Allergic to my baby :(

[Foster2Owner]

I've had my baby, Gaël, for almonst one week. He's 17 weeks old and my #1 little love and priority. Unfortunately, I'm having bad reactions to him when my allergy meds wear off.

Aside from my runny nose and constant sneezing, my eyes have tears running down them and my eyes look like they have styes in different directions.

He was bathed the day I got him and I bathed him today: 6 days later. He has not walked around outside and aside from when I'm near animals, I don't have issues with allergies. I vacuum every other day and don't know what else to do.

Any tips?
Has anyone here tried Allerpet?

[impish]

There is a shampoo/spray - leave in that is supposed to cut down allergens for cats so, I'm sure there is for dogs too.


I am allergic to cats and we have two of them. We use it (the spray) occasionally and then we make sure to brush them regularly outside. They are shorthairs and don't shed much but I must also take allergy meds (alegra) and we have a HEPPA filter system.


I always cringe when I hear people say "hypo-allergenic," because as you well know, they are not. They do create the dander. Most of the time people can get away with it because they are small and not as dander producing as most dogs.


I wish you luck. Allergies are terrible, and it's no fun to be on medicine all the time. Depending upon your reaction, you may have a choice to make. One other option is to go to an allergist and start getting shots to "immunize" yourself. It takes awhile but it can help too.
N

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by impish

There is a shampoo/spray - leave in that is supposed to cut down allergens for cats so, I'm sure there is for dogs too.


I am allergic to cats and we have two of them. We use it (the spray) occasionally and then we make sure to brush them regularly outside. They are shorthairs and don't shed much but I must also take allergy meds (alegra) and we have a HEPPA filter system.


I always cringe when I hear people say "hypo-allergenic," because as you well know, they are not. They do create the dander. Most of the time people can get away with it because they are small and not as dander producing as most dogs.


I wish you luck. Allergies are terrible, and it's no fun to be on medicine all the time. Depending upon your reaction, you may have a choice to make. One other option is to go to an allergist and start getting shots to "immunize" yourself. It takes awhile but it can help too.
N

Thank you for your reply. I think the spray you are referring to is like the Allerpet-D I found online. After your response and reading online reviews I think that will be my next step. I don't like being on medication and I already have to take 3 non-related kinds so I'd like to avoid an allergy med if possible.

I also only have a filter in my bedroom so perhaps I should get another for the living room and do my daily brushings of him near it.

[Christinee]

That totally sucks! I hope you can fix it. My daughter has allergies that act up around certain smells and foods. Thank goodness Charlie doesn't trigger anything.

[Magnus]

I was reading up on dog/pet allergies from what I remember, people usually get an allergic reaction from: dander, skin flakes, saliva, and urine. Maybe if you can figure out what part(s) of that you're getting an allergic reaction to, then you can come up with a better plan?

In the meantime, do you also wipe him down daily with wipes? Also, are you sure you're not allergic to any of the products you use on Gael? (I remember an episode from brady bunch where one kid suddenly started having allergic reaction to their dog. Turns out she was allergic to the new shampoo they switched for the dog)

Good luck!

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by Magnus

I was reading up on dog/pet allergies from what I remember, people usually get an allergic reaction from: dander, skin flakes, saliva, and urine. Maybe if you can figure out what part(s) of that you're getting an allergic reaction to, then you can come up with a better plan?

In the meantime, do you also wipe him down daily with wipes? Also, are you sure you're not allergic to any of the products you use on Gael? (I remember an episode from brady bunch where one kid suddenly started having allergic reaction to their dog. Turns out she was allergic to the new shampoo they switched for the dog)

Good luck!

I'm using the (coat handler) shampoo and conditioner the show breeder uses and I use sensitive wipes to clean him after he goes potty. When I had met Gael's fur family (twice before bringing him home) I did not have any negative reaction. His mom kept licking me all over my face and I was fine.

Gaël is having many potty accidents. Perhaps I'm coming into contact with his urine during cleanup and even washing hands afterwards is too late? I knew about the secretion in skin and saliva but I hadn't considered his urine!

Perhaps the answer is I need to be firmer on crate training and use gloves for cleanups. *fingers crossed*

[Foster2Owner]

Originally Posted by Christinee

That totally sucks! I hope you can fix it. My daughter has allergies that act up around certain smells and foods. Thank goodness Charlie doesn't trigger anything.

Thank you, I hope so too. We just love cuddling.

