Could she be allergic to guineas?

  • Thread starter Thread starter crazycavies
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

crazycavies

Ok... So i got my piggies just over 4w ago and my daughter started with a chesty cough, runny nose and red looking eyes. I thought it was just another virus as she so often gets from preschool so Iv been just waiting for it to clear but it hasnt, we took her to the docs today and he thinks its an allergic reaction to *something* the only new things in our house is the guineas!

He suggested cutting out her petting them and to move them outside, but thats just cruel isnt it.. they have always been indoor pets

I just dont know what to do, obv i know what i have to do. rehome them or put them outside... we have grown so attached already

gahh
 
Could it be the dust from the hay? If she gets hay fever that could be it?
 
Sounds like she might be allergic to them. I have a bit of an allergy to their hair and sometimes I come up in white lumps and rashes where their hair has touched my skin or if I hold one near my face I itch like mad. I find piriton helps and you can get piriton in liquid form for children so I wonder if this would help your daughter. Is it only when she touches the piggies or just being in the house with them is making her like this?/
 
Nemo said:
Yes it might be that - didn't think of that cos I am allergic to the dust in the hay too especially in enclosed spaces - it makes me itch inside.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure.. could be either, My mum has offered to look after them for a week to see if the symptoms dissapear when they do (that way I could have them back if its not them) but I'm not sure wether it may be too much upheaval for them

Kids eh! always complicate things ;)

She is one of the sensitive to things kind of kids. some bubble baths and suncreams and skin creams bring her out in rashes and she suffered with dry flaky skin all year round and when she gets a cold it always goes on her chest but touching the piggies dont seem to make her rashy just snotty and chesty like she has a heavy cold (which is what I thought it was) She has liquid salbutamol when she gets chesty so she has had some of that and its helped. I have also given her some piriton syrup

I might take mum up on her offer tomorrow, I know she will look after them well and if it is them maybe i could get mum to sit them until spring and then I could have them out in the garden

things are never simple! :)>>>
 
Yes that's a good idea to see whether she is better when they aren't in the house.:) Kids - who'd have them..:)):))
 
My OH is allergic to our pigs. He becomes snotty and gets watery eyes etc. We think it may be the hay but not quite sure. Due to this and lack of space, my girls live in our out building. Do you have an out building or shed that you could keep them in? Guinea pigs can live quite happily outside, in sheds or any other kind of out building so long as they are cared for properly and still get plenty of love. There are many people on here who have piggies who live outdoors. xx
 
Claire W said:
My OH is allergic to our pigs. He becomes snotty and gets watery eyes etc. We think it may be the hay but not quite sure. Due to this and lack of space, my girls live in our out building. Do you have an out building or shed that you could keep them in? Guinea pigs can live quite happily outside, in sheds or any other kind of out building so long as they are cared for properly and still get plenty of love. There are many people on here who have piggies who live outdoors. xx
Click to expand...


I do have an outhouse type thing with a door so its like an extra room on the house but the tumble drier is in there.. would they be ok in there? obv when the drier is on the door is always open.... what sort of housing would they need? a hutch? they are in a ferplast rabbit 120 at the moment
 
try the offer to rehome and see if the symptoms clear then try her with just the hay and then anything else you think might be the cause and see if that works?
 
You may find it takes a little longer than a week. My eldest suffers from allergies and we were told that it takes a good six months for fur, dander and bedding to be completely removed from the environment. If your daughter hasn't had contact with the piggies for a long period of time (i.e. you haven't had them very long) hopefully her symptoms might improve more quickly. Good luck.
 
Definately try them with your Mum for a few weeks and see how she is, and like Ron said test her with the hay etc...

Not too sure about housing them close to the dryer due to heat fluctuations but I'm no expert. Maybe pop a question in the housing section and see what others think.

Hope your daughter is better soon, my youngest is asthmatic and every thing always heads for her chest so I know how worried you must be
 
Caviesgalore said:
You may find it takes a little longer than a week. My eldest suffers from allergies and we were told that it takes a good six months for fur, dander and bedding to be completely removed from the environment. If your daughter hasn't had contact with the piggies for a long period of time (i.e. you haven't had them very long) hopefully her symptoms might improve more quickly. Good luck.
Click to expand...

We have had them for 4 weeks :s
 
Sounds like your daughter is either allergic to the hay or the guinea pig dander.
Try the option to have the piggies at your mum's place for a while and see if the symptoms improve. Also get the doctor to run an allergy test on your daughter - it might not be the piggies at all, might be something in the carpet or a new washing powder etc. It's a case of elimination.

Keeping fingers crossed that you can keep the piggies and your daughter get's better with the sneezing and itchy eyes.
My son suffers from hayfever and because it's spring in Australia he has to have antihistamine tablets and eye drops to keep the symptons at bay....and showers every night to wash all the dust off!
 
Often kids with senstivities do react to lots of things. My nephew suffers from allergies of all kinds, from food, animals, types of harsh washing powder, strong bubble baths etc. So yes possibly she is allergic to either the pigs or hay.

The pigs could easily live outside maybe in a sheltered area in a well built hutch (I'm talking tounge and groove style, not plywood). Mine have a special 'scratch and newton' rain cover and an insulator underneath that so they keep warm. The only thing with yours now is that they haven't been outside since summer, so have built up no resistance to the cold. For this reason they would probably need to go in a garage/shed for this winter.

I think at least one positive thing has come out of this - at least if she is allergic to pigs you know never to get an indoor animal e.g. cat or dog. At least pigs can live outside, unlike cats & dogs
 
Caviesgalore said:
You may find it takes a little longer than a week. My eldest suffers from allergies and we were told that it takes a good six months for fur, dander and bedding to be completely removed from the environment. If your daughter hasn't had contact with the piggies for a long period of time (i.e. you haven't had them very long) hopefully her symptoms might improve more quickly. Good luck.
Click to expand...

You could send her away from the piggies? :))
 
starla said:
I think at least one positive thing has come out of this - at least if she is allergic to pigs you know never to get an indoor animal e.g. cat or dog. At least pigs can live outside, unlike cats & dogs
Click to expand...
It could be just the guins shes allergic to? My friend is only allergic to G.Pigs, unless its hay my friends allergic to?
 
I just thought Id update this!

It turns out she ISNT allergic! It was just a nasty bug/virus coupled with a heavy cold that went to her chest :) (dont you love preschool!) shes all better now! no itchy eyes, no cough, no runny nose! piggies are still with us.

Boy I'm glad we hung on in there
 
It's quite often the hay rather than the actual animals... but guineas need hay! Worth trying what's already been suggested though - good luck
Sophie
x
 
Also what bedding are * using? I know i'm alergic to wood chips they make we sneeze every time we change the hamster cages....We have 8 and only 2 are still on wood chips becuse they have leg trob.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top