We had a random incident happen today. Rob went to pick Scout up from preschool and a bunch of the kids were gathered around a neighborhood kitty and petting it. Scout got in the car and a minute later told Rob that she was itchy. He looked back there and she had a rash on her chin and her eyes were all puffy and the bottoms of them got these blister like things on them and she started sneezing. It was severe enough to alarm Rob to a certain extent and he drove her right to the store and bought her some Benedryl and she took some and was asleep in a few minutes he said. While she slept, it all got a lot better and she's cool now.We found this very crazy! All three of my sister's have cats and she has never shown any sort of allergic reaction before. Actually once, when she was about 3 months old we stayed over at my parents house and slept in their guest bedroom which is where their cat Tiny Elvis (RIP) liked to nap. The next morning we noticed her eyes were a bit red and puffy, but I just figured it was the first time she had any exposure to an animal and she was so little, something like that was bound to happen. Now I wonder.....
So here is the deal. Neither Rob or I have any sort of animal allergy and no one in our families do either. The point is, we have little experience with these things and we have a lot of questions. So I was wondering if any of my readers have any ideas. Here are our main questions: Is this an allergy her body has just decided to manifest and she will have a problem now on with cats? Or, are some types of cats able to create allergic reactions and others you can be fine with? This breed was short haired). Is it more likely that it was something the cat had gotten into? A flea powder or something? (I got that idea from The Brady Bunch). I think that is all our ideas.
Any insight anyone?
6 comments:
Allergies can develop and get more severe with age. You can take her to a doctor for a simple test, I think.
Yes allergies can get worse later and Cat is right there is a test. Your theory about a flea product is possible but not that likely. I have mild allergies to them with itchy eyes and it depends on the cat. You did a perfect thing with the Benadryl:) Good luck.
I agree with above comments. I have had itchy eyes and nose from certain cats before. She could have got more close to the cat than usual, you know how kids hug them or something? If it's worth it to you maybe a test would be good.
I've never been tested, but I have a pretty mild allergy to cats. It didn't manifest until later in life for me! We had a couple of cats when I was a teen and I don't remember having any reaction. But then I went away to college and then when I would come home, then I started having allergic reactions. I have noticed that I am not bad enough to start dying the minute I am in a house that has cats living in it (I had a friend like that. He could tell almost the instant he walked in the door!) But I do react if I hold one on my lap and pet them too long. Or if I sleep in a bed that has a cat that sleeps in it too. I can usually manage one stroke or two (i really like cats, so it's hard to stay totally away) but then it's best if i run go wash my hands!
I've also noticed that it has a little to do with the cleanliness/sheddiness of the cat and the home of the person who owns the cat. If they are the kind of person who just has a house covered in cat hair and doesn't keep up on it, then i'm in hell!
good luck! it probably is a good idea to get tested. i've never bothered, maybe i should! but the not petting too much and quick washing of hands might really help her if her's is mild, which is what it sounds like.
We had cats and dogs for years, but I didn't develop allergies until my senior year of high school... So I guess delayed onset is totally possible. Poor little girl.
I feel bad for her, she loves kitties so much! Thanks for the advice all about the allergy test-- bad bad mom, I have still to schedule her 4 year old check up (we moved, and she still doesn't have a doctor down here -you can take that as the watered down excuse that it is), so I need to find a pediatrician fast anyway with another bean, so we will take care of all that in the next month I'm sure, and will definitely ask him to perform that allergy test.
Jeanine- so the scheme I came up with that I got from the Brady Bunch is far fetched??? Haha! I just had to throw that one in there in ode to Jan.
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