I Think I May Be Allergic To My New Baby Piggies :(

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Knowles980

Knowles980

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We got two baby guinea pigs a few days ago... Theyre 8 weeks old and gorgeous! I changed and disinfected their cage yesterday and all last night and now my skin is itching all Over and its not going away. I handled them every day but more so yesterday. I'm also a bit sneezy but i get hayfever anyway! Help!
 
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Hi, it is possible unfortunately. Mrs SB is allergic to cats and gets a similar reaction. Have you tried an antihistamine? Welcome to the forum by the way.
 
Thank you :))

I take hayfever tablets anyway so will they work or do i need a special kind?
 
They should work in some cases but not all. I don't know if any are more use than others for pet allergies sorry. What are they bedded on? It could be that or the hay maybe too...as it came on after cleaning them out...
 
Yes we use the meadow hay which we got in the shops and under that sawdust and newspaper.
 
Sawdust ... I assume you mean woodshavings rather than just dust? Its a major allergen to a lot of people myself included as its both dusty and full of natural oils id try changing that to something hypoallergenic like finacard or fleece/vetbed/suedecloth bedding. If that doesnt change anything a higher quality lower dust hay may work for you such as dust free hay, or thought not called dust free I find it to have minimal dust is hayforpets.co.uk
 
It sounds to me like it may be the bedding too, especially as your biggest reaction was after you had cleaned them out.
 
Hello and welcome. I take a daily antihistamine (loratadine as is found in Claritin) to take care of my allergies. I'm not allergic to my piggies (but I was allergic to my rabbit) but allergic to the hay. The antihistamine keeps it all under control. I use fleece instead of shavings and that has also helped as less dust!
 
Yes wood shavings not sawdust, sorry lol! Perhaps we should switch it then!
 
If it turns out not to be the wood shavings, it could be that the piggies are moulting of have dry skin. One of our guinea pigs is poorly and has dry skin at the moment. It's making my husbands allergy react, but usually keeping on top of grooming and regular bathing helps keep his allergy at bay.
 
One has mites and has a little bald patch on her head. We are treating them for that. Poor little babies!
 
i changed form shavings to finacard because when i was doing the litter trays my nose itched like crazy. Had no problems since but when i am handling my rats if i have them close to my face i get a scratchy throat. Antihistamines if it carries on, they aint going anywhere
 
I'm the same with my rats, they are going to move into the shed for the summer though theyll be back in once it goes cold agian.
 
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