Help I'm allergic to my piggies

[Briony_S]

Hi,

Today I have decided I am allergic to my piggies! I have had george since before christmas so I don't think it is actually them but maybe something they have in their cage.

Over last week my nose has run constantly and last two days my eyes have been very irrated. It has got to the point where I feel like stratching my eyes out and also had to ditch the contacts! Also I have a small patch of a rash on my arm and my body is a bit itchy (these things may not be related though)

Now in last week I have made three changes which could be the culpret,

1. switching from meadow hay to timmy hay

2. introducing meadow hay cookies.

3. Bathed them last night in just for boars

Not sure which is the problem but never used timmy hay before but also the cookies get everywhere are are very bitty and all over the floor of the cage. Also when I came in this evening there was a very strong smell and couldn't put my finger on it. Cage was thoroughly cleaned last night and vet bed changed so couldn't have been a dirty cage but bits of cookie hay are everywhere.

I am allergic to freshly cut grass normally (didn't think this through before getting pigs )

What does anyone have an idea what the culpret is as it is driving me mad! Is timmy hay more likely to cause a reaction or would it be the cookies?

 

[Ms_Fi]

I'm really allergic to normal hay so have had to stop letting the boys use it for bedding. It got to the stage where I couldn't cuddle with the pigs cause I itched soo much where they'd been rolling around in the hay.

 

[Briony_S]

i could be doing with that. I have come upstairs as computer is up here and feel mch better so guess it is them I also my rash has gone down on my arm & I did have a cuddle before. Think maybe it is the hay cakes in that case as they are all over the floor of the cage! can't face it tonight but tomorrow will clean them out again and remove it and see if it is any better!

 

[MrsM]

when I changed from woodchip to vet bed my OH's allergy subsided greatly. He's still a bit funny around the readigrass but other than that, no more puffy eyes, wheeze or itchiness - did I mention he's got asthma?

 

[Briony_S]

oh i have vet bed did i not mention? just rubbed a hay cake on my arm to see if it comes up again (probably will regret it later but will **** provide an answer!)

 

[MrsM]

oh, OH had probs on skin only if they touched his bare skin, usually with their paws, so I thought maybe it was their wee or the woodchips. But judging by how he is around the hay, that's also a suspect... Is your hay dust extracted?

 

[MemberX]

I'm allergic to Woodshavings and Readigrass! Can you go the doctors and have allergen tests to see what it is? I never did though!

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Timothy hay is renowned in the piggie world for aggravating allergies. It is usually the worst one. I am fine with other hays but I get very itchy eyes and congested nose with Timothy. Orchard Grass/Bluegrass is said to be the best hay for keeping your allergies at bay.

Allergy to guinea pig urine or their bedding is also far more common than allergies to the pigs themselves.

 

[Briony_S]

maybe a bit of all 3 he he will take out one thing at the time til i get to bottom of it!

 

[Briony_S]

Sometimes I can be so dense! I have now discoved the problem I have only switched onto vet bed in last few weeks and only started with hay cookies in last week when problems started.

I was today doing my daily sweep when I realised all the small bits of the hay cookies I was sweeping up briskly to get out of the vetbed pile was flying in my face :{

I have a sensible plan now of hoovering it instead & hopefully that will solve it I bet there is now loads in the living room air which is why there is a strong smell. Tomorrow is going to see a complete dust/ hoover etc.. of the downstairs and no more sweeping should fix the problem!

Can't believe I was being so dense! rolleyes

 

[Briony_S]

further to my last post I have now discovered I am allergic to at least one of my piggies and I supect tiger as the simptoms have only started rescently! just had a ten minute lap time with the boys and my hand has broken out in itchy lumps / hives see piccy below:

it's getting worse it started with sneezing etc.. now I am blocked up all the time and seem to keep coughing due to an irratation in my throat and now and I breaking out on contact with them! I am hoping I can get some tablets from doctor I used to be on and hopefully it will fix it as there is no way I could give them up!