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?

aweed the tests they will be doing won’t be prick tests. They will be sticking allergens to his back on Monday, going back on Wednesday and doing the same, then back again on Friday. I assume this is more extensive than prick testing?

How did they did they test for food allergies with your son? My son had a blood test?

Wolf do you have to take the suppressants all the time?

We have had our dog 5 years. Seems strange that my son has suddenly developed a severe reaction, literally over night to him. Unless it’s a number of causes and once the reaction starts, he becomes allergic to other things.

He has even had allergic reactions to some of the treatments, once it’s flared.

Yes. Every week. Once a week.
I had the tests your son is having this week. Changed products used around the home.
Protopic made it burn.
Steroids helped but when I tapered them off it came back.
I know if I react to a dog as the minute I get near it I break out in hives. Wolfhounds don’t do that to me. Not all breeds do.
I’m allergic to cats but not all.
It’s weird.

Op I have no advice other than to say I also had to rehome a dog.
I was gutted but he loves his new home. Only had to give him up as I became a single parent and had to up my hours at work and it wasn't fair on him. To be fair he wasn't my dog but dh didn't take him when he left so I didn't have a choice.

He's happier with someone whose at home 90% of the day and me and dc can still see him almost whenever we like.
Once you see him settled in his new home you'll be fine I promise.

Im v allergic to cats and dogs . Short hair or the "ill vacuum before you come round" doesnt work at all (so not sure having him away for 2 weeks would work as a test your house is still full of dog)

We had a kitten and I did beg to keep him and of course said id rather the pet. But my parents did the right thing as I react so much .

We have had our dog 5 years. Seems strange that my son has suddenly developed a severe reaction, literally over night to him.

It does seem very strange, not impossible but very odd. If it's been since Christmas Eve, I wonder what changed then? 🤔
Although his diet hasn't changed, are you sure no ingredients have changed in any foods/drinks he has?

wolf you sound very similar to my son. The only thing that relieves it slightly are steroids. Literally within a day of stopping it flares up again. Protopics just don’t work. Moisturisers cause an allergic reaction. Vicious circle.

Suppressants haven’t been mentioned yet. I assume it will depend on the type of allergy identified, if any. Do you still have to avoid allergies while taking? Sorry 101 questions

I've got a dog here that I'm looking after for a friend temporarily. The ddog hasn't shown any signs of distress. She eats like a horse, loves her walks, sleeps well and takes great delight in chasing the dcats and barking at visitors. I don't think dogs mind being rehomed provided all their needs are met. Don't worry about it too much OP, just make sure ddog goes to a good home. She'll be fine.

fox he is very specific about brands. I cannot change brand, otherwise he knows and won’t eat or drink it! Even a company changing the package, he will refuse to eat or drink! Ingredients changing, I really couldn’t say. Once empty, I just would have thrown out.

It happened over night. He went to bed fine, woke next day, with a face like a balloon.

I think diet is not impossible, but unlikely. If it was something he consumed, it’s strange it’s only on his face and occasionally backs of hands flare up and shoulders. I would of thought it would be all over, if diet related.

He had a food allergy blood test yesterday. Hopefully this will flag up or rule out. He was tested for Coeliac previously, which was negative.

And thank you everyone, it’s nice to hear that dogs can be rehomed happily. I know MIL would love him to pieces, if it did need to happen. I’d probably be more sad than him!!

not sure having him away for 2 weeks would work as a test your house is still full of dog

That’s why I said to ask MIL if she could house sit and take DS away.

I honestly doubt he’s suddenly become allergic to your dog.

Even the more intense allergy testing cannot tell you everything. I personally think the most it does is give you a staring place for things to try.

It’s harder when your child has autism because of the ‘sameness’ lots of children with autism need. But, if it was me I’d be changing all brands of food, cleaning & personal care items, using anti allergy bedding etc. And doing a VERY deep clean and keeping on top of it.

In essence, everything I could, at least twice, before thinking about rehoming my dog.

I would do my damnest to rule stuff out, but booking a holiday away from home for the summer holidays for as long as possible & introduce DDog to ExMIL before then if she’ll dog sit for you.

For you, for DDog, but definitely for DS as he loves his dogs and they can really help kids who have autism.

Fingers crossed 🤞🏼

I wash my hands if around animals that make my skin irritated. I stil avoid MI. So no liquid washing detergent. Only Ecover for washing up. Careful with hand washing soap.
I tried everything. Changed pillows and bed and washed only in special soap substitute. Emollients didn’t help. Even strong steroid cream didn’t clear it totally.

incredibly MIL wouldn’t house sit, she has other responsibilities. Changing brands would be impossible too. My son’s diet is extremely restrictive, he will literally only eat 5 foods, as it is!

I could easily change washing powder etc.

I don’t have carpets anywhere in the house, not even the stairs. I hoover (even under settee and beds!) and wash all the wooden/tiled floors every day. Pets don’t go into ds’s room. I’m generally a very clean and tidy person! (I know you were not suggesting otherwise! Just explaining I’m slightly fanatical about cleaning! )

My son has a memory foam mattress, it’s fairly new (about 2 years old) and memory foam pillow, all with protectors on, could these be a problem?

Leaving home, even for a holiday, we have never done for longer than a weekend. He really struggles leaving the house, staying anywhere new etc.

Anyway, I agree, I cannot see the dog being solely responsible.

