Having skin allergies after picking up my piggies.

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AppleMom

AppleMom

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Hi, I got 3 beautiful piggies for a while now. And I don't have any problem with them at first. Recently I'm having a reaction on my skin after picking my piggies and cuddles with them. My skin get really itchy and big red spot comes out where they had there little nails. I try cutting there nails to see if it was there long nails. but no the allergy is getting worst. Have any of you guy have or had a similar reaction. Do you guys have any advice of why or what it's causing me to my skin reaction so bad. It's really itchy and it drives me crazy. Does it mean I can't pick up my piggies any more. Any advice will be appreciated.
 
I get the same... I take anti histamine before seeing my piggies or if I havent taken any after if I get the reaction. I think it might be there poop or pee that causes the reaction. I'm not sure. Or it could be the bedding.
 
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I used to have the same symptoms and took anti histamines for years when I had my last piggies but I had a four year break when they passed away and so far this time I've had no allergy in over a year. Another tip is to wear long sleeved tops so they aren't touching your skin this helps :)
 
Thank. That what I take. But the itching is so bad. Anywhere they touch me with there nails. I have a reaction right away. The first months I had them I had no problem. But now I'm taking pills after pills.
 
if they scratch my skin then it goes red too, though I am not allergic. Are you definitely allergic to the fur? You might have an issue with their hay/pollen. Hay is seasonal and will produce flowering grasses in late summer/autumn. It depends how fresh your hay is.. Fingers crossed the itching doesnt last!
 
It sounds to me like you're reacting to the pigs - the skin and urine contain 'spiky proteins' which is what causes an allergic reaction, you can become sensitised to things after exposure to them and have an increasing allergic response. Your skin is damaged when you're scratched and so the allergens coming into contact with damaged skin produces a more obvious reaction. You could perhaps try wiping their feet/claws with a wet cloth when you get them out so there's no urine on them, it might make a difference. You could also try a different antihistamine (make sure it's a different chemical not just a different brand), I've read that it can be helpful to keep up a rotation of different antihistamines as you rapidly build up a tolerance and they become less effective over time. Maybe also try to avoid ruffling up their fur (less dander) and cuddling them really close to you, sit them on a blanket or towel on your lap to stroke them and (as had been said) wear something long-sleeved when handling them.
 
I dont have a reaction to there hair. That's not the problem. It's when there nails touch my skin that I have a inmidietly reaction. It starts swelling and it get red and terrible itching. And the swelling and mark will last days. But not the itch. What can I do? I love my piggies and I love cuddling with them. I did not had this reaction at first. It just started one day and it seems it's staying.
 
Have you ever bathed the pigs? I have known someone who was helped, as their fur contained something that made her allergic, coming from a previous owner. Have you ruled out a hay or bedding allergy? A friend of mine has a hay allergy and I am allergic to store bought bedding. Also, if the pigs have mites, even a mild case, that has been known to cause allergies in humans.
 
I used to be completely allergic to my rex agouti i would sneeze, go red, itch and wheezed when holding him, but if i took piriton and put antihistamine cream on the red bits i could control it. sadly my beautiful boy died and i am fine with the two i have now, although i do get the occasional red lump and itch like last night! And when i did a deep clean yesterday there was a lot of hair as i bathed my long haired boy the other day so this made me sneeze a lot!
 
I have quite a bad allergy to my piggies (interestingly, it is worse with ginger pigs!) but I take anti-histamines daily, at night time, so it helps reduce the symptoms. I still get the occasional flair up, but it doesn't stop me from handling my pigs. You could try changing your clothes after handling them, as hairs tend to make me sneeze a fair bit, and perhaps look at their bedding? It may not be the pigs themselves, but the bedding they are on.

I would also recommend giving them baths and regularly grooming them to get rid of loose hairs and stuff that might give them dandruff.

Edit: you may think you are allergic to their nails specifically, but it may be that their nails are breaking the skin and so introducing the allergen to your body. I find that I have my worst reaction when the pigs have broken my skin, usually if they have scratched me (accidentally, of course!)
 
you could try putting a cream on the itch there are two that are recommended for itchy skin, one is called EURAX, this helps with lots of symptoms, insect bites chicken pox ect and is really good or the other used for dry skin conditions called E45 itch cream, both are very good. Hope this helps.
 
I also had this experience and later found out it was the mites on my piggie that was causing me to get little red whelts on my neck that itches so bad then I nipped the mites in the butt and went from shavings as bedding to only using fleece....towels....old sheets as his bedding. And NO MORE itching:))
 
Well I bathe my piggy once a month. They use pine shaving bedding. And I change it 3 or 4 times a week. I'm a neat freak. So my piggies are really clean. There hair won't cause me alergies. Or if I pick them up on my lap with pants. While I don't get them in direct contact to my skin. If I put them in my arm, chest or any were in my skin I get all cover in a big nasty red rash. Mites? I don't know much about it. I did take my piggies to the vet for a full check up. And they didn't have anything. But we never know. They live indoors with me. What are the signs to be looking for mites? I believe it's not mites. I'll have to call the vet and make a appointment for all my 5 piggies.
 
Did a lot of research after you guys suggested mites. And no. My piggies don't have any signs of it. No hair loss or itching. Only the grooming they do daily or a itchy spot. But nothing severe like I read with a case of mites. And I bathe mine once a month. Clean there cage and even spray them with a special spray to prevent any skin problem. And like I said before I change there bedding 3 or 4 times a week. So I think it's just my body and my allergies acting up any ways they can. So I have bought a full stock on allergy medicine and itching cream.
 
Mites wouldn't effect you anyway as species specific. Just a thought but the pine shavings contain oil, might be them what is causing the allergy or even the spray you are using.
 
My partner Alex comes up in a small rash on his left arm when ever he has cuddle time with Patches. We think it could be the dander in the fur because he has longer hair than our other one, or it could be their bedding. We currently are using wood shavings but are looking to change to fleece blankets A.S.A.P.
 
I used to use paper bedding for my piggies. But at two day with it. It smell really bad. So I try pine shaving. And its wonderful and more affordable. Since I have 5 piggies at the moment. Soon I don't know how many I will have with my older girl pregnant. But I get my rash with my 3 older piggies. And all 3 are different breeds. If the touch my skin I get itchy. And 2 of my older have short hair. Only one has medium hair length. I notice to that the hay will make me itchy also. I'm stuck with allergies medicine daily. It's worth it. I love my piggies.
 
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