CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => General Cocker Spaniel Discussion => Topic started by: SuzieT on January 26, 2007, 01:15:01 PM
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Hello all - wonder if this has happened to anyone else? Humphrey is now 9 months old and, since Christmas I have developed an allergy to him (rhinitis, itchy eyes, slight wheezing etc.). Have always had cat allergies, but not dogs - and am surprised this has come on so late. To help, I had him severely groomed, stopped him sleeping in the bedroom, used allergic wipes from PAH but it seems to be getting worse. I wonder if it is something to do with hormones in the dander? I was not planning on getting him neutered but I think this is another option to try - he also has one undescended testicle so vet has advised this. Cannot imagine life without him now, so am happy to face years of antihistamines, but wonder if anyone else has had the same problem?
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No advice off top of my head, but just want to say how sorry I am that this has started. Must be awful.
Do you have carpets or hard floors? I have heard that carpets are now thought to be better for those with allergies and asthma (after a short period where we were advised to get rid of carpets etc!)
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I can sympathise - I have always had cats and never had a problem until getting a burmese/bengal cross 18 months ago, then developed terrible allergies. I could barely breath, itchy eyes and skin where she touched me. A trip to the doctors resulted in an inhaler for the asthmatic reaction and anti-hystamien (sp!) pills (piriteze) I had to use the inhaler for about 2-3 weeks but then that settled down. I still take the piriteze daily as I find i get 'itchy' reactions to the cat otherwise. I wouldn't be without my 3 cats - even the one who causes the allergic reaction so have just resigned myself to having to live on a daily dose of piriteze :-\
Good Luck and I hope you find a solution
Tanya
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is it definitely an alergy to dogs? Have you changed cleaning products or aftershaves?? My allergies used to come on after one of my brothers changed his aftershave :D
I hope you find a resolution soon.
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Oh poor you, i'm allergic to my dog too, so know how you feel ;)
Indie is almost 4 so i'm proof that you can make it work, heres how I try and combat it
I take anti-histamines every day
I get Indie clipped
I hoover and dust everyday (sometimes more than once)
I have the windows open a lot, bedroom window all the time, even in the winter
It does get easier I am a firm believer in de-sensitising working, as long as you can put up with a bit of discomfort that is :-\
Best of luck with it, have a chat with your GP or practice nurse if your worried ;)
In answer to your question e the dander, it is the dander that causes the allergic reaction and not the actual hairs, I don't think the hormones he has will have anything to do with it :-\
On the carpet/wood floors point, we had wood floors in our old house, have lived in this house (carpeted) for 3 months and I have to admit my allergy has been BETTER and not worse :huh:
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I am allergic to small furries - and have about 20 of them... :005:
It could be because your puppy changed into the adult coat, it could indeed be the hormones... or it could just be coincidence as allergies can pop up like that out of the blue.
I have powerful air purifiers in the animal and the sitting room which helps enormously. I am also on asthma medication.
There is a product called Petal Cleanse that you can brush into your dog's coat and this will apparently help greatly to reduce your symptoms. According to feedback that I have had, this works well.
Vera
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Ah bless you all for your kind thoughts and support - this forum is soooo great! So glad to hear I am not alone, it makes it much easier to cope with the constant sniffles! I feel so guilty cutting down on all the lovely cocker cuddles, but hopefully it might improve over time. I tried loratidine but that doesn't seem to work, so with try the cetirizine next. I do have wood floors but will up the cleaning routine immediately; mind you, in this cold weather, warm carpet sounds most appealing! Someone at work told me about open windows so will also try that, and the Petal Cleanse too. Thanks everyone!!! xxxxx
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No advice for you sorry - I was going to suggest you contact Emma (Magic Star) because she's allergic to her dog too, but as you can see she beat me to it ::) :005: :005:
Allergies can happen at any time though. My children have allergies to certain small furries and the GP told me you can live with an animal for years and become allergic to it. It just one of those things :-\
I hope its not too uncomfortable for you ;) :D
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[On the carpet/wood floors point, we had wood floors in our old house, have lived in this house (carpeted) for 3 months and I have to admit my allergy has been BETTER and not worse
/quote]
Emma thats the good highland air thats fixed you!!!! ;) :D :005:
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What about trying 'Petal cleanse' which is meant to be very good for animal dander.
Our vet nurse is allergic to cats (far more than I am) yet she nurses any cat thay comes in and also has 6 of her own ::). Often these allergies are also not just specific to an animal there could be other factors at play here in your environment
I was allergic to Wilf when he 1st arrived but think it must have been something he was bathed in (my hands and wrists flared up)
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What about trying 'Petal cleanse' which is meant to be very good for animal dander.
Can you get that online Penny, might give it a try ;)
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i'm not allergic to the fur, just the mess they make :005:
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not to do with allergies, but if your dog has an undescended testicle and the vet has adivsed nuetering, then why don't you want to have him neutered?
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not to do with allergies, but if your dog has an undescended testicle and the vet has adivsed nuetering, then why don't you want to have him neutered?
He is still only 9 months old, perhaps Suzie wants/has been advised to let him grow up a bit first?
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What about trying 'Petal cleanse' which is meant to be very good for animal dander.
