ALLERGY to dogs- treat environment, treat dog

treat the environment : always clean 

Dogs shed/moult or drop fur. Moulting is seasonal. Whereas they drop fur simply by scratching themselves or by playing with humans. When we comb our hair, some strands drop off mechanically. Likewise with dogs. Even poodles or mixed poodles drop fur naturally.Theirs come off in 'balls' because their fur is curly, and is easier to pick up by hand. Unlike straight haired breeds which come off strand by strand and spread around and have to be brushed or vacuumed off. There are many brushes that are specially designed for furs such as these breeds, some are sponges that pick up the furs easily.

 Gadgets for cleaning: I like the Scotch brand roller adhesives. Just peel off and roll over the area and the adhesives do the job faster than a mechanical brush. Great for cars which have synthetic fabric coverings that are not anti-static. Faux leathers are best as the fur does not stick to it. 100% cotton removal coverings are also good. Don't use the synthetic types. 

Chemicals that prevent allergy can be bought at pet shops or at Supermarkets.  

 Vacuum/mop floors and surroundings. Fur can be spotted all over the house and furniture. Don't give it a chance to do so. Clean regularly. Clean the air using  vacuum suction power as well. This really helps. Mopping prevents the allergens swirling around. Hepa filters in vacuum cleaners are a great help. Water based vacuums are also good. If all these are far too expensive, just mop daily. 

simple solution : vacuum/mop floors and surroundings regularly, preferably daily.

treat the dog : keep it clean daily

The other thing is: ever saw how the fur of a poodle/poodle mix is like? It's like sheep's wool. Right ! - like the sheep's wool duster they sell...It can trap allergens.

Bathe the dog weekly. And shower/rinse with just only water midweek.This will prevent the skin drying and provides a moisturizing action. Researchers have found that doing a midweek wash reduces allergens by as much as 80% !  If the weather is cold, or you have no time, just wipe the fellow with a damp cloth, rinsed a few times times to get the allergens off. Do that reversing by the fur and cleaning the skin. Takes just 10 mins. You can wipe the dog as many times as you like. The damp cloth prevents the allergen from being airborne. 

Vacuum your dog ! Use a low speed so as not to scare the poor animal.  Some dogs love to be vacuumed though.. Then wipe all over with a damp cloth, rinsed several times to get the allergens off the dog. Takes just 10 minutes. 

Chemicals: there are chemicals that you use to spray on the dog that claim to be anti-allergic. 

simple solution: vacuum/wipe the dog. Do a midweek shower/rinse/wipe. 

ALLERGY to dogs

-   BONE   TO   CHEW   ON  -  !

Simple solutions for Allergy    - Part 1

Two things to consider are 1. Discipline and 2. Cleanliness. 

 They are to be habitual if you want to keep your dog and are allergic to dogs.  

Allergens are 1. from the dog  2. picked up from the environment from the dog 

The dog's fur is not necessarily allergenic. It's the tiny skin flakes that slough off when the dog scratches. The dog's fur is like a feather duster or the sheep's wool duster. And a normal dog that sheds will also have fur all over the place which traps dust too. Most dogs moult seasonally. Poodles do not. Thus President Obama's household have considered dogs with little or no shedding/moulting such as mixed poodle breeds.  However, such dogs still may harbour allergens by nature/texture of their fur and their skin, though very much less.

Main point to consider is HABITUAL CLEANLINESS  to get rid of possible allergens-constantly. 

THE THREE STEPS:- 

1. treat your own allergy

2. treat the environment

3. treat the dog

1. treat your own allergy

1.1 with medication. This is ongoing or incidental. Ongoing is something you yourself know and stock up on the right medication periodically. Incidental is when you happen to play/meet the dog and are not guarded against allergy. If you know, then before engaging the dog, one should be medicated against possible allergy. Needless to say,on getting an allergic reaction, one should take medication straightaway if possible or try an instant short term 'cure' described in the next section if you do not have any on hand. Contact allergies are skin prone allergies so a moisture barrier may help. However, always consult your doctor in the long run on the most effective medication. 

Simple solution: On all occasions, keep the medication on hand. For new owners, always make sure you get the right medication that suits you. Not all medication is effective.  I find the latest nose sprays with a little steroid content the most immediate and effective so far. 

