allergies to pigs/sawdust?

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debsjackson

debsjackson

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Does anyone else suffer with allergies to their piggys and how do you manage it?

I only found out I had an allergy after getting piggys, totally unexpected as I have a dog and cat and have had rabbits/hamsters etc without ever having a problem. I've started taking an anti histamine daily which definately helps but doesnt eliminate the problem completely. I'm planning to get some vet bed also as I'm unsure if maybe the wood shavings contribute to the problem. Any ideas?
 
I used to be allergic to all animal hair but I decided that I wanted an animal so started a long process of acclimatising myself, this included slowly handling more and more animals until I stopped reacting to them. I didn't take any antihistamines and I still have a reaction to some new animals but now I have 2 dogs, a cat, 5 guinea pigs, a budgie, 2 snakes, a horse and 3 ponies as well as working with another 19 horses, 4 dogs and another 2 guinea pigs. I think I can say I'm cured, my advice is dont give up and maybe reduce the amount of pills you take as your body has to get used to the reaction before it can cope.
 
I really recommend you change to vet bed or fleece. Shavings are really unhealthy for you and the piggies. I have an allergy to my girls and take an antihistimine which helps a lot. You may notice you feel better once you stop using shavings.
 
I will do.....I'm fed up of people telling me to 'get rid' of them! Like I could do that, they are part of the family! I will find a way around it!
 
How mean of people to say that. They are living things with feelings.
 
debsjackson said:
I will do.....I'm fed up of people telling me to 'get rid' of them! Like I could do that, they are part of the family! I will find a way around it!
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lots of people do this, they just dont understand. i once got told i'd have to get rid of half my piggies, i told them no thats like asking you to choose which one of your children you get to keep. i got some funny looks but they are my children!

it may also be the hay you use, some can be very dusty.

I'm allergic to 2 of my piggies but i could never get rid of them.

good luck i hope you figure it out :)
 
My boyfriend has a similar problem. He is not allergic, but has asthma which is triggered by dust and cat hair. He struggled a bit when I was using hay from a local farm shop so I have now switched to dust free hay from dustfreehay.co.uk and use Finacard which is also dust free and he hasn't had any more issues thankfully.

I've also been looking into getting an air purifier which gets rid of dust, animal hair and other allergens from the air.

I hope you can control your allergy.
 
I am also suffering since getting our guineas :{ and also want to find a way round it because I couldnt imagine having to give them up now! Have been really sneezy but sometimes really wheezy but think it could be down to the straw etc because the straw was the bottom of the bag I used tonight and quite dusty :( and am really struggling and have even got a couple of lumps come up on my neck!
 
Sorry Gooksters, just to say, Do you mean hay, or actual straw? Straw isnt recomended for use with piggies because they cant eat it like hay, and because its very sharp and as their eyes are so close to the ground they may get poked easily.

If you mean hay though, thats an unavoidable part of being a piggy owner as it should make up about 80% of a piggies diet, sorry. :(
 
I've changed to vet beds from the shavings and I cover up my arms when handling my pigs now because I only get the rash on the more sensitive areas of skin.
I take antihistamines just when it's really bad.
Just because you have an allergy to them doesn't mean you need to 'get rid' of your much loved pets.
 
I'm allergic to their hay, my friend told me to wash it and let it dry again to take the allergens out, so I did with a batch of it and it's worked. The piggies still love it and my allergies only get me occasionally.
 
i am the same the hay makes me sneeze little itchy and my eyes feel gros but after awhile it goes away so *** even bother with tablets
 
I'm allergic to animals. All animals. Even reptiles (and the hay, even the peppers that I chop up for the pigs!) rolleyes

Is the daily antihistamine tablet helping? If it's not, speak to your GP.

My allergies are pretty extreme, but I use a combination of things that work really well. I use a prescription antihistamine tablet, as well as creams for the contact allergies (the rashes and stuff from where they touch you), I also use eye drops and inhalers and a nasal spray, and finally after all that I can enjoy my pets :))
 
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