Devestated! My son is allergic to the piggies!

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MummyAndEthan

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Hiya everyone. Just wanted to see if anyone is/has gone through anyone in their household being allergic to their piggies?

My son is 2, and has chest/lung problems. He finally had his allergy testing which has come up hes allergic to dogs, cats, guinea pigs, grass, nuts, dairy and dust mites. I'm really not sure what to do. Rehoming my animals (I have 3 dogs, a cat, 3 guinea pigs) is not an option I will ever consider.

Does anyone have any advice?

Lucy x
 
Sorry to hear about this, could he take any form of antihistamine, there are several members on here who have allergies to their animals and take antihistamine's and it is much better.

Also have a look to see if a change of pet bedding would help?
 
are all your animals living inside? Could you have animal free zones in the house where the animals do not go? My sister has asthma and was allergic to animal fur, but we had pets that lived outside and never went in the house so it wasn't a problem really.
 
RudderlessHippy said:
are all your animals living inside? Could you have animal free zones in the house where the animals do not go? My sister has asthma and was allergic to animal fur, but we had pets that lived outside and never went in the house so it wasn't a problem really.
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Thanks for the message. The dogs live downstairs, although are not allowed in the living room. The cat mainly lives upstairs in my parents room (shes soo old!) and the piggies live in the study.

I havent yet noticed him have a reaction but am now very aware that he could have a pretty bad one at any time. Hes had reactions to my sisters dogs and cat but not ours? I am a clean freak and am constantly hoovering, dusting and clearing away, so its not that the house is dirty or unclean.

Lucy x
 
I am very allergic to cats and dogs and also allergic to Guinea Pigs. Growing up we had all of the above and I took allergy pills and a nasal spray. After a few years my body build a resistance to the allergies and I am now mostly fine around animals.
 
Toffeewoffee said:
Sorry to hear about this, could he take any form of antihistamine, there are several members on here who have allergies to their animals and take antihistamine's and it is much better.

Also have a look to see if a change of pet bedding would help?
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Thanks for the message. The piggies are currently on newspaper and puppy pads.

He is currently on piriton but can only take a very minimal dose due to the amount of other medication he is on.

We have an appointment booked for October to discuss with the consultant but wanted some first hand advice. (yep thats the closest appointment to now!) I'm pretty sure the consultant will advise rehoming them :-(

Lucy x
 
he may suggest re-homing but that wont really help what about when he goes to other places with animals?

i'm allergic to 2 of my 8 piggies (and quite possibly the kittens to) but i take antihistamines, a nasal spray and eye drops.

i found the dust free hay helps to :)
 
hi there
i have asthma & hayfever & am new to owning piggies
i didn't know i would be allergic to them
I'm okay until it's time for a cuddle
then i am sneezing & my chest goes wheezy
i take anti histamines & use huw bryn meadow hay which seems to keep away the sneezes
mine are indoor piggies
i couldn't rehome them now as I'm too attached to them
i hope you find a solution soon
 
It depends on how bad his reaction is on how much you have to do to minimise contact. It maybe that like me, as long as some contact is around, the body continues to have an immunity to the reactions of pets, be prepared that guinea pigs will cause a reaction, so make sure hands, arms and face are washed after contact, if there is still a reaction I would have clothes you wear when cleaning and handling the pigs, and change them before you go near your son and the rest of the house.

I had written much more than this, but it wouldnt let me post it. Basically I am allergic to lots of things and animals, I live with a dog and 6 guinea pigs but keep hay in a hay rack, use fleece not sawdust and wash my hands, arms and face after each time I feed, clean out or cuddle them
 
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Yes I'm allergic to my piggies ... well when they were babies

I had very red, swollen and weeping eyes but as soon as they turned 4/5 months it eased and I'm totally fine with them now.

My doctor wasn't impressed when I got my 2nd piggie after all the problems I had when Frank was a baby
 
also to add .... I noticed it was the baby fluff I was allergic to but as soon as their "propper" fur came through I was fine and still am.

When they were babies I only touched them to feed them and clean their cage and made sure I worn an old tshirt while touching them then took it off straight after and washed my hands 2-3 times afterwards as well as using hand sanitizer

I found cleaning them out every 2 days helped because there wasnt a build up of poo, wee or half chewed straw.

Even now I still wear an old tshirt while handling them and wash my hands 2-3 times after touching them
 
Were the allergy tests a bit more specific? I find people assume that if you have an allergy then automatically you will sneeze around anything furry! I'm asthmatic, allergic to cats and have hayfever. The allergy relating to cats is because of what is in their saliva - they then clean themselves, drop the fur and thats what irritates me. If you are allergic to dogs then it's usually the dander, so the bigger the dog the increased amount of dander so you could be fine with a JRT but not a GSD. Having hayfever isn't always simple either because you can be allergic to different crops through different times of the year!

I have a dog myself and am regularly around a Great Dane, Chinese Cresties, Chihuahua, Rottweiler x Staff, Sheltie which i am all fine with. I take an antihistamine every day which tends to keep sniffing and sneezing away the majority of the time!

My piggies are coming in 6 days (very excited!) and will be living outside. I will be ensuring a clean cage at all times, fresh air in a separate run, dust-free hay etc etc. Have had piggies before and seemed fine with them!

p.s. fully expect the consultant to say rehome your animals, as a medical mogul that's the 'answer'!
 
Sorry for the late reply everyone, been away with friends having my first chilled out child free weekend!

Thanks for all your replies and suggestions. As I mentioned before I have never witnessed him have a reaction, its just something that was tested for 'because we had them'. The tests were not specific, just tested generally. As he is only 2 years old, I do all the cleaning, he just helps with the feeding and has mini cuddles. I have always made sure they are cleaned each morning before he wakes and the floor/surfaces are hoovered every morning and night (I am a hoover-addict!). I dont know what else to do as he hasnt actually had a reaction?!

I know the consultant will suggest me rehoming so am taking my mum with me. Let them tell her she has to rehome her 3 dogs, cat, 3 guinea pigs and 3 ferrets! Hahaha.

Thanks again everyone

Lucy xx
 
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