1.2 without medication. This is a tried and tested solution that I have gone through  and wish to share.  It's so simple. The nose and the mouth are the first line of defense for airborne allergens. 

Short term cure: -When you can feel your nose getting stuffy, straightaway exhale/snort out strongly through the nose to clear it. You can do this several times when with the dog. Blow nose strongly to dislodge the allergens.  Immediately you can feel the relief. If done initially ,there should be no mucus. Just light particle allergens.

If the nose is really blocked and breathing is obstructed, go the tap and snuff up the water through each nostril  and strongly blow out , alternate by pressing each nostril. This is called nose irrigation. Warm water helps take away the sting. If you're a swimmer, that should be no problem . Steaming also helps but it's not so handy, immediate and convenient.

Alternatively, you can use a spray with saline solution similar to those used for contact lenses. The saline solution takes away the sting. A simple salt solution also helps. Repeated irrigation is required. Always blow it out. Carry a small spray bottle with you when you next play with the dog. 

Check out this website: allergies.about.com/od/noseandsinusallergies

Using tissue also helps but it may trap the allergens which may lodge in the clean tissue. 

Using a Xylitol solution helps keep bacteria away. Xylitol is a natural alternative sugar substitute that does not support bacteria. But caution - do not feed it to dogs. It's poisonous to dogs. 1/4 tsp Xylitol with 1/2 cup water is sufficient to irrigate the nose. It kept my sinuses clear from bacteria infection . Xylitol is available at Health Shops.

 Gargle !  Because we tend to breathe through our mouths and  the allergens get into it and into our airways. For some, the eyes also water and get red. Eye drops help of course. 

Long term cure :-My doctor recommended this nose irrigation to me as I am an asthmatic. This has to be repeated about 5 times a day for about 3 months before one can reduce it to twice a day, and as and when necessary. I have gone through the 3 months trial period and this has reduced my asthma medication by more than half. Note that I am a mild asthmatic. For those who are bad asthmatics, it's best to consult your doctor. Presently the medication I am taking is Pulmicort, one puff morning and one before I sleep. 

PS: my dogs sleep with me.....!

Simple solution: wash your nose and gargle your mouth during and after contact with the dog. Use eye drops if your eyes are affected. Use a cheap mask if you are really a bad asthmatic. Dogs don't mind !!   

Part 2 - treat the environment , treat the dog ....see next blog

YOUNG TWEDDY, bone to chew on- latest news..

----Feb 1999 ----  when Tweddy first joined us -!

    I am      ... TWEDDY ? ?    Oh dear  WHO are YOU !!   This is SCARY...WHERE am I ?   HeeeELLLPPP !!!  wanna go HOME !!!!!

  - Bone to CHEW on -  

  News,

 News,       News !! 

We had Tweddy vaccinated and thoroughly checked up because he was adopted. BUT - !  news!  latest February 10, 2009  according to a report in the Straits Times, Singapore, by Yeo Sam Jo at yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

puppies just purchased at pet farms have been hit by sudden death. It seems that unscrupulous pet farms have been selling puppies inadequately vaccinated to innocent purchasers.  How very, very heart breaking for the new owners! Check this out and know more to protect yourselves ... 'Pet Shopping Tips' are given in this article too. VERY good tips. 

Responsible adoption requires that one sends the dog to the nearest Vet. Or if you have a tight budget , the SPCA will allow a check-up at reasonable cost. Better still !  Adopt your dog directly from SPCA at www.spca.org.sg  and you'll be sure they are blessed indeed!  

Check on pet shops and licensing at www.ava.gov.sg as well. Don't just buy on impulse. Save yourself a heartbreak ..!  and save money !! 

 

TWEDDY-THE GUIDE DOG

      All three doggies became friends already ! 

The oldest is a blind golden Lhasa Apso, named Tuffy, about 12- 13 years old. Given to us.

