How is our lowered RA immunity when on biologics in relation to being licked by dogs? I try and avoid the over exuberant ones so I don't get their claws and paws in my knee cap, or worse in my hip. No one ever seems to pull them off except my OH and they attack him then! The owners are at fault as dogs will welcome people when they go to their house. Natural instinct. I am not a dog hater at all even if I am a cat person. I know and like many friends' dogs but they don't maul me or lick my face or hands. They have been well trained. I like to stroke them and make calm contact so I assure you I don't dislike dogs. A family member is getting a dog soon (for all the wrong reasons but we can't tell them ....) and I know I will be commanded to see the new dog. Not the dog's fault but I don't want to be covered in dog saliva and have sore joints if it jumps me. A family (in law's) member's large heavy dog once pinned me to a wall and repeatedly pushed me and clawed at my knees and they laughed. The licking was horrible and I could smell it on my skin until I got home to the shower. I presume it is only dangerous if you have a scratch or open skin they lick. I am dreading this.
Lowered immunity and over exuberant dogs/licks! - NRAS
Lowered immunity and over exuberant dogs/licks!
Well I have a dog and it has never affected me. But then I wouldn’t let my dog lick anyone's face whether or not they had RA! (He does lick my hands when he wants something tho’. ). However I know that sharing my home with my dog means it’s unavoidable that we share bacteria, but I’ve not had any problems since starting on biologics.
I think you have to be very clear with people that you won't go in to their home unless they control their dogs. If you go round to their houses ask your OH to go in first to make sure the dog is under control. And if they can't control it then ask them to put it on a lead.
Thank you HH. It is how you let them behave and it is fine for me when I know the dog is disciplined. I expect a wagging tail and a fuss and barks. It is their welcome. I know someone like yourself with arthritis would never let a dog jump at people with the same difficulties or at anyone!
I was told when I had a cat with colitis who used the litter tray a lot, to be very very careful with cleaning it so I did with disposable gloves and a mask on! I would wash the tray outside with boiing water then hose it for ages with pet friendly discinfectant. I didn't have any problems but I was just on Mtx then before I started Rtx. Sadly the little fella passed away just before I sarted Rtx.
I clearly recall, as a boy, encouraging the dogs I had to lick any scratches or cuts I had to help them heal faster.
Their digestive acids are so much more powerful than humans', which is why they can swallow chunks of food with virtually no ill effects and can do so at speed.
Nowadays, I'd be reluctant to allow a dog to lick any cuts I had immediately after it had cleaned itself and, like helixhelix, would not allow it to lick my face or mouth.
The dog pinning you and clawing at you was merely an indication of it requiring your attention to pet it.
You seem unsure around dogs, but I assure you the majority of them understand the word "No!" spoken firmly.
As for a pup, they'll lick hands, feet or anything, bless them, so they take time to learn "no" means "no".
I treat pups in the same manner I treat kittens.
Two fingers, pushing gently down on their neck at the base of the skull and being told "no" teaches them quickly.
If you've watched a dog or cat teach their young, you'll have observed them use this method on the boistrous ones. Lol.
I'm sure if animals were any threat in treatment courses the subject would have arisen long before now.
Animals have a strange affinity with us, dogs in particular, so can tell, more often than not, when we're down, in pain, etc.
This may possible explain why they are aggressive towards your OH, as he pulls them away, when they are trying to bring comfort to what they percieve to be a weakened and vulnerable member of the pack.
My advice: get to know the new canine, while it's still small, befriend it and teach it manners.
Good luck.
Thank you. My husband would never hurt and isn't aggressive with any animal ... exactly the opposite, but the large dog he had to pull away asap as he was worried as I had a very swollen knee and this huge dog was heavier than us both put together! I felt I was going to be pushed over. He spent time later with the dog. It wasn't a licker or a biter .. just huge! I am surprised the dog could jump up like that as he was very overweight. The other times he stopped three dogs coming near me and moved them away at a BBQ but they were out of hand fighting on the lawn and no one stopping them at one point. We need to say no to the doggy madness social events that's for sure!!
I haven't ever met a cat i couldn't charm!
I've always had an affinity with animals.
Last cat I had was a Siamese/Burmese cross.
My ex wife never understood him, even though he was actually her cat to begin with and she left him with me, when we split, then divorced.
He had quite an extensive vocabulary...a regular chatterbox.
Took after me,.I suspect. Lol.
Rescued, his right rear leg was two inches short, ended in two toes with only one single nail positioned between them.
After him I decided no more pets.
Too heartbreaking.
He's been gone twelve years now and I still miss him.
I understand. ❤️ It has been five years since my last cat.
Tell them you’ll only visit if the dog is under control, I’m sure you’ve explained to them you have an auto immune disorder and don’t want to risk any cuts or open wounds off the dog jumping up at you. My friends never allow their pets to jump at me even if they have to put them on a leash until their excitement calms down. 🤗x
Yes my OH says he is going to remind them if they do go ahead and get a dog, that it cannot be allowed to jump at me or climb on me. This is the person who said she would let me know if her daughters had colds/flu the Christmas before lastso we could withdraw frim the meal/day, and rearrange it, and her daughter arrived for a family meal saying she had bronchitist and she kept hugging me. They sat her directly opposite me at the table! I got whatever she had and then it developed into pneumonia. I wasn't very happy again when we went to a family funeral in spring this year and she wanted lifts here and there from my OH and her other daughter was full of cold but "she's had it for a week now so you ahould be OK". Oh really .. More penunonia will be ok? My OH said no lifts ... you'll have to get taxis. So I don't hold out much hope with her stopping her new dog jumping up if the colds thing fell on stoney ground. I would NEVER do any of that to anyone I know. It is a lack of respect.
