I have had Springer Spaniels for over 40 years, but when the last one died I thought I would have a rescued dog so after a few months I had a Staffie and bonded very well with her, but after a few days I had a very bad rash and was told I was allergic to the dog so I had to send her back. Can you tell me what to avoid in the future as I don't want to go through that again.
Judi Sealey, Redditch area in Worcs
Hi Judi
How upsetting! It could have been just that one dog you were reactive to - or that type of dog? Perhaps you need to spend a bit of time around lots of types of dogs to see what it is specifically that sets you off. If it is dog hair maybe look at a non-shedding breed - Poodle, Bichon, Bedlington, Airedale etc - be wary of dogs advertised as hypoallergenic - Poodle crosses are less reliably non-shedding than 100% Poodles. If it's saliva or dander it's more difficult to overcome. Some people who are allergic to dogs try to suppress their reactions but it is a juggle and depends on the severity of reaction as to how successful they are. It maybe that you have become allergic to dogs in recent years, but I'm sure if you talk to some friendly local rescue charities or breeders they will let you spend some time with their dogs to see if it's all dogs you have a problem with now or just the odd one.
I'm allergic to some feral cats and pet rabbits - I come up in massive white blisters if they touch me - but it is alottery as to whether I'll be reactive or not. Sometimes you don't ever discover what the trigger is. Anyone got any advice or personal experiences of how to overcome or limit allergies to dogs?
Anyone in the Redditch area able to help?
Beverley Cuddy, Editor
I may be wrong on this, but I had always thought of an allergy to dogs being manifested as sneezing, running eyes and exacerbation of asthma. To come out in a rash makes me wonder more about a contact irritation:
- had the dog been shampooed with a product to which you were allergic?
- Did the dog have a parasite living in its coat such as a fur mite?
- Was it a rash, or was it in reality many bites from fleas picked up from the dog?
I will never forget the two large ladies who brought in their Persian cat to be examined. They had just been to their GP because of a rash they had both developed, and he had wondered whether it was to do with their cat. When I asked them what their rash was like, up went the tee-shirts to expose a rash around their midriffs!
Combings from the cat revealed fur mites, and appropriate treatment was successful for both cat and owners.
Alison Logan, Vet
My first comment is, who told you that you were allergic? Was it a specialist who did proper allergy tests? Or just a GP?
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine got a rash from a dog because it kept licking her all the time, the cure? Don't let the dog lick. Or was there anything else that happened at the same time? Had you been doing some gardening. There are some plants that can cause bad rashes. Or been to a hotel or stayed with a friend who uses a different washing powder?
It is possible to 'suddenly' develop an allergy after a long exposure, but 40 years seems to be a excessive. If you have been okay with Springers in the past, why not stick with the breed? There are plenty of Springers in rescue. Or go ahead and get some proper allergy tests.
I am not allergic to dogs, but I am allergic to mould and should not walk them through woods or near trees when it's damp. But fields are boring and the dogs love the woods and I live in England so it's always damp! So I wash my nose out twice a day with a water/salt/bicarbonate of soda mix (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A40336184) and then use a 'proper' nose spray and that keeps my symptoms under control.