February 28, 2012
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Hives–Help
So, I’m house sitting for my mother and the fam while they are in Florida this week. I have to take care of the two cats and my sister’s new puppy. I knew that I was allergic to cats, but only if I pet them, then touch my eye and get dander in my eye. Then my eye itches and itches and the more I rub it the more it itches and it gets all red, and finally starts to feel better once I’ve rubbed all my makeup off and rinsed my eyes with lots of cold water.
I have never had an allergic reaction to dogs, until now. I don’t know what it is, but I’m pretty sure my sister’s puppy was taken from its mother way too soon. He has severe separation anxiety and almost always has to be on you. He jumps up and licks your face. Also, I have to pretty much force him to eat and drink. I have to shake the little food dish and place it under his nose, or else he won’t eat. The same thing with drinking.
Anyway, since he’s constantly jumping up to my face (obviously, while I am sitting down…), I’ve developed a case of hives on my chin, under my chin, and on the lower parts of my cheek. The parts of my face are currently burning, and I know the skin is red without even looking. Under my chin itches. Then, since I was only wearing a cami the first couple of days before I realized I was allergic, when he was jumping up to my face his claws were scratching my upper chest. So then my upper chest was itching.
I don’t know what to do, and I feel bad leaving him in his little kennel most of the time (well, he also scares the cats). But I just can’t handle him, because he’s so rambunctious in his constant need of attention. And, he’s just so cute. Does anyone know of any over-the-counter allergy meds that can help with this new found allergy of mine to dogs? Preferably one that’s non-drowsy???
Comments (14)
I think Benadryl might be your best bet, although it makes a lotta people kinda sleepy.
ahh sorry! I used to get hives sometimes with my dog. Also have they been recently flea treated? You can get hives if you have a bad allergic reaction to fleas sometimes. Benadryl would be the best but it’s drowsy unfortunately. When my skin was acting up and reacting to animals, grass, etc I noticed if I wore long sleeves and kept it protected that I didn’t get the reactions. Maybe try a sweater? :S
People can develop allergies later on in life. You could speak to your doctor about it and get tested to see what you’re alergi to exactly.
What about that Calamine lotion? As a kid, they sponged that on me after I decided to play in some poison ivy….
Geez, that sucks. I know what you mean, though. I too, am allergic to cats. Soooooo…
We have guinea piggies and the hay they eat causes me to have these incredibly severe allergy attacks. Like, to the point where my tear ducts become enlarged and it looks like I”m a high pirate (because one of my eyes is nearly shut).
So pretty much whenever I hold the piggies, I have a reaction. They’re mostly mild, but it just depends on. Oatmeal does this thing where she HAS to be up against my neck. I try to set her on my stomach, but she just practically leaps up there…..and I don’t have the heart to move her away.
So, I just usually hop in the shower to get the dander and hay off me, use my neti pot to unclog my sinuses, take some benadryl and ibuprofen, and then use some artificial tears for my eyes.
So, that’s MY own regiment. I’m pretty sure if I were tested, like legit, that I’d have an epi pen. If I stay in my clothes too long after holding them or if I clean their cage and don’t get a shower near immediately afterward, my throat will start to close up, soooooo yeah.
But, I don’t care. I LOVE THEM!
You should wear a ski mask.
Try hydrocortisone cream. That stuff works really well when I get hives.
Absolutely – Benadryl. My children both have severe pet allergies and on the few occasions that they’ve come in cotact with a dog the reaction was immediate and severe. Washing the part of your body the animal touched and then taking Benadryl works very quickly to get rid of hives and the other associated symptoms. It will knock you on your butt, though. You’ll be very sleepy.
@Xbeautifully_broken_downX - That’s how I feel about my little rodent friends too. I do enjoy the company of a good rodent. Sadly, my childrens’ allergies have kept me separated from squeakers for a long time but I’m hopeful that they’ll develop a little immunity as they grow older and we’ll be able to have some hamsters. Perhaps a nice rat or two.
@roscoes_farm - @ShimmerBodyCream - @ZombieMom_Speaks - @Xbeautifully_broken_downX - @ladywolf_aq - Thanks everyone, I ended up making a 2AM trip to Walmart (thank god they’re open 24 hours!!) and got some Benadryl. Just woke up and I’m fine!! I’ll just have to let the puppy run around her room and I’ll have to have limited contact with him
@UnconventionalButterfly - Nope, I can’t go to the doctor unless I’m dying…I have no insurance. I don’t want to pay huge bills for something so minor. And I know it’s the puppy, unfortunately… I love puppies!
@Kellsbella - Ouch! Thankfully I’ve never had poison ivy!
@Thatslifekid - Haha I don’t have one!
@ZombieMom_Speaks - We had a hamster before, and she died within a year and half. We just couldn’t go through hamsters that quickly, so we decided to get guinea piggies because they live a good long while.
Pictures, because these are my babies, of course!! HAHA
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/23639_511457274464_110300624_30309372_3525266_n.jpg
That is Oatmeal and Sugar. Oatmeal is the tan colored one, the white one is Sugar.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/223783_526239720324_110300624_30456694_4535598_n.jpg
And this is Punkin! Haha. Can you tell why she’s named that?
Yeah. Anyway. Love the little rodents! I hope you can get some soon!!!
@crazy2love - Glad you are feeling better! Benadryl makes me sleepy, but it works!!!
benadryl and calamine
Claritin (generic: loratidine) is a good anti-histamine. It’s good for seasonal allergies and hives. Its effects probably won’t be as immediate as Benadryl, but it is non-drowsy. Not sure how it would work with pet allergies, but I was getting random hives for a while and the loratidine really helped. It’s one 10 mg tablet taken once daily. I wouldn’t take it with Benadryl though or with alcohol due to increased adverse effects (mainly CNS depression).
Hope you feel better.