[Sunnydayz]

I was allergic to Gizmo for the first several months and had to take allergy meds, along with a ton of other meds I take. My dr told me that through exposure, I should become resistant to the allergy to him after 3 or 4 months, and I'm happy to say, he was right :-) I have been able to stop all allergy meds and only have to take it once in while :-) I am allergic to soooo many things, so I was super worried it wouldn't stop, but I guess Gizmo made sure I got maximum exposure as he licked in my mouth, all over my face, any bare skin even my eyes and up my nose lol, but sure enough, after a few months my system got used to him and my allergies calmed completely down. My dr said the only way to get rid of an allergy is through extended exposure, and he was right :-)

[DvlshAngel985]

I'm allergic to my Yorkie, Kaji, too. I get the itchy eyes, and then my throat closes up a bit. It's not as bad as it is with cats. I can't breathe at all around cats. I've taken to bathing him twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays or Sundays) and I wipe him down with a baby wipe or a damp hot towel at the end of everyday. Since Kaji has that thick soft coat some yorkies have, I also try to keep him in a short hair cut because his hair is a dust magnet! This system has worked for 4 years now.

[sandy simpson]

Good thing about Yorkies, they do not shed. My daughter was allergic to dogs. I had poodles and then the Yorkies. She got the shots which helped.Keeping them clean really helps, we got a hepa filter to put in the air system plus a clean air machine which helped. I hope you can find a way to keep your Yorkie and still be healthy. Nothing like the love of a dog

[Christinee]

I always thought Yorkies were hypoallergenic?? Is that a myth?

I always assumed it must be true since Charlie has never triggered my daughters allergies.

[Kaylee32]

Originally Posted by Christinee

I always thought Yorkies were hypoallergenic?? Is that a myth?

I always assumed it must be true since Charlie has never triggered my daughters allergies.

I thought the same thing?? My grandmother is very allergic to dogs but neither Lilly Anne or Ellie ever trigger her allergies.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Christinee

I always thought Yorkies were hypoallergenic?? Is that a myth?

I always assumed it must be true since Charlie has never triggered my daughters allergies.

Originally Posted by Kaylee32

I thought the same thing?? My grandmother is very allergic to dogs but neither Lilly Anne or Ellie ever trigger her allergies.

No dog is truly hypoallergenic. There are some breeds that are better for people with allergies than others. It really depends on the person's sensitivity. I'm overly sensitive to everything. My biggest triggers are smells and pets. A strong perfume can give me a rash and a headache or a migraine that will cause me to lose my sight in my right eye for a few minutes. Chihuahuas and labs will cause me hives, yet, I still pet them cause they're cute! All pets can trigger my throat to close up. Most pets will take a matter of minutes to cause this reaction. Kaji, my Yorkie pup, takes 3-5 days. (Depends what he rolls around in that day. ) I'm just hypersensitive, which makes me allergic to even hypoallergenic dogs.

You also have to remember not everyone is allergic to dander or the shedding. Some people are allergic to dog saliva. All dogs might no shed, but all dogs have spit.

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

No dog is truly hypoallergenic. There are some breeds that are better for people with allergies than others. It really depends on the person's sensitivity. I'm overly sensitive to everything. My biggest triggers are smells and pets. A strong perfume can give me a rash and a headache or a migraine that will cause me to lose my sight in my right eye for a few minutes. Chihuahuas and labs will cause me hives, yet, I still pet them cause they're cute! All pets can trigger my throat to close up. Most pets will take a matter of minutes to cause this reaction. Kaji, my Yorkie pup, takes 3-5 days. (Depends what he rolls around in that day. ) I'm just hypersensitive, which makes me allergic to even hypoallergenic dogs.

You also have to remember not everyone is allergic to dander or the shedding. Some people are allergic to dog saliva. All dogs might no shed, but all dogs have spit.

I just wanted to add that the allergic reaction might be caused by the allergens collected on the dogs fur from being outside. I saw a show where an expert mentioned that most people think cleaning the paws is enough but the body needs to be wiped down as well since that's where most dust/pollens will be collected.

Like someone mentioned above, the fur can be a dust magnet. So if you have allergies, I think it's a good idea to wipe down your pet's entire body at least once a day or every time they've been outside.

[Christinee]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

No dog is truly hypoallergenic. There are some breeds that are better for people with allergies than others. It really depends on the person's sensitivity. I'm overly sensitive to everything. My biggest triggers are smells and pets. A strong perfume can give me a rash and a headache or a migraine that will cause me to lose my sight in my right eye for a few minutes. Chihuahuas and labs will cause me hives, yet, I still pet them cause they're cute! All pets can trigger my throat to close up. Most pets will take a matter of minutes to cause this reaction. Kaji, my Yorkie pup, takes 3-5 days. (Depends what he rolls around in that day. ) I'm just hypersensitive, which makes me allergic to even hypoallergenic dogs.

You also have to remember not everyone is allergic to dander or the shedding. Some people are allergic to dog saliva. All dogs might no shed, but all dogs have spit.

Thanks for clarifying. I was walking Charlie one day and some guy on the street mentioned he wanted a Yorkie because he was allergic to dogs but Yorkies he was ok around. Maybe he had allergies to the shedding part. Either way that just made me think it was true more.

I wonder if people can go immune after a while. My daughter was having a lot of allergies when we first got Charlie and they finally subsided, so I assumed that it wasn't him that caused it. But who knows, maybe her body just got use to him.