Dog allergies: Specific to one dog, breed or all dogs?

[poppysocks]

After much sensible discussion and thought we decided to take the plunge and get a dog. We thought we'd thought of everything but no.... Saw the most gorgeous 5 month old cocker spaniel pup on Sunday - exactly what we were hoping for. We spent about 30 mins with him, all patting him etc. He was in his breeder's home, along with their other 8 dogs, most of whom are related to him. Within 10 mins of leaving DD1 complained of a watering eye and by the time we got home, it was very swollen. Just the one. Within an hour or so, it had gone back to normal. Was it the pup? Or just a very doggy house? Or something else entirely?

She's never shown any reaction to any animal at all, including dogs and her childminder has a cocker too - so she's in the house with him and handling him several times each week. She does have tricky skin though and had a serious allergic reaction earlier this year (to bananas).

The timing was deeply suspicious, but it was just the one eye (the other was a bit red, but from general rubbing I think).

We obviously can't take him if she is allergic and we're going back in a couple of days (armed with antihistamine) to see how it goes, but I'd be really grateful for thoughts on whether, if she does have a reaction again, we need to knock the idea of a dog on the head altogether, consider a different breed, or that it might just be this one.

Thanks in advance.

dd1 had a reaction when we went to see our pups. that was the first time that happened. (she came up with a rash) however the next time we went to see them she didnt have a reaction.

DH had a reaction to Jasper initially, mild but uncomfortable. After a week it went away completely. However, if he's around other dogs, he gets a tight chest and itchy eyes.

I've never heard of anyone being allergic to an individual dog, but more to being allergic to types of dogs. For example, DH who is asthmatic, is allergic to long haired dogs, horses and cats. And guess which animals I absolutely adore? This is partly why we ended up with a houseful of greyhounds, who shed everywhere, but don't trigger his chest. However, I visited a friend the other day who has cats/horses and he'll become wheezy just from being around the clothes I was wearing.

There could be a number of explanations. It could be a very "doggy" environment where the sheer number of allergens is triggering her. It could even be something like a cleaning product the breeder is using to keep the floor clean, which is different to what you use. As it was only one eye, it might not even have been an allergic reaction at all, just something she got in her eye. I would want to be sure it was the dog, and if it was, I would not have one in the house, unless the allergy was so mild it could easily be managed. This is a fairly common reason for dogs being rehomed, and it would be heartbreaking for all of you if the situation broke down because of your daughter's health, which should rightly be your priority. Having said that, there is now a school of thought which says that your daughter's immune system will be strengthened by daily exposure to her triggers, and it is certainly true that children in dog owning families generally suffer fewer illnesses as their immune systems are strengthened by exposure not just to the dog, but the mud and oomska from dog walking etc. This is a very personal decision though.

The fact she is fine around your CM's cocker makes me think there is something very particular in your breeder's environment, especially as she has sensitive skin.

Thanks very much for the replies. There's hope, I think... We would so love to give this gorgeous little boy a home, so are keeping fingers and toes crossed there's no reaction next time we visit. She even more than rest of us as, typically, she's the one most desperate for a dog!

We have a cat already (who moults EVERYWHERE!) but even people who are usually allergic don't seem to be affected by her, so perhaps no real precedent where the dog is concerned (not least because he's a dog and she's a cat!).

The one eye thing, we wondered whether she got a hair in her eye - so hard to know though.

My DS got a swollen eye from a dog licking his face once. It never happened again, and I wonder if it was the food that the dog had eaten causing the reaction.

Cats give me asthma attacks, but luckily dogs don't. MiL used to have 4 cats and my friend had 3. I was always ok at the friends house but within minutes of sitting down at MiLs I would be sneezing and wheezing and soon have to leave.

In the end we worked out it was becuase MiL had a fabric sofa which retained the dander from the cat (this is what people are usually allergic to and not the fur), whereas my friend had a leather sofa.

You can get a breed of cat which allegedly doesn't trigger allergies but I don't know if there's similar with dogs.

I would assume that if it was only one eye then it isn't an allergy to dogs - more likely it was something on her hand that she then rubbed her eye with. I would second the environment / cleaning product suggestion. The other thing is has he recently been deflead?

