Might need to rehome our beloved dog

[Claw01]

I’m after some advice please. I have a 5 year old Yorkie. My son has developed an extreme form of eczema on his face. We saw a dermatologist today, after 4 months of steroid tablets, creams, anti allergy meds etc not working. Dermatologist told us eczema on the face, is usually contact eczema ie something he is contact with regularly, which is why the meds are not working. Dogs and cats are the most common cause, we have both (my son had a basic allergy test years ago, which should a severe reaction to pollen and a slight reaction to dogs) as we have always had dogs, tester said it was nothing to be concerned about as my son had no symptoms.

She has referred him for allergy testing. He has also had food allergy blood test today.

We would be heartbroken, if he has developed this severe reaction to the dog. We are really hoping it’s not the case.

IF we do need to rehome him, my ex MIL has said she would love to have him. I know he would be well looked after.

They will send an appointment for allergy testing in the next few weeks.

Would it be a good idea, to start taking my dog to my MIL’s house and getting them used to each other, just in case?

I’m in tears writing this, is there anyway I could keep him, if he is the cause? Anyone else have a severe reaction? What do you do?

I don’t have an experience with allergies. I did have to re home my springer ( long sad awful story). I cried for days. But. You would be doing the right thing. You will know where they are going and how lovely they will be looked after.

No judgement from me. Just hugs ❤️

It's horrible when doing the right thing means heartbreak like this. You are being a responsible patent by putting your son first and (if the tests are positive), a fresh he for your dog.

I’ve never rehomed a dog before. If the worst case scenario does have to happen, what is the best way and least stressful and confusing for my dog?

Take him there for a few weeks beforehand? Leave him there overnight once or twice? Leave him for a day a few times? Clean break? Can I visit him?

You're lucky, you have an instant nice person willing to have D-Dog, and you can still visit. You may be sad but that's one lucky dog.

Is the dog very attached to YOU? Some dogs won't transition well to a new owner, but hopefully you can encourage him to bond with the MIL.

Could you have her take the dog for two weeks at first to see if your son has any improvement?

I had allergy testing and it showed me as allergic to dogs and slightly allergic to cats. In reality, I am VERY allergic to cats so the tests aren't always 100% accurate. If it is contact based he should be ok with visits to your MIL though.

You sound heartbroken but if the dog can stay in the family its the best option if they need to be removed. Perhaps try a short visit to see how he improves. You sound a lovely Mum and pet owner.

I rehomed my dogs mum from breeder. She loves us both and goes back and forth no problem. She's better bonded with her and I than dh and her DH.

I take her back for grooming no problem.

You mention pollen. Where do you walk dog? I have issues at harvest if dog goes with dh in tractor, pollen transfers to her and then me......just a thought.

Hiya I am interested in this , my toddler has eczema on his cheeks in two massive red circles . How is your child's? All over or cheeks?.

We don't have any indoor pets , I have horses but he doesn't see them maybe once a month and I am showered and changed before I go home.

We believe it's dust mites !! Or dander whatever its called.

Sugar flares it up but when we have been somewhere dry , warm and dusty it flares!

X

daily she is a real animal lover, I am lucky.

Yes my boy, is very attached to both me and my son. My son has Autism, he is his best friend. He is my shadow too! Follows me everywhere.

My ex also lives at his mum’s and my dog loves him, another blessing (he is obsessed with his ball and my ex always throws it for him in the garden, when he visit our son)

badwifey the Dermatologist gave my son different meds today, so I don’t want to take the dog to her, alongside taking the meds, as I won’t know which has worked (if any)

I could do that after the allergy testing, if it’s positive, just to see if things improve. Although I’m not sure if that’s how ‘triggers’ to eczema work. I could certainly try.

I really don’t want to rehome him.

I had horrible allergies when I was a child . I had allergy tests and they said I was allergic to hay , horses , straw , cats , dogs and horses .. I cried all the way home because I thought they would all have to go . My mum asked me what I wanted to do and I said for them all to stay .. they did and I eventually grew out of it .. is he old enough to choose / advise himself what he wants to do?

home I walk him in the fields and woods. My son doesn’t come. His ‘hayfever’ is easily controlled with Piriton during summer months.

We have tried every anti allergy med in the last 4 months, strongest ones, different brand etc. Nothing works on his face.

Ims my son is 15. I believe eczema is different in babies to adults or nearly adults! My son has a really severe form of it, covers all of his face. I will try uploading a pic of just the skin

gubby yes he is 15. Difficulty is, it gets so severe and unmanageable he cannot even attend school. He has missed so much school or they end up sending him home. His eyes swell shut and the itching is unbearable he cannot concentrate or sleep. His face is red raw all over and he doesn’t want to leave the house. People staring and commenting, he looks like a ‘burns victim’ etc. It’s really impacting on his life.

imp it’s like this all over his face, without steroids. Steroids improve it slightly, however, steroids are really damaging, particularly on the face.

are you sure it isn't something to do with a shaving product or a shampoo, or perhaps a new piece of furniture/upholstery/mattress with flame retardants in the fabric? I have developed quite a strong allergy to flame retardants and commonly used treatments for fabric (I think they do something to stop the insect infestation in the warehouses or similar - anyway new fabric has me sneezing and coughing and so do ikea rugs (although I don't they have flame retardants) There is also nickel and silver (contact allergy), and biological washing powder which also sets me off. I'm just wondering whether he is leaning against/wearing/bathing in something new that was purchased at Christmas perhaps?