I think your right there! A total lack of respect!!! 😤😤Keep well away and they might get the message as to how vunrable you are when exposed these germs and bugs! 😷🤧Keep well Neonkitty 🤗x
Thank you Angel and you too. X
I think you may have to be careful around dogs when they have their kennel cough vaccine (it's sprayed up their nose). My vet wouldn't give it to my dog earlier this year until I had checked with my rheumy advice line (I was on MTX at the time but it was ok) apparently it can cause problems for some people on immunosuppressant drugs, cancer treatments etc. so may be worth checking?
Thank you ... I was wondering about their vaccines. That's very helpful. I will ask my rheumy re Rtx.
Yes, it’s a live vaccine. I did a lot of researching on it last year as I had just gone on biologics. The conclusion I came to was that although the risk is very small it’s best not to be in the room when the dog has the vaccine, and then wipe its nose with a tissue. Most vets look blank when you mention it tho’!
My vet said people on certain treatments (mainly cancer ones I think) couldn't be around their dogs for 6 weeks after it 😯
Is this for all vaccines puppies have or just the flu one? Is it really six weeks you have to stay out of their way? Sorry to sound clueless but the new puppy is arriving this weekend and we are expected to visit soon and I am due to have my Rtx infusion end of September. I have tried to put off SIL off until early November a month after my infusions. i don't want a nip or bite either if the puppy gets excited and my immunity is so low.
I fell foul of a nudging, unruly large dog whilst on holiday that insisted on pushing me up my backside at least half a dozen times and I was patient and calm even if pretty much fed up they didn't restrain it and moved myself away from its access, but it managed to wind its way to the front of my thighs and began nudging very fiercely there and pushing my backs of knees with its nose. It hurt my inflamed knee and I said .. Do excuse me, I will have to get in thr car now as I am getting pushed! I was calm and said no and moved her gently with my hand, but the owners just looked and did nothing bit said ... ahhh she's an old dog! It was our holiday cottage owners! Again my OH took the dog by its collar and gave it to the woman and said.. the dog will push my partner over unless you stop it. Dog came back so I turned my back on it as making friends made it worse and she was jumping up at my OH. People need to stop their dogs doing this as it can be so, so harmful to anyone with bad mobility and weak and tender joints. Anyone unsteady on their feet.
There was fun and games in a pub too when four wonen brought three dogs who didn't have good manners .. neither did the women. Had I realised dogs were allowed to roam round in the restaurant I may not have gone there. They allowed a huge woolly terrier to suddenly rear up at my side when I was eating and put its heavy paws on my thigh. I said a firm NO and the dog ignored and I ended up battling my arm with its head as it tried to push its face onto my plate. ARGH. No apology from the women. The three dogs roamed round our table for an hour. Four women not bothered the dog were disturbing us and others. It is mostly the owners' fault as the dogs only know what they are taught .. or not.
Here's to well behaved doggies! Hopefully I am only going to meet those!
The dog I will encounter in the family will be treated kindly by he SIL and daughters but the husband will think it funny to set it on me as he is like that, so I think if that happens I will have a password ready to say to my OH and we will say we have to go home. Let's hope that doesn't happen.
Hi, as far as I know it's the kennel cough vaccine which is sprayed up the dogs nose. I'm not sure if that's given to puppies (can't remember) I think it's given when they're a bit older. My vet gave me a printout about it but rheumy's didn't know anything about it 🙄
Thank you.
I love all dogs but some owners dont control them well.Like you if walking along with my partner they will come running up to greet us and jump up and having our ailment makes it painful in rough contact.The owner should train them not to really but I just make jolly remark and we walk on by but in the case of your relative you must explain in a very friendly manner how much you will suffer.its not the dogs fault at all but how the owner trains it.
Thank you. Yes I think the owners don't always realise how a shove in the kneecap and hard claws from a dog can make us feel awful for a long time after. At Christmas time I had to fend a very large dog off when I was with the person who now wants to buy a dog! She is terrified and won't do as much as I do to try make them calm down/protect oneself so I can't understand why she wants one, but I think it is to protect her when she walks alone and also to occupy a family member. This very large dog came bounding over on a country path near her home and leapt up at us both. I turned sideways to protect my knees and shielded us both and then had to put my walking stick between us to stop it. When it leapt I pushed back firmly but not hurting the dog to make it back down. It was hard going fending it off and the woman said ... He only wants to play. I said .. I don't as i have damaged knees and arthritis. She let the dog jump at us for about a minute before I said ... That is enough .. I would like you to stop it doing that, please. I kept calm but was worried for my knees.
My brother in law was attacked by a dog off the lead when he slowly jogged by it a few years ago. He was/is a dog owner/dog lover so knows how to behave round them but the people talked to him as he passed by and the dog didn't seem to like that and leapt up and bit deep into his forearm and damaged nerves. Sadly the owners decided to put it down which makes me wonder if it had done it before and why was it off the lead in a park where people jogged? That is hardly fair on the dog. Then we discovered they were vets. Strange indeed and very sad.
I do get that we are the intruders in their homes when we visit ... absolutely but it is the owners as who should stop them jumping up and clawing. x
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