Thanks for all the replies. Will keep you posted on how Friday's visit goes...

When we got our younger dog (a spaniel cross, incidentally) our elder daughter, who is very allergic generally, had a terrible time. For a good few weeks she had constantly red runny itchy eyes, her asthma was bad, she was sneezing etc. We were a bit despairing.

After a few weeks it began to improve and now she is absolutely fine. The hospital told us that you can often be allergic to other people's pets but fine with your own once your immune system has got used to them. They said the same as scuttlebutter, that having pets is really good for allergies generally as long as you can ride the storm initially. But you'd need to be very sure you could do this because much, much worse for dog (and for allergy sufferer's allergies, actually) to have to give up and rehome.

We have a Maltese Terrier who doesn't shed hair at all. DH always reacts to dog and cat hair but has had no problems with Daphne.

If she does have another reaction to the dog, you could look into other breeds. We were told that dogs such as Maltese and other non-shedders were often fine for those with allergies.

Maybe it was the sheer amount of doggy allergens?

I had severe cat allergies growing up - it was pretty miserable to be honest, as we ended up rescuing a cat when I was 8 and keeping her and I tolerated it because I loved her, but I had to be careful not to touch my face or eyes after touching her, for example.

My allergies did get better over time, and I was much better in environments with hard floors and low levels of soft furnishings.

We have a dog now, and I am not allergic to her - she has lovely long, soft fur. Interestingly, I am only allergic to SHORT haired dogs - their short hairs seem to act like little pin pricks into my skin and I get angry red bumps where the fur prickles me. Breeds such as Jack Russels, Boxers and Staffies are the worst.

Thanks again for the comments and I am feeling more positive now. DD1 had a good cuddle with her childminder's dog today, then rubbed her face and there wasn't a trace of anything. My biggest worry is actually trying to disentangle allergy to dog from allergy to house with lots of dogs/house using different cleaning products etc. Unfortunately DH is ill so won't be able to come with us so I'll need to make the decision myself (need to leave deposit tomorrow, or pull out as not fair on the breeder to keep things hanging). I just hope it's clear cut (preferably no reaction!).

Well, good news. No sign of any allergic reaction at all from DD1 today despite more than an hour of high quality snuggling with him. He's therefore coming home with us in a fortnight and we are a happy family.

No idea what caused the swollen eye last weekend, but so pleased that, as far as we can tell, it wasn't the lovely dog, who is soon to be ours.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and support.

Yes it does seem an individual can be allergic to an individual dog. My daughter owns a grooming salon, she is allergic to one specific cocker spaniel that comes in, but not others! I thought this was strange but the other groomer there is alleric to one Boxer and again only him, others don't bother her in the least. So in answer to your question, yes I know of these two cases where just one specific dog is a problem when no others are, and there is a very high exposure to all varieties of dogs!

i believe short hair like dalmation or lab is the worst but it is the dander and saliva which is the allergen. Maybe short haired dogs lick themselves more? We had a non shedding labradoodle which my 2 kids were fine with. Got another labradoodle when old doggie died and this one sheds worse than any other dog I have come across and both kids are allergic but they manage fairly well and are really allergic to other dogs they see less often.

Bump!

The same thing has happened to me with my DD as happened to the OP in her original post... anyone out there any expereinces to share? We have a labrador dog reserved but allergy testing consultant appointment 4 weeks after pups ready to go. DD has been around dogs, cats, horses, sheep, cattle since birth and no previous reaction.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

experiences

We took delivery of our pup yesterday and my DS has had horrendous hay fever for the last few weeks. We had already decided on this pup, put down a deposit and the DC's were beyond excited.

DS is still sniffing, sneezing and wheezing this morning but seemingly no worse than before. I'm terrified that he's going to get worse but praying that the allergies stay at a manageable level.

Sorry no advice to give but lots of sympathy as it is such a predicament. I'm taking heart from the people who have said their allergies improved after some weeks of exposure.

My friend's little boy is allergic to our dog, but it's not to do with the hair. It's when he licks him. It's happened twice - the lick area swells up and becomes bumpy. Antihistamines take it down. I take this little boy to school twice a week and now have to crate the dog when he's in the house which is a pain for all concerned. I feel v sorry for the little boy who loves animals :-(