I am allergic to my new dog

I just adopted a really cute chihuahua/mini pinscher mix. He is the sweetest little boy.
I got him on Saturday, but he was really scared, so I wasn't able to play with him too much.
On Sunday morning, he was walking around the apt, sniffing and checking it out. He started to play with me and FI.
Sunday night, my eyes started itching and got really swollen.
I didn't go to work on Monday (I looked terrible and I wanted to play with him).
My eyes went back to normal during the day, but were swollen again on Monday night and the same thing happened on Tuesday night.

The allergies aren't TERRIBLE. Just my eyes are really itchy and swollen. It is annoying while it happens, but once it goes away, I am fine.

I am so sad, because I was never allergic to dogs before. I had them all my life. I moved to Los Angeles with FI in July and I have been trying to find a dog for a while. I was so happy when I found Spike and now I am sad that I will have to give him away.
I am debating whether I should give Spike away right away or wait for a couple of weeks and hope the allergies disappear.

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

I would talk to a doctor first and see what my options are. It's got to be a painful decision to make. Good Luck... I know I am allergic to my cats, it developed over 9 years of having my first cat. Now I am even allergic to my kittens. My skin itches if I hold them too long and if I kiss them my lips swell slightly and burn.... but I can't help it their so cute. I don't think I could give them up though.

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE HIM AWAY!!

Please, go talk to your vet and your doctor. There are plenty of alternatives to giving an animal away. He has just begun to trust you, please don't pass him to another until you try everything you can.

I'm 'allergic' to cats. I have 4 in my house right now! (2 fosters and my own 2)

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

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Posted by julybride44

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE HIM AWAY!!

Please, go talk to your vet and your doctor. There are plenty of alternatives to giving an animal away. He has just begun to trust you, please don't pass him to another until you try everything you can.

I'm 'allergic' to cats. I have 4 in my house right now! (2 fosters and my own 2)

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I agree, there are pills for animal allergies, don't give him away !!!!

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

Invest in a hepa filter and something called Hugs and Kisses for dogs. It is fantastic.

You purchase it from this website:

hugs and kisses

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

you have fm

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

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Posted by m&m2005

I would talk to a doctor first and see what my options are. It's got to be a painful decision to make. Good Luck... I know I am allergic to my cats, it developed over 9 years of having my first cat. Now I am even allergic to my kittens. My skin itches if I hold them too long and if I kiss them my lips swell slightly and burn.... but I can't help it their so cute. I don't think I could give them up though.

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Interesting! The same thing happened with me & cats ... we had a cat growing up and all of the sudden after about 8 years, I started getting the same symptons and now sometimes can't even be in a house with cats without it happening (yet other times it's fine). I always thought I was odd!!

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

aw...i feel so bad for you. i have allergies also it really stinks when u find something so cute and cuddley.

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

Do you take claritin Everyday? That might make a huge difference!

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for your responses and FMs.
It is my second week with Spike and my allergies have almost disappeared. It looks like I am allergic to his saliva, so I just can't have him lick me.

Anyway...I am so happy that things got better. I am taking him this week to get him fixed, so I am sure he won't try to kiss me for a while.

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

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Posted by wc0143

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Posted by m&m2005

I would talk to a doctor first and see what my options are. It's got to be a painful decision to make. Good Luck... I know I am allergic to my cats, it developed over 9 years of having my first cat. Now I am even allergic to my kittens. My skin itches if I hold them too long and if I kiss them my lips swell slightly and burn.... but I can't help it their so cute. I don't think I could give them up though.

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Interesting! The same thing happened with me & cats ... we had a cat growing up and all of the sudden after about 8 years, I started getting the same symptons and now sometimes can't even be in a house with cats without it happening (yet other times it's fine). I always thought I was odd!!

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It really stinks when you give your baby a kiss and hug and walk away with red itchy skin but its so worth it. I am starting to feel it more and more with the kittens but the effects wear off faster too. I have found that if i bathe Tigger (my older cat) at least once every 3 months then its not too bad. I noticed she gets a lot of dander especially during the summer when she bakes in the sunlight so that might be my problem.

Re: I am allergic to my new dog

Thank goodness, you found a solution, if you had given him away, you would never be able to sleep at night.

Good Luck with your new addition to the family...