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Hay help!

Leafy Lou

Leafy Lou

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
395
Reaction score
538
Points
455
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
Hi folks,
I have been feeling pretty poorly over the past week, I believe that the Timothy hay with all the dandelion forage bits set me off on a full blown allergic reaction to everything! (I did post a ranty thread post on that chat threads! So I won't ramble here!)
This bag seemed particularly fresh and grassy..I haven't been affected before, however, until I manage my symptoms is it ok to just feed the piggies plain meadow hay for the next week or so? Or would I have to bump up the diet with an extra anything?

Also any recommendations to a quality affordable alternative, that may be less itchy on my eyes etc. Very much appreciated..

I did have a look at the guides was very helpful, but I would appreciate some other members insight on how to deal with allergies..for all I know it could be a dander allergy..GP's are not going anywhere btw..I will wear a mask out of Henry Hoover hepa bags if thats the case!

Thanks for reading xx

Move this if it doesn't fit into food mods btw, I just wasn't sure xx
 
Merab's Slave said:
Can’t give you an answer but offer sympathy for your allergy misery.
Hope you feel better soon
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Och it will be like being 15 again..lol I will just get proper prescription antihistamines from the doc..would just be a terrible thing to be allergic to gp dander, as I ruled out cat and dogs as pets because of my allergy to them..if it is the gps it's not as bad as the other ones..I haven't broke out with the excema yet!

It will be sorted to a liveable standard..Although technically my 17 year old daughters pets..they are part of our family equal terms pretty much..oof..
 
Leafy Lou said:
Hi folks,
I have been feeling pretty poorly over the past week, I believe that the Timothy hay with all the dandelion forage bits set me off on a full blown allergic reaction to everything! (I did post a ranty thread post on that chat threads! So I won't ramble here!)
This bag seemed particularly fresh and grassy..I haven't been affected before, however, until I manage my symptoms is it ok to just feed the piggies plain meadow hay for the next week or so? Or would I have to bump up the diet with an extra anything?

Also any recommendations to a quality affordable alternative, that may be less itchy on my eyes etc. Very much appreciated..

I did have a look at the guides was very helpful, but I would appreciate some other members insight on how to deal with allergies..for all I know it could be a dander allergy..GP's are not going anywhere btw..I will wear a mask out of Henry Hoover hepa bags if thats the case!

Thanks for reading xx

Move this if it doesn't fit into food mods btw, I just wasn't sure xx
Click to expand...
Aw allergies are terrible and one week we had a bag of Science Selective timothy that brought me out in a rash when I touched it and left my eyes and nose streaming! But the next bag was fine, I think the allergens are a bit random like with any natural product. Meadow hay is fine, I believe many experienced forum members only feed meadow hay, some because of allergies, and their piggies are all in great health- as long as its a good quality hay and they get lots of it that's what matters!
You could always buy some dried forage and readigrass to vary the diet a bit without timothy but I dont think its strictly necessary :)
 
Meadow hay is fine as the sole hay being provided :) it's all mine get usually unless i'm feeling fancy and get them some orchard hay or something as a treat. I can't have Timothy anywhere near me if I want to continue breathing 😅
 
PigglePuggle said:
Aw allergies are terrible and one week we had a bag of Science Selective timothy that brought me out in a rash when I touched it and left my eyes and nose streaming! But the next bag was fine, I think the allergens are a bit random like with any natural product. Meadow hay is fine, I believe many experienced forum members only feed meadow hay, some because of allergies, and their piggies are all in great health- as long as its a good quality hay and they get lots of it that's what matters!
You could always buy some dried forage and readigrass to vary the diet a bit without timothy but I dont think its strictly necessary :)
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Cheers for that info, we have a bag of dried forage I will get my daughter (guinea slave no.1) to serve our masters 😂
 
