[nomadmom]

I'm trying to determine if dd is allergic to any of our pets. Her main symptom is itchy eyes. It's really bad --she rubs them constantly so they're sore and red, and it makes her miserable. If the pets were the cause, would her eyes feel better when we're away from home. If she's itchy when she's not near animals, does that mean that something else is the culprit?

 

[Imvishta]

Not that it is a pet allergy, but her eyes probably would not feel better just by leaving your home if she's usually exposed to the pet there. With itchy eyes it could be an allergy to dust or any sort of fragrance in personal hygiene or cleaning product, or flowers even. All sorts of things. But, speaking as someone with tons of allergies, the reaction doesn't usually go away that quickly. For me, even being exposed to some <span style="text-decoration:underline;">unlit</span> fragranced candles can give me a reaction!<br><br>
Also, it could be the products you use on or for your pet instead of the pet itself. Such as soaps, powders or litter if you have a cat.<br><br>
Good luck!

 

[nomadmom]

Thanks for the reply. Dd has had the problem w/ itchy eyes in the past, but it was always linked to other symptoms consistent w/ seasonal allergies. This time they were worse than ever, and she was feeling generally miserable. Now we know why -- she has chickenpox! Poor thing. Her eyes aren't the only part that's itching. :-(

 

[wendy1221]

I'm really allergic to cats and my eyes itch for several hours after leaving someone's house who has a cat. I mean I can spend less than an hour there and have itchy eyes for 12 hours.

 

[nomadmom]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Imvishta</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7015231"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Also, it could be the products you use on or for your pet instead of the pet itself.</div>
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I didn't even consider this possibility! That's encouraging. We have a dog, rabbit (lives in the house) and 2 guinea pigs. I don't think the dog is causing the problem because we got her long before dd's symptoms began, and we don't use any products on the dog other than the shampoo we use on ourselves. The rabbit/guinea pig bedding could be it though. I'll have to make some changes and see what happens. Then again, maybe the intense itching dd had over the weekend was caused by the chickenpox that were about to erupt.<br><br>
Wendy, do you get other symptoms from your cat allergy besides itchy eyes? Is it common to have an allergy that only affects your eyes?

 

[wendy1221]

I also sneeze and have a runny nose and itchy throat, but the itchy eyes is what bother me the most, so what I remember clearly. I might have the other symptoms for that long as well for all I know. lol<br><br>
Oh, but if we go to visit my in-laws for a few days, it's weird. I'll have all of the symptoms for the first day or 2, and then I'll only have itchy eyes after that. But the itchy eyes are excruciating. I started taking Claritin the last time we were there. They have 2 cats, no other pets.