Might Need To Rehome My Guinea Pigs :(

[helenv87]

I have had sausage and bacon for nearly a year now but I think I might have to admit defeat and rehome them
I don't want to but it might be for the best.

I feel like I've had lots of problem since getting them, we are luckily through our first winter together which was hard as I keep them outside and I spent the whole time worrying they wouldn't be warm enough.
I've had to buy a new hutch to protect them from a neighbouring dog - luckily that seems to have settled, but because of this I don't think I'll be able to put them out for lawn time as where they will be will be too open and exposed

I also appear to be allergic to them, first it was just sneezing and runny eyes when cleaning them out, which I thought was the hay/sawdust but now I actually become wheezy and develop hives when handling them even if for only a few minutes. I take allergy tablets when needed but feel I can't do this forever, I'm hardly handling them now and they are outside all the time

 

[Tiamolly123]

Oh that's really sad. Your health comes first though. Have you contacted a rescue. Didn't you put them out the front of the house. When did you become allergic to them? Were about are you.

 

[helenv87]

They have always been out the front of the house as my boyfriend doesn't want them inside, I used to bring them inside occasionally for lap time and a little run around in doors until the weather started getting colder and I read bringing them in/out in the winter can make them sick.
I've always sneezed and hay irritated eyes when cleaning them out but I put this down to the bits from the sawdust etc.
I only noticed the wheezing when a friend came to visit and we sat inside holding them on the sofa watching a film,normally when I bring them inside I'd carry them and let them run around on the floor I wouldn't hold them for long, I was covered up that time as it was winter so I had jumpers etc on.
The last time I held them was when my sister came round and she wanted to see them, I held one of them against my chest/neck area which was exposed as I had a v next tshirt on for about 5-10minutes. The area on my chest where the guinea pig had been came out all red, itchy and had hives, I also had patches up my arms where she had also made contact whilst being held against my chest

 

[Lady Kelly]

oh no I am really sorry to hear this. I think in this situation you do need to put yourself first and I would have a look at the rescue locator in the top bar and see who is closest. A reputable rescue will ensure that your piggies are well looked after while in rescue but also that they go to a very good home which has been home checked and will provide everything the piggies need. Reputable rescues also get an adoption signed to say that in the event the new owner can no longer care for the piggies they will be handed back to the rescue so you know they will be cared for all their lives.

 

[Freela]

I'm sorry, allergies are no fun at all. One thing to consider is that you might be allergic to the bedding itself and not the guinea pigs. You mentioned sawdust in your post, which makes me wonder if this is your bedding right now. I'm seriously allergic to the oils in wood. I've had small pets since childhood and over that time have gradually developed worse and worse allergies to wood. It started out that I would only react to soft woods (cedar and pine) and did okay with aspen, but progressed to the point where I could no longer even clean out an aspen cage without wearing a mask and glasses or else I would be wheezing and my eyeballs would swell up. I eventually switched to paper bedding and it did my allergies a world of good. So that might be something worth considering. However, it's also possible to be allergic to guinea pigs, so if there's no improvement with a bedding change (or if you're already using fleece or something that you are not going to react to) that might be an actual problem. If you do have to rehome, please find a no-kill shelter who will see that they get a good home rather than rehoming them on Craigslist or something like that where you have no idea where they'll end up or what the person wants them for (some people get snake food from free ads to rehome pets. and that would be really terrible!)

 

[helenv87]

Thanks for all your replies, I decided to keep them as i love them too much to give them away, also it took a lot of persuading my other half to get them in the first place