Eczema/allergies: children and dogs?

J
Jimwest Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

I am separated and have two children, including my 13-year-old son who suffers from occasional eczema flare-ups.
I have a 2-year-old Maltese who has been with me since June 2024.

Up until now, there haven't been any issues with my son.

My son had an eczema flare-up on 20th April, with quite a significant rash on his hands and feet as well. Regarding his allergy, an allergy specialist had diagnosed...

My ex-wife saw a dermatologist yesterday who told her that having my dog around was advised against, as they carry allergens that affect my son.
Consequently, she is recommending that I rehome my dog.
Because of this, my ex-wife is telling me to choose between my dog and my son.

Of course, my son's health is the priority, but rehoming my dog would be absolutely heartbreaking.

Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

Thanks.

Translated from French
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2 answers
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    • Kikaah
    Kikaah Icon representing the flag French
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    Give the place a proper deep clean before (and during) your son’s visit, and keep the dog out of the bedrooms and off the sofa. For the duration of his stay, if you can restrict where the dog goes in the house – without going as far as locking him away – keeping him to the lounge and hallway, for example, depending on your home’s layout, would be a good idea. I assume your son has medication to manage any flare-ups. Give it a go and see if your son could look into desensitisation treatment. If it’s still not working despite all that, look into finding a pet sitter while your son is visiting. There’s always a solution to look after your son’s health without having to rehome your pet ^^
    Translated from French
    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hello, On one hand, dogs can be carriers of allergens for humans, including through their fur. On the other hand, as you mentioned, rehoming a dog permanently is not a decision to be taken lightly, either for you or for your son. If your son is seeing an allergy specialist, there are tests available to identify the specific allergens he is sensitive to. This will tell you for sure whether contact with your dog is currently making your son's eczema worse. While waiting for the results, a temporary solution could be to leave your dog with someone you trust. Wishing you the best of luck in this difficult situation. Best wishes, Quitterie
    Translated from French

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