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?

1. Ds’s bedroom is very minimalist, it’s how he wanted it. No curtains or books or dust collecting ornaments etc. I can boil his bedding.

1. We don’t have carpets anywhere, even the stairs are wood flooring.

1. No windows open in ds’s room. He is scared of insects!

1. Bath the dog weekly. Dog has sensitive skin too! He is bathed every couple of weeks. I could get him trimmed too?

1. No dogs in the bedroom. Ds doesn’t allow anyone in his room, even me!!

1. If you an afford to buy an air purifier. I can do this.

1. If he can bare it, buy eczema pyjamas with hand covers. Ds wouldn’t tolerate anything on his hands.

Ds is already taking daily antihistamines. We have tried several different ones. They don’t help at all, with his skin or the itch.

He has had various antibiotics when infected over the last 4 months.

Avene? Is this similar to Aveeno? Ds has an allergic reaction to any barrier creams we have tried. All seem to contain parafin. Aveeno was given to us, telling us no parafin, oat based. Ingredients state it contains liquid parafin.

The difficulty is even steroids don’t clear it. If I put anything on ds’s broken skin, he has an allergy reaction. It’s a vicious circle.

We have tried steroid tablets, steroid cream, anti allergy meds and antibiotics all at the same time, to try and clear broken skin enough to apply cream and it’s failed. If I apply the cream, his face swells, his eyes shut and his skin is red raw, like in the picture.

reallybad is it this cream?

Dermatologist, GP etc keep telling me it’s oat based. Ingredients states liquid parafin, unless I’ve misunderstood?

If its the dog, keeping him out of one room/bathing/cleaning wont make any difference. I've got a bad animal allergy and if a friend who has cats comes over to my house I start to sneeze. I can go to a friends house where the dog has been put in the garden, and its a clean house but I will still react.

Mine is asthma/eczema/hayfever type symptoms but its really common for an animal allergy not to just be if you can see fluffy hair on the floor but a proper allergy.

BUT thats not to say yours is dog related.

My daughter has facial eczema that just comes up around her mouth and lower face sometimes. I still havent got a clue what causes it but luckily for us its mild.

Face isnt just food related as anything you touch with hands will transfer to face, especially in kids. So perhaps touching the dog.

I wish allergy testing was more developed.

No that's not it, hang on

www.amazon.co.uk/Avene-XeraCalm-D-Lipid-Replenishing/dp/B00EYOHIO4

@KneelJustKneel it works for our dd as the dander is not spread through the house or airborne. The air purifier helps this too, and I cleaned everything top to bottom to eliminate dander. The set up of our house though allows a good portion for the dog plus access outside without preventing dd from going where she needs in the house.

reallybad thanks for the link. I just googled ingredients and it contains liquid parafin.

I’ve tried several times on advice from GP, community dermatologist etc applying products containing parafin. Each time we have ended up in A&E due to the severe reaction ds has had. He then ends up, with his skin worse than before and back on strong steroid tablets and cream!

Advice is he needs the moisture to prevent skin breaking, however when applied to broken skin, he has a severe reaction and worse than before. We are never in a position when skin isn’t broken, as steroids don’t clear it! I can’t win!

@Claw01 have you tried jojoba oil? It mimics the skins own natural oils

I haven’t tried jojoba. Google says no parafin, I will give it a try. I’ve just got some coconut oil to try, have you ever used? Any disadvantages?

His face is still quite bad at the moment, im just waiting for new steroids to improve it, before trying.

I’m a nervous wreck! Trying anything on his skin!

I did try coconut oil, it's meant to be a great anti fungal. I just found it wasn't as moisturising, but it could be different for your ds. If I thought dd had an infection but couldn't get to the doc for antibiotic cream (Bactroban I think it was) I would soak the area in warm salty water.

We have a store of antibiotic tablets for any infections. GP gave me them, we had been to GP so many times and she said there was absolutely nothing more she could do, other than prevent infections! I will try the coconut, if that doesn’t cut it, il try jojoba.

They keep telling me if I moisturiser, it will prevent flare ups, but we never get to the non flare up stage!

Thanks for the advice

I've never rehomed a dog, but I've always had rescue dogs myself or taken dogs, like yours, that people had to rehome. All I can say is that ALL of them have very quickly settled in and become part of the family. If you really know that your MIL will give him a good home and love him then he will most likely settle down and relax much quicker than you.

This is so sad to read.
We've had my rescue dog a month now and I'm now taking a Benadryl antihistamine to help. My mental health needs trumps the reaction I get. However, for a good 18 months I've had major face issues. Mine doesn't get as bad as your sons but no cream works and it's really affected my self esteem. I can cope with my wrinkles and crows feet but my cheek and round my mouth are permanently pinky and flaky and sore.

I think my diet changing they way at did a few years ago is responsible for a lot of my problems. My weight, how I feel, my skin, it's all like when I was a teen and not looking after myself properly.

I hope they find out what's causing your sons, and I hope it's not your dog.

honey that is very true, all my dogs and cats (apart from this yorkie) have been rescued or rehomed! None of them have had contact with previous owners, which is why I was questioning if MIL would be ok, as we would still have contact with him.

blood my son suffers with anxiety and his mental health. The dog is like his therapy dog and his best friend.

One of my recent dogs was a friend of a friend's dog. I took her to a party about six months after we got her and her previous owner was there. She practically blanked her! (The dog blanked her). I also sent my own dog to live with my mum when I went to uni as a mature student. She happily played with me when I came home for holidays, but wasn't bothered when I left. If the dog is loved and looked after they really don't pine.

How's yours DS now @Claw01?
Any progress with what's causing it?

I have allergies and am getting better around dogs. We got a bichon which are low allergy. My son had extreme eczema and it was cleared with uvb light therapy. Since his skin healed he has no reaction now to most things. I would try everything first to keep the dog.