Welcome, Guest
Username:
Password:

Please login to add/view friends online.


Quick Dog Breed Selector:
Quick Traffic Stats:
Visitors Online: 2,043
Today's Visits: 82,180
Yesterday's Visits: 100,730

Discussion Forums

Collapse Quick Menu

Message Central

Unread[0]
Inbox[0]
Trash[0]

Who's Online

1smokster, englshcremegoldens, kwillkes, porcie

Should We Move???
Severe Allergies
Found [18] Posts :: Page 1 of 1
<< Return to Dog Medical Questions Topics
maltipoomama
Posted: 9:13:28 AM 3/1/2008
My dog has just been diagnosed with severe atopy. She is allergic to everything.....grasses, trees, plants, pollens, dust, mold...etc. I live near Tampa, FL and the vet told me this is one of the worst places to live for dogs with this condition. We are starting her on vaccines combined with an antihistamine and fish oil. But it could take up to a year for her to have any relief.

Is there any place....maybe near the ocean....that will be better for her allergies? Please help us. I don't want her to go through life in a bubble.
agentcooper
Posted: 11:15:33 AM 3/1/2008
My guess would be that a colder environment or an arid one would be less apt to cause such bad allergies...but i don't know for sure. I think that's how it works with people though.
Indifference turns clarity into denial. ~Quan Tracy Cherry
Minniyar
Posted: 11:25:36 AM 3/1/2008
Yeah I'd think moving to some place like Arizona would help more than moving near the ocean. Most places near the ocean tend to have a lot of plant and animal life.
Never trust a tall dwarf... he's lying about something.
maltipoomama
Posted: 11:56:56 AM 3/1/2008
What about Arizona vegetation such as grasses, sagebrush
ragweeds, mesquite, etc. Wouldn't she be allergic to these as well?
agentcooper
Posted: 12:08:36 PM 3/1/2008
possibly- i'd go colder if her allergies are to most plant life.
Indifference turns clarity into denial. ~Quan Tracy Cherry
kdubbs27
Posted: 4:45:50 PM 3/1/2008
I can't think of a place on earth without dust, pollen, and plant life.
I live in Utah, and we usually don't have a mold problem, being that it is arid here..... but, people here have horrible allergies to the ragweed and all sorts of trees... I suppose you could try the arid desert, if that's where you would want to live. But they have dust.
I don't know that you can avoid it.
"Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else."
Posted: 6:16:40 PM 3/1/2008
Are you seriously contemplating uprooting your family, changing jobs, leaving most of your friends and family behind and basically rearranging your life over a dog?
Subtlety is the art of saying what you think and getting out of the way before it is understood.
maltipoomama
Posted: 6:29:05 PM 3/1/2008
Both of us are retired. Our family is in Maryland and Virginia, a long way from Florida. So, basically, we don't have anything to really hold us here. Besides that, after being here for 6 years, I still can't get used to the long, hot, humid summers here. They say you get used to it, but not me!
kdubbs27
Posted: 11:27:42 PM 3/3/2008
Then, use the dog as an excuse, and make your husband move wherever YOU want! ;)
I didn't mean to be pessimistic in my above response..... You might get SOME results from this.... it's just hard for me to think that those results would be what you want after moving across the country. You know? If you move and the dog isn't any better... then you are far away and have the same problem (not to mention have to find a new vet!)
Good luck!
"Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else."
agentcooper
Posted: 10:54:20 AM 3/4/2008
What is the weather like in Maryland? I've never been. Everyone is right about there not being a way to completely irradicate the outdoor allergies- because unless you move to a glacier there will be plants! but i think it's really awesome that you are willing to do something like this to ease your dog's discomfort. Maybe just a change of scenery would be good for you all? Maybe it's a combo of humidity plus those plants in Florida that are making it tough on your puppy? Just be prepared for the allergies to not necessarily improve if you move and make sure it is a place you would enjoy yourself!! Good luck!
Indifference turns clarity into denial. ~Quan Tracy Cherry
MaxandAllie
Posted: 11:49:41 AM 3/4/2008
I just wanted to comment on how great it is to hear that you would consider moving to help your dog's health. So many people put their pets needs last and it's refreshing to hear that you are taking it this seriously. Just yesterday I found a little dog named Tippy on Petfinder.com who needs a home because her owners decided to get new floors. What?!? I can't believe people would be that selfish. It broke my heart. I wish all people took their responsibility to their pets as seriously as you.
http://www.catster.com/cats/614585

