Post # 1
Member
164 posts
Blushing bee
My Fiance and I got the sweetest Yorkie puppy in January. Bertie is everything anyone could want in a puppy– he’s excited to see us, he snuggles, he fetches, he sits, and he’s rapidly getting potty trained.
But Fiance is allergic. That’s why we chose a Yorkie–hypoallergenic! We have HEPA filters running 24/7, vaccuum with HEPA, shampoo with special shampoo, use Allerpet-D and we’re giving the baby fish-oil capsules to reduce the dander. But Fiance wants to rehome him if we can’t make it work! He’s not wililng to take daily pills, and not willling to try allergy shots. Bertie makes me happy and loves me unconditionally I don’t know what to do.
Post # 3
Member
406 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: February 2009 - Small church ceremony with mountain-view log cabin reception
aww, I’m sorry:( I don’t really have any advice, but I’m sure this can be tough.. Hopefully with the change in season things will improve?
Post # 4
Member
1220 posts
Bumble bee
🙁 so sorry to hear… maybe you should your husband a shot in his sleep (kidding) dont do that.. but hopefully something works out so you can keep you doggie
Post # 5
Member
1642 posts
Bumble bee
@Beansy: Aww I’m sorry. But if he isn’t willing to take pills or get shots there’s nothing you can do. I would be really angry with my SO if he pulled a bait and switch like that.
Post # 6
Member
5920 posts
Bee Keeper
I would be devastated, and I can’t believe your Fiance isn’t willing to do anything to help you.
Post # 7
Member
865 posts
Busy bee
Im so sorry! I hope that yall can work something out to where you can keep him!
Post # 8
Member
1642 posts
Bumble bee
Is there a reason WHY he won’t take pills or get shots? It sounds like you’re doing everything possible to help. Your Fiance KNEW he was allergic, and that’s why you chose the dog you did.
For the record–no dog is totally hypoallergenic. Just like with cats, it’s saliva and dander that trigger allergic reactions. Some dogs shed significantly less and some dogs are tiny (like yorkies) and that affects the size of the allergic reaction. But all dogs shed and produce saliva to some degree.
To be quite blunt–your Fiance did a stupid and irresponsible thing. Shame on him for agreeing to a dog, doing the research, then deciding he doesn’t want to do his part in controlling his allergies. I’m furious with him on your behalf.
Post # 10
Member
164 posts
Blushing bee
I’m furious too! Especially every time I look at my sweet puppy who really wants nothing more than to live in our happy home and go for walks and sniff the flowers! We had done tests as well– my sister and her two yorkies have spent weeks with him without a sniffle!
The shots are not covered by his insurance and would cost thousands of dollars. My parents offered to pay for the shots but he (and I have to agree with this one) is not happy to take that money from my parents especially as he could afford it himself. The pills and inhaler are because he says he doesn’t want to spend his life on medicine hoping not to have an asthma attack.
I just can’t understand why I have to give up one thing I love for someone I love…isn’t it enough that the puppy makes me happy?
Post # 11
Member
1642 posts
Bumble bee
@Beansy: He should have weighed those options before you got the pup. The pills and inhaler sound like the better option, although his reasoning to me is just that he doesn’t feel like doing it. It’s not convenient to his lifestyle. Well he shouldn’t have agreed to a puppy then.
Post # 12
Member
567 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2010 - MacLean Park
@MissHoneyBun: It sounds like he did weigh things a little bit. If she had trials with other Yorkies no problem, there’s really nothing to prepare them that things could get that bad.
Honestly, I don’t think someone should be expected to take daily pills/shots/inhaler just to keep a pet, when it puts your health at risk. Asthma attacks are serious business, and you don’t really want to dance with that danger. Yes, he probably should have considered what would have happened if it didn’t work, but with OP’s excitement and initial good “test” results, why have that worry, you know? It sounds like he originally wanted to make you happy, and now that it’s a health issue, he’s not too keen on the pup anymore.
If the coin were reversed, and he loved say, a Komodo Dragon (sorry so random, I just wanted to pick a “man pet” that you wouldn’t necessarily love, like another dog or cat!), but the dragon gave you bad hives, would you take pills or shots to keep it, when it would cost thousands of dollars? I don’t know, personally, I can say that I wouldn’t do it either. Maybe I’m hard-hearted, but I just can’t see myself taking daily pills or getting injections or suffering health risks just to keep a pet indoors. It seems like he gave it a shot and tried to make it work for you, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s working out for him.
So my question is, is it fair for you to keep something that makes you happy, but makes his health suffer?
Post # 13
Member
4 posts
Wannabee
Have you tried bathing the dog more often (at least 1x/week)? I have severe allergies and asthma and when we slack on baths for our pup, even with my daily allergy and asthma meds I’ll start wheezing and having really bad reactions to him. That said, I love my dog and refuse to get rid of him much to the dismay of my allergy doc. When I told the doctor I wasn’t getting rid of the dog, he suggested we bathe him with Head & Shoulders to reduce dander. I haven’t tried it since we manage with once a week baths but might be worth a shot? My dog is also a terrier but he keeps lots of dust and other outdoor allergens in his fur so the extra baths help.
Good luck!
Post # 14
Member
1642 posts
Bumble bee
@sand dollar: I thought she meant that her sister brought her yorkies over AFTER they got the pup. For like a play date. Now I see what she meant. Still, being around them for a few hours and living with one is different. My dad had bad asthma growing up and into my teens. Cats set him off, but his inhaler keeps it at bay. My mom loves cats. I do, too. Cats are non-negotiable. Maybe he should see a doctor. We don’t know from this post just HOW bad his allergies are. Watery eyes are different from lungs that don’t work. I maintain though, that it was a bad decision to go along and then change his mind.
Post # 15
Member
5147 posts
Bee Keeper
High qualtiy food (especially going to a raw diet) can reduce dander.
Post # 16
Member
8734 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@abbyful: Very true.
You aren’t just combating the fur, some allergies are to pet dander or saliva.
Also, yorkies are not hypo-allergenic they just are low (or no) shedders so there is a reduction in fur shed.
The only truly hypo-allergenic pets are the genetically engineered ones.