I just wondered if dig was picking something up pollen wise then when Ds cuddles him it transfers to his face? That's where my problem lies.

nettles it started on Christmas Eve, so no new Christmas stuff. He doesn’t shave, he only has a little tash, he uses an electric shaver on his top lip.

He has Autism, literally nothing ever changes! He has never, ever used soap or face wash (he can’t stand the feel on his skin) he uses water. No products on his skin or hair etc (he uses shampoo, but the same one) Diet is exactly the same, every single day etc. I haven’t changed washing powder etc.

The allergy testing seems pretty extensive. He will have to go to hospital on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They will stick all different things to his back.

We have tried constant anti allergy meds, steroid tablets, steroid creams, numerous antibiotics, protopic creams, eczema creams, washes.

The Dermatologist is convinced it’s ‘triggered’ by something he is in regular contact with, hence nothing managing it. I’ve wrecked my brains.

Today she mentioned cats and dogs being the most common cause. Plus his reaction in previous testing to dogs. Plus he stroked a relatives dog the other day. Next day the backs of his hands came up too.

I’m really hoping it’s not dogs (or cats) however, feel I need to at least think about it and not bury my head and think about what’s best for my dog too, just in case.

🌷IF he does have to be rehomed at least you know he will be well looked after and well loved. There isn’t one ‘right way’, there’s just what you think will be best for your dog. How far away does ExMIL live? How well do you get on?

As for the allergy testing, it’s not fabulous. It might say DS is allergic to dogs, but it doesn’t mean your dog IS causing his eczema.

See how these meds go.

Then there’s a whole host of things you can try before rehoming DDog.

TRY not to think too far ahead just now. Worrying now won’t mean worrying less later.

home I think anti allergy would control pollen, but then again they should control a dog allergy or any other allergy too, shouldn’t they!

We have always had dogs. Up until last year we had 2! A giant Lab, who shed everywhere! We had him all of ds’s life!

Laundry powder. You might not have changed brands, but brands change their formulas & suppliers all the time. Even if it says the same chemical it doesn’t mean it hasn’t been sourced differently.

Any chance you can ask MIL to dog sit over Easter and take DS away somewhere to see if it helps any? If it does you’ll still have to narrow down what’s different at home than where you’re staying, but iif it clears it up that’s a start.

incredibly I get on well with MIL. She only lives about 20 minutes away. A few years ago ds had a ‘slight’ reaction to dogs (skin prick test) you know the sort where you wait and they draw circles around the skin. I’m assuming if this is the cause of his reaction now, it should show a more severe reaction? If reaction is only ‘slight’ then it will be no different to the reaction years ago, when he had no symptoms and not be the cause?

At the moment my son is trying a new steroid cream. His skin is very likely to improve, if dog is away, I won’t know which has worked. Really I need to try dog not being here, when not on steroids.

What a horrible situation It sounds like you're doing all the sensible things (allergy testing etc) and have a good home lined up if it does become necessary.

With regards to introducing him to your Ex MIL, I had to introduce DDog to my DF, who's now my regular dog sitter. DDog does not bond to new people quickly, if ever, even if he lives with them. I started by going out walking with all three of us and having DF do recall with treats, hold the lead etc. We stayed with him for a weekend. Then DDog went to DF alone for a week. He now absolutely adores DF (possibly more than me...)

My DS has allergies and the allergy team are convinced he is allergic to dust even though his reaction to the prick test was mild. My DS suffers chronic rhinitis, itching and eczema. He has food allergies too. Allergy medication can help with symptoms however if the cause is still around it will do very little. We don’t give my son food he is allergic too as it makes his skin flare up and he vomits and one food can potentially cause anaphylaxis So if it is dog related I am afraid you will have to rehome the dog as your DS will remain symptomatic. It may be the breed of dog you have now that has a different coat. However the allergy team can guide you and in truth we know my DS is allergic to other things but they can’t test for everything so sometimes it’s trial and error. Good luck and hopefully you will get some answers.

Thanks Avocado my dog pined terribly when I lost my Lab last year, he was literally depressed for a few months. I hate the thought of him going through that again.

I see it, as I have a few weeks to prepare him for the worst. If the worse doesn’t happen, then no harm done and my dog has just enjoyed some visits to ex MIL.

I’m wondering if getting my dog a haircut and keeping him trimmed would help allergy? I usually only get him trimmed in Summer, as he feels the cold.

Your poor son, his face looks so sore. I can’t imagine how sad you and he would be if you have to rehome your dog, but you have a very good plan here. Try the cream first, then send your dog for a holiday to your exMIL and see what happens, make sure your son doesn’t come into contact with any other dogs so you can be very sure. You’ll have a path forwards then. You are being a good parent and a good dog owner but your son can’t carry on like that if it is sadly the dog he is reacting to.

I have had exactly this! Beware the advice.
I am allergic to dogs apparently. But my dog wasn’t the cause of my skin flaring up. My face was burning and inflamed and so sore. Cutting out MI from washing up liquid and liquid washing detergent and softener helped. But the only cure has been immunosuppressants.