[BruceUK]

Hi all

My wife has a weird allergic reaction to Alfie, it's only on her forearms and seemingly only from when she picks him up so that his chest/tummy is on her arm. Just wondering if anyone else has seem anything like that? I thought it might be something to do with his skin or possibly sweat, as his hair doesn't seem to cause anything?

Also was wondering if it might be hormonal, and when he gets the snip in a couple of months it might change?

 

[Amaryllis]

Has he been washed? 2 years ago I developed a severe allergy to fragrances out of nowhere at the age of 34. It's possible that she's reacting to something in the shampoo that was used on him. I would wash him with a hypoallergenic shampoo and see if it continues.

 

[osdbmom]

I have a bad allergy to most dogs. Something that has helped here is keeping the dogs washed frequently, like at least once a week. Also, if she has allergies to environmental stuff outside, the dog could be bringing it in on his fur and that could be whats causing the problem. We have to be really careful with that here, as well.
There is some kind of shampoo that helps keep down dander, which might help if thats the problem.
If its a mild allergy, it could be helped with benedryl/zyrtec/claritin. Some people get relief from allergy shots (I did not) or an injection called Xolair (I did not). Good luck.

 

[Canaqua]

For a contact allergy like that, I'd think first of something you are using on the dog...shampoo, flea/tick treatments, etc... I think most dog allergies are causes by dander and/or saliva, which I think you'd find less of on the belly than on other parts. Do you use a spot on flea treatment? Those travel through the oil glands on the skin to cover the whole dog...belly would be where you'd get direct skin to skin contact.

 

[Canaqua]

Oh, or, what about fleas themselves? When our puppy had fleas I found them mostly on her belly and around her face.

 

[BruceUK]

We've only had him for 5 weeks and he hasn't been washed yet. We did give him a dose of Frontline about 2 weeks ago but actually the reason we did that was because she had a set of bite-like marks on her arm and we thought he had fleas, so it can't be that. He can lick her anywhere (legal!) and there's no reaction, so saliva wouldn't seem likely, what is dander? Doggy dandruff?

She does get hayfever in the summer so we're trying Claritin. Guess it could be the outdoors coming inside!