Allergic to Dogs

If not for modern medicine, I would probably not be alive today. Even as a toddler, I struggled for breath if exposed to newly mown grass. That's saying a lot for being born in 1951. Beyond that, I grew to dread Spring with all the new blooms, and even more-so Fall, with fallen leaves and mold spores galore. A hayride - wonderful frivolity for most - was torture for me. My life was a series of allergy treatments that did not prevent long bouts of bronchitis in cold weather. I took pills and injections and any natural remedy that promised relief. Chiropractic, acupuncture, supplements - I tried everything with limited success.

When I had a family of my own, we did eventually have dogs. If I took my medication, kept a fairly "hands off" policy and did not allow the animals into my bedroom, I was able to tolerate my children having pets. No cats, of course - that was out of the question. And we did have to get rid of the birds, much to my son's dismay. It seems that birds do flap their little wings, sending dander through the environment, and that could not be isolated so well. The birds had to - and did - go.

Eventually my family was grown and the animals were gone. I had a number of relatively allergy-free years. I had also moved to a house with hardwood floors and I installed minimal window treatments, so there wasn't much to catch all the dirt and dust. Gradually I weaned off all allergy medications and I led a pretty normal (when it comes to allergies) life. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.....

About a year ago, I began to muse about getting a small lap dog. I read that dogs are very healthful for their owners. Dog owners experience lower blood pressure and mortality rates and benefit from the experience of "touch" if they are single and do not have a human companion. Dog owners who have a pet to nurture and care for actually live longer because they have an elemental need to care for that pet. And who doesn't appreciate the mindset of a dog? He greets your return from work like you have just invented the wheel and he never turns down an excuse for a walk. Think about that. If you ask your friend to take a walk with you every day, the friend will eventually say "I'm tired today. Why don't you go on without me." And you do. But the dog? Every day the dog thinks you are such a genius for thinking of taking a walk again! He thinks: "a walk? Of course!!! That's the best idea I've heard all day!! Please, please take me with you!!!"

Who cannot love that attitude?

And so, I began the search for My Very Own Dog. I decided that it had to be one of the lesser allergic breeds. There is no such thing as a "non-allergenic" dog, but I wanted to try to stack the deck in my favor. I began to look for a Poodle or Bichon or Maltese or mix of those breeds. My preference was for a Bichon and first stop was the local humane society. That was a disaster. They didn't have any of the breeds I was looking for, although they probably do have them from time to time. The problem was that I was overcome with sadness at the look of all the abandoned dogs. I do not regularly deal with that issue and merely walking through the aisles of caged animals up for adoption brought me to tears. Just in my county, 30 dogs per week come through the humane system and I did not have the heart to ask what the odds are that any will find a home. I left knowing I could not return to look again, but I decided that I would definitely make a rescue.

I got on line and quickly found rescue dogs in my area of the breeds I was targeting. I filled out an application and made an appointment to meet Oscar, a Bichon-Poodle mix. Wisely, the rescue group brought three dogs for me to see, based on my preferences. I was surprised by this, but immediately upon opening the gate, I was greeted by "Snow" a purebred mini-poodle who was 4 years old and had been taken out of a local puppy mill. Snow demanded my attention, but did step aside when I approached Oscar, the little guy I had come to see. I picked up Oscar and held him on my lap. He was so stiff and uncomfortable! It was almost like he was saying "can I get down now???" I put him down and watched the dogs play. Immediately, Snow came over to check me out. He jumped into my lap and buried his head in my elbow. I petted him for a few minutes and when I stopped, he raised his head and looked at me with pure adoration. I was totally startled by this. I have never considered myself a "dog person". I always enjoyed the pets my family had, but I sometimes wondered if I liked the IDEA of a dog better than the true reality of having a dog. Suddenly, my heart strings were being tugged by this 13 pound poodle I'd only known for twenty minutes. How could that be???

I put Snow down and called Oscar over to me again. Oscar approached reluctantly and sat stiffly on my lap. I felt no connection to him and put him back down. Then, of course, Snow lept back into my arms and turned on the charm. What was this? I wasn't looking for a poodle. And I had wanted a dog under ten pounds, so he was a bit large for what I wanted. But here he was, looking at me like I was his salvation, and I looked back at him wondering if he was mine. The rescue ladies exchanged glances and Melody asked me, "what do you think?"

I could only reply: "I think I like this one."

Everyone grinned out loud.

I felt a bit disconnected as we discussed the arrangements. Snow was to be neutered in two more weeks and wasn't available until then. That was fine with me as I had not prepared my home for a dog. I hadn't bought any supplies since I wasn't sure I would actually come home with a pet. We agreed on a pickup date and I stood at the fence and watched Snow run and play for some minutes before I left. Was I really going to adopt this dog? He was oddly regal in his carriage. He was beautifully pure looking as he was snow-white. I felt a strange connection that I had never felt to an animal before. That could only mean one thing - it was time to go shopping!!

