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Hay Allergy And Steroids!

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Eriathwen

Eriathwen

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Well it turns out that Bramble's URI is more likely an allergy to hay. Because she is getting treatment for ringworm and ear mites she has not been started on steroids 'yet' but the vet is looking at this as an option in the up coming weeks. I've read the sticky about steroids so now i'm not overly sure how to progress with the allergy. For the time being we've been advised to do what people do for horses, dampening the hay and then drying it to remove any mould spores and dust. So I guess we will have to see how that goes. How would we go about dealing with a hay allergy long term whilst avoiding steroids? I really don't want to make her even more ill or bringing the ringworm back by giving them to her!
 
It could well be a particular type of hay. What hay does she have?

You could look at antihistamine's too, see what your vet says about Children's Piriton? you could also look into getting an air purifier. I have Bionnaire one which is good.
 
Thankyou! I'll ask about the piriton and have a look at the air purifiers, never thought of that, I get awful hay fever so it might help me too :)

She gets a mix of dust extracted meadow hay, timothy hay with various dried flowers and herbs mixed in and polish hay.Although the meadow hay doesn't seem very good quality as it still has a bit of dust.
 
She's not mentioned it, do you think it's worth asking about? She's just finished a week of baytril which has done absolutely nothing, she's had a good listen of her chest/lungs too which apparently sounds clear.
 
Baytril may well not have done anything if the bacteria (if there is any) is resistant to it. It's worth asking about it to rule out a URI before taking and drastic decisions about steroids. It's going to be up to you.

x
 
Well if there's anything I can do to avoid her having to have steroids i'm willing to try, she's not very old at all and she's been ill for most of it. I'm not willing to risk giving her steroids and making her even more ill or worse, just yet. There seems to be lot's of other options still to try before it comes to that.
 
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