Dog--allergies question AGAIN

**TMI warning**

Can I have opinion please (if you think I'm not being fair, please tell me). I've posted this on LIF in the past. We have two dogs, we've had them since before DD. I had just seasonal allergies then...well since having DD my allergies have been horrible. Horrible like I end up vomiting all day because I'm basically choking on phlegm, its REALLY bad. It's happening again now (I'm taking a strong cough suppresant, regular allergy meds, steroids, using a nebulizer) and I still get sick. This probably happens 5 or 6 times a year...not TERRIBLE, but enough to be a pain because it last for almost a week!

I went to an allergist, an ENT, a pulmonologist, a GI, etc...they all say its related to my allergies (I did the allergy test and got a huge welt for dogs and dust). When I get sick it gets 100x worse because of my allergies.

Sooo....my question is, I really feel like the only way to remedy this is re-homing our dogs. We tried this before in the past (my in laws wouldn't take them, and found no one else suitable). DH is DEVASTATED...but its almost come down to me or the dogs, my health is SO bad and I feel like I can't live like this. Of course its not fair to our dogs either, but what else can I do? Just keep living with this quality of life?

Am I wrong? Maybe there is some other solution I am not thinking of? Just suck it up?

TIA!

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

Unfortunately I dont think there is any other option that you havent thought of.

I know you love the dogs so much as does your DH. But what concerns me is what if your allergy is not to the dogs and you rehome them? What if your allergies never get better and then you gave away the dogs that you and your DH love so much?

What if you have a mold allergy and maybe there is mold in your home that you are unaware of that is causing this? Esp since you have had your dogs a long time and only more recently have this issue? You relate it to since your DD was born, and did you ever look into maybe there is a mold problem in your home that you cannot see?

Just a thought. If your allergy is absolutely them, I dont see how many options you reallly have.

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

I also have the same problem with my dog. My allergist told me I was allergic to my dog because of the stuff she picks up when I take her for a walk.

She told me to bathe her once a week to rid her of the dander and that if I do touch my dog to wash my hands immediately to avoid flaring up my allergies. She also said no letting her lick my hands.

So far it's been working but there are times with her just being around me I do start having the itchy eyes and start sneezing. I just take my meds, nasal sprays and eye drops and just keep away from her from the night and it seems to help.

ETA: I don't know how severe your allergy is to your dog but I can control mine. If yours is just out of control I'm sorry to say that you have to give her away for your own health.

Message edited 11/22/2011 7:13:42 PM.

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

After I posted about them last time we had our home tested for mold and nothing...(which I guess is a good thing )

So I guess its not that

It's frustrating because I'm grasping for something else, something that I can control, we've already stopped allowing them in our bedroom.

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

If you were to go on vacation for a week (or sleep over a family member's house overnight or something like that) do the allergies go away?

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

Would medication or allergy shots work?

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

What kind of dogs do you have? I know some breeds have less of an effect the others do. We have a small dog because we knew that DH would have less of a reaction to her just from DH's history.

I do know how hard it is for my DH when he is around other people's dogs, especially big dogs. We've had to leave other people's houses and go straight to the ER so that he could get on steriods. I couldn't imagine living with that every day!

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

Yea Labs are one of the dogs that aggrevates my DH's allergies the most....mostly big dogs make his allergies/asthma bad.

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

just wanted to update again:

We are thinking of how to bring it up to my in-laws to see if they can watch them for some time (a few months or so) to see how I am allergy wise, and if they could see themselves with the dogs. We are toying with how to phrase it to the in-laws. They live in a more rural area too and have a huge backyard...they had a lab too. My MIL just needs a heart LOL

It is SUPER frustrating, DH and I have gotten into arguments about this only because he knows is the best thing to do too but emotionally it is just almost too much...this man NEVER cries. When one of our dogs started having medical problems with seizures, I was driving him to the emergency vet, DH was holding him in the back SOBBING. The ONLY time I've ever seen him cry.

This is hard for me too. I wanted the dogs...our 2nd dog was a foster, I BEGGED to keep him. He ended up with so many medical problems we brought him to all kinds of vets and specialists and finally have him regulated on the right meds for seizures.

It was just the dogs and me our first year of marriage (DH had to do long distance 1yr). I just don't see any other solution. I freaking trained our 1 lab for 3 years to compete in introduction obedience!! I volunteered at the dog shows at AOC (albany obedience club) to compete with her for free!


We definitely won't get another dog (especially because DH is not a fan of any of the hypoallergenic breeds).

This is just not an easy decision, I really wish our in laws would do something, if not for me, for their SON! They never do crap for him...its like his sisters fu(k up and then their parents help them. DH doesn't **** up and they do nothing for him.

Sorry for the essay-long post....its just really hard :(

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN

It sounds like you are really frustrated between the two of you. It really stinks because I know how much an animal can be loved, and feel like children. is a really hard decision to make.

I hope that you work something out with your in-laws. It sounds like that could be a good solution and would help you to figure out what is going on. I'll send a wish up for you guys today that it will all work out!

Re: Dog--allergies question AGAIN