http://www.catster.com/cats/
maltipoomama
Posted: 2:36:21 PM 3/4/2008
Thank you all so much for your encouraging words. One thing I was thinking about trying first. We can drive across the state to the Daytona Beach area for a mini-vacation and see how Ellee does with salt water and breezes from the ocean. I know that short of putting her in a bubble, every place will have some type of allergen and it's impossible to eliminate all plant life, but I'm most certainly not ready to move to northern Alaska! lol
It's great to have your support!
tatersmom
Posted: 3:36:43 PM 3/4/2008
If moving would actually help then it might be something to look into but to go through the stress of moving to find out that they also have mold, dust and pollen and still causes allergies after all that would be very disappointing to say the least. If she is a house dog I would look into air purifiers and dehumidifiers and other products designed to better the air quality in your home. If she absolutley cannot go outside then look into wee wee pads if it bothers her that much. Here in Missouri we have all sorts of allergy stuff and I have terrible allergies, I take several different medications and sounds like other posters are saying the same thing. The only place that is arid and has no vegitation is the north pole and antartica and I doubt you want to move there.
Puttin510
Posted: 2:23:07 PM 3/5/2008
I would do a little traveling with your dog and see which states she does good in. Instead of just moving and hoping it works.
Whoever said you can't buy happiness, must have never owned a dog!!!!!!!!!!!


maltipoomama
Posted: 5:09:04 PM 3/5/2008
Yes, that's why I want to take a little trip to Daytona Beach to see how she does by the ocean. I'd never just pick up and move somewhere without first taking Ellee to stay there for a while to see how she reacts at a different location.
Posted: 2:26:04 AM 3/6/2008
In case you don’t know, it can take time to develop an allergy. Depending on the allergen, first exposure usually does nothing. However, with each subsequent exposure, it can get worse and worse. Also, a seasonal allergy could take a year or two to manifest itself. So a short stay won’t do you any good.
Subtlety is the art of saying what you think and getting out of the way before it is understood.
gbroxon
Posted: 11:05:58 AM 3/6/2008
Even if she has to go through life in a "bubble," as you put it. She'll at least have you in the bubble with her.

It's very commendable that you are even considering moving to another type of climate because of her allergies, but chances are, wherever you move, she's going to develop other allergies. It sounds like her immune system is compromised in some way, and she's going to develop allergies in some form or another over her entire lifetime.

If I were you, I'd stay put (unless your family really wants to get out of Florida) and deal with her allergies where you are. From what I've read, atopy is best dealt with by hyposensitization therapy in combination with glutocorticoids.

I'd stay put, put her on a grain-free diet supplemented with salmon oil, start her on hyposensitization treatment and use a glutocorticoid for bad flare-ups--steroids can be safely used for short periods of time. I'd also make sure her rewards/treats/bribes were grain-free and made with the same kind of meat her daily food is.

I'd also, rather than vaccinate yearly, titer her levels. If the levels are good, don't have her vaccinated (unless required by law--like rabies, for instance).

Good luck and best wishes whatever your decision is.
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/100690
maltipoomama
Posted: 3:20:12 PM 3/6/2008
gbroxon, Thank you for your valuable suggestions. We have already started her on a high quality fish oil supplement and her food is grain free. Since we've just started the allergy shots, only time will tell how effective they will be for her. Keep our fingers crossed for a good outcome!
<< Return to Dog Medical Questions Topics
 
Found [18] Posts :: Page 1 of 1
FIDO
BoneHeartCircleHydrant
Order Pet Tag
© Copyright 2003-2013 TerrificPets.com (an OffLeashMedia Company)

Dogs
 
Horses Cats