 

Another, a pedigree Silky Terrier was found by a neighbour wondering in Chinatown. It must have been wondering a long time because it did'nt look like a dog! More like an overgrown RAT ! My good neighbour gave it a scrub and discovered that the claws were overgrown and all curled up! Poor thing ! It did'nt get along with her cat straightaway, naturally, with that ratty look , and so,was given to us. At the SPCA, the vet said that it was a blind female silky terrier - but her ribs protruded out so much, fur so mangled, she did'nt look the least bit like one!! But that's another story ! Her name was Tootsie. 

Tweddy, now one of a threesome, was given another name ' Trini' by our friend, Pastor Goh Yong Kuang , short for Trinity. Tuffy, Tootsie and Tweddy alias Trini. 

God blessed the other two dogs as well - because -

  Tweddy, became guide dog to the  2 blind dogs !

What a helpful Friend they had! And One above who oversees them! 

  -  BONES  TO  CHEW  ON  -

UNWANTED DOGS - See latest article on them entitled ' Changes of Heart' by Cathy Free and how they have transformed young troubled teens on the Reader's Digest February issue 2009. 

Read also in the Bible, 2 Sam 12:1-9, how a pet convicted a King of his evil. 

CAN TWEDDY ADAPT?

So Tweddy joined us....!

For me - I just trusted that if he was chosen for us, God would solve any problems regarding adoption. Especially if there were two other dogs to get along with. Friends voiced fears. Fears that he would not get along and fight with the resident dogs. Fears that he would not adapt to them, and to apartment living. Fears of him carrying diseases, of being insecure and probably vicious. How would we know?

First things first ! We brought him to a vet to check on his health and for vaccinations, and anything else needed. At least he did'nt resist that. Did'nt bite nor display too much insecurity although he seemed a bit wary. We were told he was under 2 years old by checking his teeth. The vet was particularly pleased we adopted him as we were told that there were many abandoned dogs. It was just after Chinese New Year. SPCA reported about 2,000 dogs abandoned because people who moved especially from landed property into apartments did not know how to take care of dogs in apartments. So they simply abandoned them in parks. Even pedigreed dogs, usually more than 2 years old. Also, some families had children who had 'outgrown' their pets and had no time to take care of them; no time to walk them. It was a sad situation that animal shelters and the Government Department, the AVA, try very hard to avert. At least people in Singapore do not eat dogs! But many are put to sleep because the shelters are full. The value of a pet had just been only entertainment.

Tweddy showed no fear of the other two dogs. Perhaps because they were also once abandoned dogs and could understand and commiserate with each other! They just sniffed each other out. No growling, no territorial protective behavior, just curiosity. They even shared their food ! So in the first week, he was peaceful, and curious. In fact he would leap into my lap and fall asleep. Maybe he was just young and tired. But would he fit in? The other two were much older. In fact they were about 8 and 12 years old - and both blind.

I remember that I had long wanted a dog who would sit on my lap quietly and had found none so far. Tweddy on the other hand, loved to sleep on my lap!

Now I know, Tweddy was indeed well chosen .
...... A true gift indeed, from a loving God.

A GIFT FROM ABOVE-FEB UPDATE !! -

I was bathing our two blind dogs in the bath tub when I wearied about their blindness and just talked to God. 'Can I have a sighted one instead?' . You see,none of our dogs were bought, they were all adopted, given to us without our asking. I was'nt tired of the two of them..just wanted a dog who could look into my face , eyeball to eyeball !! And I heard, yes distinctly heard ! 'Sure, what breed?' . thinking about my neighbour's friendly Poodle and the smart Schnauzer at the dog trainer- PATRICK WONG at www.waggie.com.sg, I said I did'nt mind either...and left it at that...adding, 'You know best!' Many months passed, and one day, my colleague at work asked if I wanted a dog. Her maid had just rescued a little grey/white dog and there was no place for it at her home. This time I heard ' Take it, and call it Tweddy' . I shuddered and looked around...but no one was near me! God? .. Well, we took the little chap in,advertised for the owner but no one called in with the correct description. I guess then, it was meant for us. So we named him 'Tweddy' . But we could'nt identify the breed. It looked like a Poodle or a Schnauzer. Till our cousin, a Dog Show Judge confirmed that it was both-a Schnoodle.! And I then remembered the conversation with God. He knew best ! and gave us a two-in-one !! What a great sense of humour and love !