allergy to hay?

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seaskyking

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Hi piggy owners,

I recently adopted a guinea pig from my neighbor a few weeks ago. Last week I found myself having some rash on my forearm after cleaning the cage and gave my guinea pig medication (she has some noise in her breath, so the vet gave her antibiotics). I'm not sure what is the cause of my allergy, the pig or the timothy hay, so my husband started to help me clean her cage and dealing with her hay this week while I kept giving her medicine. It seems that the pig is not what caused the allergy b/c I don't have rashes while giving her medicine. However, two days ago, I started coughing (Now is not a good time to cough). Since my temperature is normal, I suspect it's the hay that gave me allergic coughing. We've put the air purifier near the cage, but I'm not sure what else I can do to alleviate my coughing. My doctor doesn't suggest me going to the hospital now due to the virus, and I don't want to give up the guinea pig now. If you have any suggestions, please help me.

Thanks,
Coco
 
Hi Coco,

this is possible - I’m allergic to hay too and take an antihistamine tablet and I clean them out with cheap dust masks (which are no longer cheap but I’m sure they will be fine again - I had a bulk of them when I used to do some woodwork). Sometimes I get a rash when holding one of my pigs and I use a little over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (“bite and sting relief” cream from Superdrug). Can also try using some gloves and long sleeves whilst cleaning. If none of that works it May be something else but sounds like allergy (I am not a doctor, just giving my experience of things that you could try!)

to breathe a bit easier you can try one of the menthol nose inhalers like Elbas oil.
If the coughing persists when handling and cleaning the pigs you may have allergic asthma (I’m sure that’s not the clinical term!) by which I mean the airways narrowing as a reaction to the hay.
You could try a different type of hay - I find Dustfreehay and haybox very good (in the UK) but supermarket and pet shop hay very bad for my own allergies
 
seaskyking said:
Hi piggy owners,

I recently adopted a guinea pig from my neighbor a few weeks ago. Last week I found myself having some rash on my forearm after cleaning the cage and gave my guinea pig medication (she has some noise in her breath, so the vet gave her antibiotics). I'm not sure what is the cause of my allergy, the pig or the timothy hay, so my husband started to help me clean her cage and dealing with her hay this week while I kept giving her medicine. It seems that the pig is not what caused the allergy b/c I don't have rashes while giving her medicine. However, two days ago, I started coughing (Now is not a good time to cough). Since my temperature is normal, I suspect it's the hay that gave me allergic coughing. We've put the air purifier near the cage, but I'm not sure what else I can do to alleviate my coughing. My doctor doesn't suggest me going to the hospital now due to the virus, and I don't want to give up the guinea pig now. If you have any suggestions, please help me.

Thanks,
Coco
Click to expand...

Hi!

Allergy to guinea pigs or other pets is not rare. Hay dust and pollen usually cause hay fever while tiny pee particles in the pet coat are usually responsible for any rashes and hives on the skin or - if you have a disposition for that - can cause asthma symptoms (coughing).

Please avoid direct skin contact with your piggy to prevent a rash and see whether over the counter allergy tablets can help.
Don't keep piggies in a bedroom if you are suffering from allergies!

Allergies don't happen with the first contact (that just starts the sensitising) but they tend to build up, in more extreme cases unfortunately rather fast.

Please be aware that air purifiers can act as irritants to your guinea pig.
Here is more information: Irritants to Avoid Around Guinea Pigs

This guide covers your customer rights as well as typical new piggies' health problems; it also applies to allergies you develop.
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
 
I would try and see if you can get your hands on orchard grass—one time I was pet sitting the owner gave us timothy and my mom’s face totally blew up and had a reaction. Orchard grass didn’t give her a problem, though. Could be something to look into before anything too life changing.
 
I suffer with hay fever and can have lovely sneezing and wheezing bouts if I accidentally breathe in when near the hay! I try and keep it far away from my face as possible and always wash my hands when handled it... and I can always smell it... I know its not the pigs that make me sneeze altho one pig does give me a little rash....
 
Elthysia said:
Hi Coco,

this is possible - I’m allergic to hay too and take an antihistamine tablet and I clean them out with cheap dust masks (which are no longer cheap but I’m sure they will be fine again - I had a bulk of them when I used to do some woodwork). Sometimes I get a rash when holding one of my pigs and I use a little over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (“bite and sting relief” cream from Superdrug). Can also try using some gloves and long sleeves whilst cleaning. If none of that works it May be something else but sounds like allergy (I am not a doctor, just giving my experience of things that you could try!)

to breathe a bit easier you can try one of the menthol nose inhalers like Elbas oil.
If the coughing persists when handling and cleaning the pigs you may have allergic asthma (I’m sure that’s not the clinical term!) by which I mean the airways narrowing as a reaction to the hay.
You could try a different type of hay - I find Dustfreehay and haybox very good (in the UK) but supermarket and pet shop hay very bad for my own allergies
Click to expand...
Thanks. I'll try them out and see if it gets better.
 
seaskyking said:
Hi piggy owners,

I recently adopted a guinea pig from my neighbor a few weeks ago. Last week I found myself having some rash on my forearm after cleaning the cage and gave my guinea pig medication (she has some noise in her breath, so the vet gave her antibiotics). I'm not sure what is the cause of my allergy, the pig or the timothy hay, so my husband started to help me clean her cage and dealing with her hay this week while I kept giving her medicine. It seems that the pig is not what caused the allergy b/c I don't have rashes while giving her medicine. However, two days ago, I started coughing (Now is not a good time to cough). Since my temperature is normal, I suspect it's the hay that gave me allergic coughing. We've put the air purifier near the cage, but I'm not sure what else I can do to alleviate my coughing. My doctor doesn't suggest me going to the hospital now due to the virus, and I don't want to give up the guinea pig now. If you have any suggestions, please help me.

Thanks,
Coco
Click to expand...

The same thing happens to me! I got really bad rashes up my hands and wrists. Thought I was allergic to my pigs but it's just a timothy hay allergy! Turns out both of my pigs are allergic to it too and so are my mom and boyfriend 😅 I would look into switching them over to orchard grass and seeing if that helps. If you can't or in the meantime, long sleeves are your best friend. I always had to wear long sleeves and gloves while cleaning their cage or giving them hay
 
kinsxo said:
The same thing happens to me! I got really bad rashes up my hands and wrists. Thought I was allergic to my pigs but it's just a timothy hay allergy! Turns out both of my pigs are allergic to it too and so are my mom and boyfriend 😅 I would look into switching them over to orchard grass and seeing if that helps. If you can't or in the meantime, long sleeves are your best friend. I always had to wear long sleeves and gloves while cleaning their cage or giving them hay
Click to expand...
I've switched from timothy to orchard hay but it doesn't help. Even though I'm not dealing with the hay directly and take daily antihistamine now, I cannot stop coughing. Also, my guinea pig also has some breathing problems (breathing with more efforts obviously but have very good appetite and poops ) even though I've finished 3-week antibiotics treatment. I'm wondering what's guinea pig's allergy symptoms. Is it possible I can switch her diet to fresh grass (I have no problem with grass) and provide more toys to wear her teeth down?
 
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