your Yorkie often with a high quality dog shampoo with moisturizing ingredients. Most importantly, use a cream rinse (conditioner) diluted and left in the coat (do NOT rinse out) at the end of the bath to help hold the dander down. Someone other than the allergic person should do the bathing.

TIP: If the allergic person also has other allergies be sure not to choose a scented shampoo and conditioner that will further aggravate their condition.

You can also try one the following products which area available online and through pet catalogs: Allerpet-D, Nature’s Miracle Allergy Relief Dander Remover/Body Deodorizer; Outright Simple Solution Allergy Relief (Dog); Allersearch Pet Shampoo; and MiteNix Herbal Pet Care Natural Pet Shampoo.

3. Brush your Yorkie often to remove dust and other allergens from its coat. Ideally this should be done outdoors.

4. Keep the Yorkie out of the allergic person’s bedroom.

5. If possible, carpeting should be removed from the area where the dog spends most of its time. Carpet holds in dander, as well as other allergens.

6. Frequent vacuuming of bare floors and rugs with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Air) filter and dusting of surfaces is a must.

7. Your Yorkie’s bedding should be washable and should be laundered every time the dog has a bath.

8. An electronic air cleaner/purifier with a HEPA filter may offer some relief.

9. As a last resort, consider seeing an allergist, who can give you a course of desensitizing shots. This can be costly and does not work for everyone; it also can take months or even years to complete the treatment.

In the end, I find myself praying that these measures will prevent a dog from having to be removed from the home because that can be heartbreaking for the family as well as the puppy especially if there are children involved. I therefore strongly recommend that you try to make the determination of whether you can live with a Yorkie or not BEFORE bringing one home.

Unfortunately, it has been my experience that a number of people just cannot live with a dog of any breed, in spite of how much they would like to or how closely they follow all of this advice. Of those people I ask the following: If you must give up your Yorkie please contact me. Your dog deserves to have new home where he or she will be loved as much as they were with you and I would be happy to help you find that home.

[JakesMom]

I so appreciate all the helpful advice and have been doing some extra cleaning, even though we keep the house extra clean due to her allergies.
I am going to look into the product to put on the dogs to reduce the dander and they do not go into her bedroom.
We are fortunate to have a colonial home and the bedrooms are upstairs. They have full run of the downstairs which is a lot of room
I am so happy that I found this Yorkie Talk forum as it is just wonderful

[gracielove]

Amazon.com: ADMS Anti-Allergen Spray 32 oz.: Home...
Amazon.com: 8in1 Perfect Coat Dander Control...
If you search the internet you will see various products that are used for allergies and pets. I would just be careful that what ever you use on your pet is not too drying to the dog's skin. There are also sprays that you can spray on the coat between shampoos to control dander. Too much bathing can also create a dander problem if you are drying out the skin. Dogs that lick a lot can create an issue because of the saliva. Of course dogs that are comfortable don't lick much so make sure their skin stays healthy. Kids with allergies usually have sensitivities to more than one thing so trying to eliminate the other problems will reduce the assault on her system. Hope things work out for you and your family. I went through this with one of my kids.

[backwardsrain]

Originally Posted by JakesMom

I have been to the allergist and he said he would get rid of the dogs

I would get a second opinion from a different allergist. There are lots of treatments for allergies. Would he tell someone with a pollen allergy to not go outdoors?

[YorkieMollie]

Growing up, i had an allergy to cats & dogs so my parents weren't able to keep any pets! When i had children of my own, i decided i wanted to see if i would be OK to get a pet. We went ahead and bought a kitten, but within 1 day i was terribly ill so we had to rehome her. Luckily, i now seem to be fine with dogs!...My friend told me that you can buy sprays, lotions etc to put in your pets fur!...There are also other solutions like antihistamine medication. Also, regular vacuum can help, and a steam cleaning. Also, it may be best to keep the dogs off your daughters bed. I really hope you can find something that will work for you because it's heartbreaking and frustrating when you have to re-home pets due to allergies.

[marlenemaria]

I have horrible allergies and my older son as well, me especially with cats...I have a maltese for 10 years now and a yorkie for 2 both sleep with me, the maltese above my head and the yorkie between hubby and I.

We have never seen the babies trigger our allergies, both are pretty much the best type to have if you are prone to allergies.

Did the allergies just start? Have you changed your daughter's pillows or purchased new ones for her or sofa or maybe her comforter? Sometimes these items have "feather down" and that can trigger allergies.

I would see another dermatologist just to be sure, there are skin tests he/she can perform to know the triggers.

[Sweet Girls]

I have read, that often with "dog" allergies, you are not allergic to the dog per se, but what they bring in from outside in regards to pollen etc. So, even without buying the specialty lotions, sometimes just remembering to wipe the dog down with a damp cloth, and wipe their feet when they come in will help.

My allergies are not "severe" but are broad (I'm allergic to just about everything)..so when my doctor said get rid of the dogs (had 2 chi's at the time), I smiled and nodded then went home and carried on. It really depends on how bad your daughter's reactions are. If you can help control her exposure, and an anti-histamine helps...you can also boost her Vitamin C ( a natural anti-histamine) you might find a balance that works for you. I now live with both my Yorkie, and Mini Schnauzer and a cat...to be honest, I also think I have developed a tolerance for my own animals, because I will be set off in other people's homes/pet friendly environments. I can't give up my animals, the mental health impact would be far worse than the stuffy nose from my allergies!

[gracielove]

Wow, that is kind of harsh to advise getting rid of the dogs. Of course you didn't say how severe the allergies are. If she has some severe asthma I guess I could understand that type of recommendation but for runny eyes and stuffy nose there are a lot of other options.

[ritapatt]

I think what gracielove said "Kids with allergies usually have sensitivities to more than one thing so trying to eliminate the other problems will reduce the assault on her system." really was something we have done with my DD. I focused on improving her immune system (fresh food and probiotics), and staying away from her really high allergens- birds and pine & palm trees!

[Sweet Girls]

Just had another thought. I have helped a friend who runs a small dog rescue with fostering, and one of the dogs I fostered was a Chi. As I mentioned, they are what set off my allergies when I was a kid. What I found was that when he first arrived his coat was harsh and dry (he had been on a very poor food), and whenever he touched my skin, I would break out in hives. (Difficult since the poor baby wanted to sleep under the covers next to my bare legs...I'm a bit of a glutton for punishment ) But after a few weeks of a better food, his coat became softer, and he certainly caused less reaction when he touched me (and I took to wearing pajama bottoms). So, not that this is the case with your dogs, but keep in mind that dogs will "throw" allergens based on what their diet/grooming/skin is also like.