Allergies And Guinea Pigs

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Mariah

Mariah

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I desperately want to get a pair of guinea pigs or rabbits (and I know not to house the two species together), and I know I'm not allergic to them or their food, but my partner is allergic to hay and has asthma. We don't know what variety(s) of hay though--whatever he was bailing on his neighbor and dads hobby farms, and possibly others. If he does turn out to be allergic to timothy hay, are there any other types that are safe to replace it with on a permanent basis? (or two that can be alternated, etc.)

Are there any other recommendations as well for decreasing the dustiness/air pollution of having a guinea pig (or rabbit--though with the space we have I'd prefer the guineas)? I know about the fleece bedding for guineas. And even if I were willing to keep my pet outside that's not an option anyways.

Thank you very much!
 
I'm asthmatic and our meadow hay often sets me off but as long as I have a blue inhaler to hand I'm fine. I also find taking anti hystamines helps a lot on the preventative front if I know the bag of hay we have is particularly bad for setting me off.

To minimise the hay in your set up you can use racks or a designated hay box or loft so you cut down excess hay in the environment.

Good luck!
 
Hi,

You could try meadow hay. My dad's allergic and if he's near them too long when he visits, his chest gets bad. I keep the hay in racks rather than on the floor, so there's less around. I also bed them on fleece because it reduces dust. This doesn't stop Figaro from purposely tipping the hay all over, but if you get a vegetable rack style one rather than one that tips, they can't throw it all out. Something you should know about guinea pigs is that hay gets EVERYWHERE...I've found it in my bed, in my washing machine, in the toilet....

My dad can smell the hay a mile away. When I know he's coming, I hoover and steam the floors thoroughly. I would suggest you don't keep the piggies in rooms that your partner spends most of his time in. Do you have a spare bedroom? You can always bring the piggies out for lap time, but it would mean your partner never had to be around the cage, but that if he's not affected by the piggies, he can be around them.
 
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I also have allergies to my piggies (long hair ones the most) plus also have asthma and on a blue inhaler and soon grey if I flare up pretty bad. I use Timothy and Rye which sets me off for ages. Have to get a mask because clean out day is the worst! I'm on anti histamines too which helps...

You can also get dust free hay if that helps too
 
Thank you all for the replies, they're a huge help!

@Jess
There's dust free hay!?
How much more expensive than the regular is it? Where is this strange thing found (though I'm in Canada, brand names or sites might help me find something)?
Sorry to hear your allergic to your own piggies--that's got to be a pain.
 
I just want to echo what someone else said about hay getting EVERYWHERE. I usually keep the hay in the cage in one litter tray but no matter what you do hay gets absolutely everywhere. We have the pigs in our room and there is ALWAYS hay on the carpet, it gets in our bed, on our clothes, other random places in the house too. Definitely if your partner has allergies the fairest and safest thing to do is not to keep them in a room that he spends a lot of time in and then you shouldn't have big problems.
 
Thank you!

After poking around a bit it seems whatever hay he's allergic to is NOT Timothy hay! Huzzah! Of course, still have to be careful with the asthma, but one of the perks of no carpet is that the house is easier to clean :)

We've now got a girl we "adopted" from someone who accidentally wrongly sexed their older guinea and wasnt up for caring for a boy and girl, but will take her back and find her a new home if my partner is allergic. He hasn't had a reaction yet, so in the next 24 hours we'll find out if we can keep her (and get her a buddy), I really hope so, she's adorable! (and hiding, but doesnt seem to realize that theres a gap in her cage i can look in through ;)
She's living in the craft room / my office right now, but in summer we'll probably have to move her to the living room so she doesnt overheat, there are only 2 rooms that the A/C hits--so we really can't keep her if he has a reaction! Keeping my fingers crossed we stay in the clear!
 
How is it going? Excited for you both, hope your other half is fine and you can become new piggy owners :D
 
No allergies yet! So, it looks like we get to keep her :) We're both really excited about this!
I'm going to be contacting the local shelters (and vets) tomorrow, and picking up chloroplast today soon to replace the shower curtain bottom to the cage & move her up closer to desk level. She still doesn't like leaving her little cave area, but I've caught her nosing around, and even figure 8s and one popcorn the first day! Of course, never since *sigh*
She also doesn't seem to like any of the "high vit C" foods I'm supplying her with, except carrots and spinach, but those are both in moderation types of food aren't they? But oh wow, apples! Those are clearly the bribery food!
 
So exciting! Don't worry about her being shy at first, that's totally normal especially considering she is on her own. It would be great to get her a neutered boar pighusband or a sow for a friend :)

Unfortunately it seems to be the case that they always most like the food that they can't have every day! Mine love carrots, spinach and apple too. Have you tried them on capiscum (bell peppers)? Mine love that especially orange ones. They eat it so fast they get hiccups!
 
I have, she turns her nose up at the yellow ones I got her! she'll nibble on them if there's nothing else except pellets, and leaves most of them behind even then (though I've watched her push them out of the way to get the pellets too)
 
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