Eriathwen said:
Meadow hay is fine as the sole hay being provided :) it's all mine get usually unless i'm feeling fancy and get them some orchard hay or something as a treat. I can't have Timothy anywhere near me if I want to continue breathing 😅
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Cheers also..I was fine before..I have not had hayfever symptoms this bad in years..I handled the new adopted ladies loads before that day where it all came on..pinpointed it to that bag of timothy..thats good to know..meadow hay, mixed with fancy orchard hay a wee bowl on occasion. I think its doing good the wagg stuff has really long strands..the ex hay seemed a bit short cut..thats probably the problem..short cut hay...(ramble sorry)
 
Mine also only get Meadow Hay. I'm suffering from hay fever for the first time this year (not sure if it's in relation to getting the piggies, but it's awful!), and I found that I can't even be in the same room with Timothy Hay (they get it as a rare treat). They all seem to be fine and good health with just Meadow Hay, although I'll admit they go through a lot more hay! I think it's just about adapting and finding out what works for you!
 
Thanks for all your support! It seems to be calming down allergy wise (touch wood) My daughter did the cage clean this morning and cuddles during out time, and started sneezing etc. I bought some cheap dust masks the other day and wore one to go in to make my morning coffee while this was happening! So fingers crossed.

The herd are wolfing the meadow hay, and no dusty stuff in this bag..so hopefully that will be that!
 
Do you have a farm near you that sells hay? I go to a farm to buy my piggies hay and at 6 quid for a farm bale of the best green organic hay it is very good value! I use it for in the hutch bedding and eating and in the summer with 5 piggies it lasts 4-6 weeks. With my Rainbow Piggies Lenny and Gizmo and a single decker hutch a bale would last me 6 months. A good rule of thumb is that if you know anyone with a horse, ask where they get their hay from.

I suffer from terrible hayfever all year round, you name it and my sensitive nose will most likely start itching away and bleeding. I am not irritated at all by the farm hay which is why I've suggested it.
 
Betsy said:
Do you have a farm near you that sells hay? I go to a farm to buy my piggies hay and at 6 quid for a farm bale of the best green organic hay it is very good value! I use it for in the hutch bedding and eating and in the summer with 5 piggies it lasts 4-6 weeks. With my Rainbow Piggies Lenny and Gizmo and a single decker hutch a bale would last me 6 months. A good rule of thumb is that if you know anyone with a horse, ask where they get their hay from.

I suffer from terrible hayfever all year round, you name it and my sensitive nose will most likely start itching away and bleeding. I am not irritated at all by the farm hay which is why I've suggested it.
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Och I appreciate the suggestion, I don't think we have any farms left out here..in the outskirts of Glasgow South..however there are training stables that are local-ish..I might ask them for advice.and smell their hay...its at times like these I wish I could drive!

I might convince my oh to let the grass grow a bit more before it flowers then cut it with shears and let it dry out flat..next year..lol
 
Just an update, I had a bad asthma attack earlier hours of Tuesday..I got an emergency GP appointment (they did question if I needed an ambulance..meh) However GP agreed it was bad seasonal hayfever, we have an overgrowth of grasses and thistles surrounding our area, you name it here and the GP doubted it was anything to do with the Guinea pigs and their hay, as they have been overwhelmed with folk coming in with hayfever and that I am just I am reacting to everything just now etc.

So on a high dose of oral steroids, new preventer inhalers and a prescription antihistamine for 3 months..
Yep the hall in work set me off today could feel the stoor in the air..and the perfume thing in the toilets..urrghh..

So I can pet and cuddle the piggies with less of a reaction than going into work..
Side affect..I am getting a bit of a energy boost, while knackered.. on the steroids..8 tabs a morning..but 5 hours ok kip..

Meh should be fine..Roll on autumn!

Just thought I would document this in case it helps other guinea slaves!

I am not impressed though I haven't had a bad asthma attack in 19 years..
 
The pollen count is quite high at the mo despite the rain. I know this as my nose has started bleeding again (always does with a high pollen count).
 
So sorry your poorly. I use "haybox club" meadow hay. It's not too dusty and lovely long strands.
 
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