Can you get that online Penny, might give it a try ;)
I 1st got a batch from Petplanet so assume you could probably get online in others stores too. I also think you can get it from pharmacies as well
If you just google 'Petal cleanse' you'll find it
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not to do with allergies, but if your dog has an undescended testicle and the vet has adivsed nuetering, then why don't you want to have him neutered?
Off subject too i'm afraid, but Jarvis also has an undesended testicle, and my vet advised neutering, he's only 7 months so no hurry yet, but do they HAVE to be neutered? Can they just take out the dodgy one? I'd like to keep the one if it's possible to stop his fur going fluffy.
Hope someone can help.
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Hello all - the sniffly one here! Have ordered PetalCleanse so will let you know how I get on with it. Have found it much easier when we are outside so he has had lots of lovely walks this weekend when I can breath really clearly! Am also trying another type of antihistamine, with loads of open windows (brrrrr!) and much sweeping - so am attacking the problem on all fronts!
Regarding the case of the missing testicle, I really just wanted to give him up to his first birthday to allow it to descend naturally to avoid complicating the neutering surgery (the vets having to go a-hunting in his little wee body!). In an idea world, I would preferred to keep him entire, but have been advised that a rogue testicle in the wrong place might cause problems later on. It is a difficult decision to make though, as you have to weigh up the risks to his health from anaesthetics, to my responsibility as owner regarding unwanted pups, to reduce risk of theft, etc. Also, from a personal point of view I really don't want to risk any personality changes as he is just gorgeous now! So am keeping fingers crossed and should missing item appear in the next couple of months, then I will have to have a big think again!
Funny how there are some many with just one - good to know I am not alone!
xx
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Suzie, just another thought, although do speak with your Dr or pharmacist first ;) You can also buy antihistamine nasal sprays and anti histamine eye drops now, I keep meaning to try this myself but never get around to going the chemist, but its worth a try! I dont know about you but the itchy eyes is really most uncomfortable and mine tend to be at their worst at night ::)
Glad to hear your having lots of fresh air :shades:
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Suzie
Great to hear from you again. I bumped into your daughter with Humphrey on The Long Walk a few weeks ago: he has grown into a stunning little sweetie and Paddy loved him!
Only tip I'd give (a friend has an asthmatic husband and a dog) is that, instead of sweeping, you use one of those mops with the disposable covers that you dampen before use - the dampness will trap the dust/skin/hair etc instead of just redistributing it - she found it helps more even than vacuuming. Likewise she dampens her dusters before use and rinse them out regularly as she goes round the house.
Hope that helps: but if you have to evict Humphrey, I'll snaffle him for cuddles by proxy!
Denise
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not to do with allergies, but if your dog has an undescended testicle and the vet has adivsed nuetering, then why don't you want to have him neutered?
Off subject too i'm afraid, but Jarvis also has an undesended testicle, and my vet advised neutering, he's only 7 months so no hurry yet, but do they HAVE to be neutered? Can they just take out the dodgy one? I'd like to keep the one if it's possible to stop his fur going fluffy.
Hope someone can help.
I trim a blue roan dog that only had the one testicle descend. The owners had to aruge with their vets a bit and had only the retained one removed. It was worth it, his coat has never changed. ;)
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I was allergic to one of my parents' cockers Rusty with the same symptoms. Everytime I went to visit, I had the symptoms and ended up looking as if I'd been punched in my eyes. When Rusty died, I could visit without any problem and didn't have a problem with any of their other cockers.
However, Rusty could come and stay in my house for a week at a time with only a slight eye itch for the first day, even though he slept in my bedroom next to the bed. From that, I believe it is a combination of house and dog that causes the problem. My house is an old terrace, high ceilings, no double-grazing and very 'airy'. My parents' house was a recent new build, double-grazing and frankly, in my view, did not allow enough air to circulate - mound in the bathroom, mound on the double-grazing, etc.
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not to do with allergies, but if your dog has an undescended testicle and the vet has adivsed nuetering, then why don't you want to have him neutered?
Off subject too i'm afraid, but Jarvis also has an undesended testicle, and my vet advised neutering, he's only 7 months so no hurry yet, but do they HAVE to be neutered? Can they just take out the dodgy one? I'd like to keep the one if it's possible to stop his fur going fluffy.
Hope someone can help.
I trim a blue roan dog that only had the one testicle descend. The owners had to aruge with their vets a bit and had only the retained one removed. It was worth it, his coat has never changed. ;)
Thank you so much :D I didn't see any reason why the healthy one had to be removed but the vet was a snobby wotsit so i didn't ask any more.... Luckily i've changed vets now so i'll tell them i want it saved :D
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I hope you are able to manage the allergy. i think alot depends on how bad your reaction is!
I used to have a British Blue cat and I developed an allergy to him. It was awful. I developed chronic asthma and was having full on asthma attacks every day. The first time I actually thought I was going to die. :'( I tried lots of different things and struggled along for 5 1/2 years. I eventually rehomed him with my brother's partner's sister who loves him to bits. Since then I have never had to use an inhaler and have never had the onset of asthmatic symptoms.
I still have allergies to some cats and dogs (not mine or my family's thank god!) and I manage it with piriton as its not too bad. It may be worth undergoing allergy testing as a woman I know though she was allergic to her new man's dog (total deal breaker!) and it turned out she was allergic to something in the dog shampoo!
I hope you find a solution I appreciate how awful it can be