I spent the next two weeks getting ready. I bought two dog beds and several towels to go with my decor - the towels would let the dog be on the furniture but be washable. I also got toys, organic food, grooming supplies and a doggie car seat! I checked out every library book of interest from two local libraries and bought several more highly rated books from Amazon.com. I posted a notice at work with the dog's picture and asked for donations for the rescue group - honestly, they invest more in these rescue dogs than they get back and I wanted to help. Finally, the day arrived to go pick up Snow.

I wanted my grandchildren to go with me to pick up Snow, so my daughter and her family took me to the meeting place for picking up Snow. I signed all the adoption papers and gave Melody the usual fee plus the extra $100 I had been able to collect. She was very pleased. Snow followed us out to the car as though he was expecting us all along. On the way home we brainstormed for a new name for him. I had planned to name him "Jaxon" but it just didn't seem to fit. We all liked the name Beaux (french spelling) and he took right to it. That was the beginning of an easy transition.

Beaux was an adult dog, but I wasn't completely sure of his house-training. I tethered him when I couldn't watch him, but within days he had the run of the house when I was home. In just a couple weeks he had the run of the house while I was at work. I had taken him out a lot and we had gone for many walks and he was completely trustworthy. He never had a single accident in my house. In fact, when I would come home for lunch, I would see him looking out the front window as though he was waiting for me. Such a good little watchdog!

Every day, Beaux and I worked on his obedience commands and playing with toys. At first he didn't play with toys because I don't think he ever had any before. Soon, he would run for his toys when I'd come home and he loved to work on commands. In just a few weeks he would Sit, Lie Down, Stay, Shake, Paw (shake with the left) and Patty cake (stand on his hind legs and pat my hands with his front paws). I brushed him each day to keep hair loss minimal, and twice I bathed him with my own shampoo. He stood perfectly still while I blow-dried his hair and brushed out his gorgeous hair. His nails had been allowed to get much too long, but I planned to have either the vet or groomer get those under control.

Twice, I took Beaux out of town for weekend visits. He was perfectly welcome as he was perfectly behaved. He was my childhood dream of a dog. You remember - when you were a kid you dreamed of a dog that would love you best and even drag you from a burning building if that were called for? This was Beaux. He could not be enticed away from me and although I would not say it out loud, I was secretly pleased. He loved me best and spurned all others. At last! The unconditional love I had waited for all my life. All I had to do was look into Beaux's black, black eyes to see that we were meant for each other....

Alas, the allergies began. I never suspected Beaux. I had had a rash on my arms for weeks that would come and go with no evident provocation. I thought that it must be from a supplement or medication I was taking since it seemed systemic and from something ingested. I had tested out the dog on my first visit and there had been no symptoms. No itchy eyes or runny nose or typical reactions. All was going well with the dog, but the reactions were getting worse. The rashes progressed to hives. Finally it was hives and shortness of breath. I left work one day and drove straight to the doctor's office. I was seen immediately and given a steroid injection, a steroid dose pack, a prescription antihistamine and an inhaler. I told the doc that I suspected my iron supplement and was told not to take it anymore.

Despite the strong medications, two days later I broke out again. When the breathing difficulty began, I took myself to the local ER for treatment. I was given oxygen until stabilized and prescribed an "epipen", an emergency syringe of epinephrine to self-inject to aid in breathing until help arrived. This was getting scary.

The next morning, Beaux licked my neck in the early morning when we woke up for the day. As I got myself ready for work, that place on my neck progressed into hives. I kept staring at it in the mirror in disbelief. "Oh, no, " I thought, "it cannot be the dog!!" But the reaction got worse and it turned out - yes - to be the dog. I was totally surprised and distressed. How could this be??

I had gone on to work and had to be taken back home by a workmate. My daughter joined me and together, we cleaned the house and did every piece of laundry there was. This took many, many hours. Meanwhile, my son Brad came over and collected the dog to take home with him and his wife. They agreed to keep Beaux until we could isolate the problem. That didn't take long. After two days, I went over to visit Beaux and let him lick me at will. For hours afterward I had severe skin reactions on my neck and face. The hives turned into welts and I had difficulty breathing. There was no doubt that my problem was the dog.

"Heartsick" is the only word I can think of to express what I felt and what I continue to feel. I feel "cheated" by this whole thing - and I ask you, honestly, who is so allergic to a poodle that they cannot have any pets at all? I'm sure there are more than just me, but right now all I can feel is that it IS just me. I know that my family is about half-mad at me because I am making all this fuss "over a dog!!" Well, guess what. It isn't only "a dog". It is that lovable companion who accepts you for who you are and who has no other expectations from you. That companion who makes you feel welcome home each and every day. That, my friends, is the highest complement that can be paid. Isn't it a shame - or a blessing - that sometimes our only source of complete allegiance and support comes from an animal?? It reminds me of the famous poem of Cecil Francis Alexander, made popular by the James Herriott novels:

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

And so, to my Beaux - I will always be able to envision your black, black eyes of adoration and I will never forget your generosity. My fondest desire is that you will find a home where your loyalty will be appreciated. I want you to forget me and move on. At the same time, I will never forget you. You are a generous spirit, as am I, and we should both move on in life and make the best of things. I will if you will.

Take care my dear friend.