Thank you all again

Could it be a latex allergy then? Maybe as the memory foam is ageing, or as your son might be sweating more, it's releasing something.

Petal Cleanse wipes for the dog might help, if it's the dog.

Allergies can develop at any time and always to something previously tolerated at least once but can be many many exposures before reaction.

Op just another thought if it came up around Xmas was it any of the decorations or maybe dust from the loft when you got them down?

I habe asthma (and am allergic to ani mals) but mine got worse over xmas with dust we think - it wasnt wasnt even a real xmas tree but all the getting stuff from the loft and not hoovering behind the tree. We think!

hardas latex? By protectors, I mean the cotton sort, I use them on all the beds and pillows, or does memory foam contain latex?

blue it started Christmas Eve, I put my decorations up on the 1st. They were stored in the loft, so it’s a possibility.

Everything is a possibility with an allergy. I think I just panicked when Dermatologist suggested dogs/cats being the most common cause and writing it in ds’s notes, given ds’s previous testing history and slight reaction to dogs. She was saying it must be something he is contact with everyday, as only on his face and hands, unlikely to be diet or washing products. She was strongly suggesting the dog.

This thread has made me realise, it could be anything and there are plenty of other things which could trigger or perhaps a combination.

I need to wait for the testing, take it from there.

Claw

I hoover (even under settee and beds!) and wash all the wooden/tiled floors every day...Just explaining I’m slightly fanatical about cleaning!

Do you want to move in here?!

‘House sit* Sorry, that was a typo, should have been ‘dog sit’ (at her house) as per my previous post.

It’s very difficult with DS having Autism. But it’s so variable it’s hard to know. My godson literally only eats about 5 things too, but fortunately he will tolerate ANY (margarita) pizza and chips, so that helps.

As for going away, I get that too 😖. If it comes to it, hopefully ExMIL would have DDog for a few weeks to see if it helps, but I’d be trying a shed load of other things too

I think it could be the memory foam, maybe it’s changing over time or maybe it’s DS’s tolerance to the heat of it. I cannot sleep on it. If I sleep elsewhere I’ll know if it’s MF in a couple of hours, I’ll wake up after a while and have to either sleep somewhere ease (like a sofa) or put as many layers between me and the mattress as possible. It hasn’t caused me eczema, but I have no doubt my body would react if I had to sleep on it night after night.

I’d change all cleaning products, actually I’d do away with as many as possible too.

But I’d think really, really hard about everything I did the couple of weeks leading up to Christmas. Obviously it could be something that’s built up over years, but it’s more likely to be something newer.

It’s like trying to find an invisible needle in a haystack! 🙈

Yes. Hopefully the testing will help narrow it down.

However, even if it came back with flashing red lights around ‘dog allergy’ I’d still just ask ExMIL to have DDog temporarily & take it from there.

Yes. Memory foam is latex. As it's mostly his face could his pillow be the cause?

'something he is in contact with every day,
He went to bed and woke up like it'

Op, it really could be sweat and the pillow/mattress.
I'd think about changing the lot, maybe the laundry detergent?

Would he go for that? If you asked his help to choose?

I won't post a picture but you can google latex allergy on face images.

It seems highliy unlikely that a dog allergy would be largely localised to his face. Much much more likely something he has regular facial contact with.

Op my dd has this and we scratched our heads for ages trying to figure it out. In her case it's a mix of allergens and eventually her immune system just overloaded.

I would try reducing a number of common allergens in the home.

1. Books, curtains, anything that collects dust in his room. Dust mites - you should try dust mite covers for the bed and pillows.

Boil his bedding, use an anti dustmite solution. Bositos make one.

1. Vacuum the crap out of carpet and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

1. Shut windows so you are not letting pollen in the house. Wash the outside and inside of windows.

1. Bath the dog weekly. Studies have shown that regular washing drastically reduces the amount of dander.

1. Try to keep areas of the house dog free. No dogs in the bedroom.

1. If you an afford to buy an air purifier.

1. If he can bare it, buy eczema pyjamas with hand covers. It will help the itch scratch cycle at night.

We have been able to keep our dog with these things in place. Drastically reducing ALL her allergies has helped her immune system. She's also on daily antihistamines.

Be careful with steroids. They have a rebound effect. He may need antibiotics as eczema gets infected very easily and once infected it spreads.

Try to find a cream that acts a barrier for the skin. Avene have a very good one that is non scented and sterile - no preservatives. You need something that acts like a second skin and helps stop the allergens entering his system.

incredibly if you have wine and chocolate, I’m on my way with my suitcase!

Oh chips! Your nephew sounds like a ‘biege’ food boy too! Everything ds eats is biege!

With regards to mattress and pillows, he has a odd sleeping arrangement! He does get hot very easily (he is very sensory and controlling temperature is part of that) he doesn’t lay directly on the mattress or have a duvet over him. He sleeps on top of the duvet, with a sheet over him and a ceiling fan on, even in winter. He doesn’t sleep directly on his pillows either. His face is on the scatter cushions.

So yes heat is a problem for him. He overheats easily. Changing the mattress is definitely something I will consider.

I wrecked my brains thinking of anything new and I really cannot think of anything. So something previously tolerated that’s now not, the mattress could be just as guilty as the dog or anything else!

Looking at that photo again, his skin looks like my dd's when it was infected.