Help, daughter allergic to hay

[Rosie&honey]

Hi
I'm new to the forum and joined seeking some advice about our situation. We have had our 2 guinea pigs Rosie and honey for the last 2 years. They have had an indoor cage in my daughters room for that whole time with no problems. However my daughter has now developed an allergy to their hay. We think it is the hay because she has no problems handling them or away from the cage but as soon as she goes near their cage her eyes start to itch and she gets rashy. We took the cage out and she's fine. Only problem is my husband won't have the piggies living in the kitchen which is the only other place their cage will fit, also I think this may still bother my daughter as kitchen is joined to lounge where obviously my daughter spends a lot of time. So now they are currently spending a second night in a hutch in the shed. Both my daughter and I really enjoy them being indoor pets and our missing them8...I am also worried about them being too cold once the weather gets colder as they are used to living indoors. There is a window in the shed but the hutch seems so dark compared to their indoor cage and they just look miserable and scared. My daughter tried antihistamine at night and it doesn't seem to help, we've also tried different sorts of hay with no real difference. Is there any options to feeding guinea pigs a constant supply of hay? Thanks

 

[sport_billy]

Hi, Welcome to the forum

Such a shame for you and your daughter (and piggies) Fist of all, Hay is the most important part of a piggies diet it should be 80% of what they eat a day so their is no substitute. I am going to move your post to Guinea Pig Chat simply because it gets looked at a bit more than this part of the forum and people will be able to advise how they keep there sheds warm over winter for their out door piggies. (Thread moved now)

Are you sure it is the hay? How are you piggies bedded? Have you changed hay brands recently?

As regards to the allergy, their are lots of different antihistamines available, I would advise speaking to your Doctor about different ones and trial them. I take antihistamines daily to help with allergies but it took a while to find the one that suited me best.

 

[Rosie&honey]

Thanks sport_billy. The piggies sometimes have care fresh bedding and sometimes have wood shavings for bedding. We haven't changed their brand of hay apart from trying more expensive ones to alleviate my daughters allergy. We usually give them pets at home Timothy hay. My husband said this morning he's worried about them being outside too and to try them in the kitchen! I think he's secretly missing them too. I'm wondering whether fleece or vet bed maybe better in their cage? Less dust for my daughter maybe? Also thought about buying an air purifier.

 

[sport_billy]

The Kitchen would be good for all lol

Most people move piggies indoors in the winter as you know how cold it can get especially if the shed is not insulated.

I suppose Fleece could be worth a try but if it is the hay causing it then it wont help. You could possibly try different hay? Oxbow Timothy Hay is ver ygood but a little expensive, www.dustfreehay.co.uk french hay is excellent but the english not so good this year and I have heard great things about http://www.hayforpets.co.uk/ We have used http://www.deansfarm.net/ also. Is it definitely hay as aside to the pigs?

 

[maxinedawn]

Hay used to upset my asthma. But I've changed to oxbow hay and I'm fine with it. I would also think about changing the bedding. I use Fitch its totally dust free.