Allergies

[aashly23]

In the last few weeks I've started to think I have an allergy to my chins. No worries I have no intentions of getting rid of my babies. I thought at first it was just seasonal allergies but it gets worse every time I do a cage cleaning. I bought a shop vac so that cleaning is easier but a little while ago I cleaned the cage and refilled the hay pouch and now my hand is covered in whelps and itches like crazy. I've had a dog in the house for 3 years and never had any issues. So I'm guessing it must be a mixture of the chin fur, hay and dust baths. Anyway the reason for posting this is to ask if any of you have allergies when it comes to your chins. If so what do you do to help? I've been taking allegra but it's not helping and I thought about buying zyrtec tomorrow.

 

[Chub_Chub]

I thought my allergies were just seasonal until I would sneeze like crazy after handling the hay for my boys. So now my BF gets the hay for me :kiss: I still have to take an OTC allergy med every day too just having all of the hay and dust, etc in the air. Best of luck.

 

[aashly23]

So what OTC med works for you?

 

[Brittany]

The dust used to make me break out on my face. We switched from an open bowl to bath house which only has an opening for the chins to crawl through. This keeps the dust out of the air. On days when they bathe I don't kiss them or let them jump on my head (If I'm sitting down they think I'm the human jungle gym) I also wash my hands when we're done interacting.

 

[alli713]

You could be allergic to the hay, it seems like most people that get allergic are allergic to the hay. Do you feed timothy hay? You could try another grass hay like Orchard grass or Bermuda grass and see if it's any better. Or else wear gloves when handling the hay. Wearing a dust mask while giving them their dust baths can help too.

 

[Chub_Chub]

So what OTC med works for you?

Mine is a store brand generic from Walmart. It works ok. I have a nasal spray perscription one, but it makes my nose really dry and I smell flowers all day when I use it, so I prefer the pills. Yes. I'm weird.

 

[Sandi]

I found nothing over the counter that worked for me. I have had seasonal allergies for a very long time that have become more severe as I've aged, ugh! I also have allergy induced asthma which is why I began Allergy Immune Therapy 9 months ago. These are the prescription medicines I take only when needed NOT every day - Symbicort (inhaler) Flonase (nasal spray) Singulair (allergy pill)

I clean my boys' cages 2 times per week with spot cleaning every day, I wear a very good dust mask and I buy the cheap thin disposable plastic gloves that you can get for under $2.00 dollars for over 2 months worth. I have not needed any allergy medicines when I clean the cages since I've purchased the mask & gloves.

 

[sinfulcindylou]

I have allergies to the hay- and haven't been able to find anything OTC that really works. So my solution? I try to wear long sleeves and gloves when I touch it, and I hold my breath and turn my face away from it when I'm handling it. LOL. It's a bit ridiculous, but it helps a little when I don't breath it in or have direct contact w/ my skin.

 

[brittiny]

=O I'm not the only one this is happening to?

I've had animals all my life. In high school, I started having sneezing marathons everytime my cat would jump on me.
When I had only one chin it wasn't so bad, but when I got another one it became worse.
Itchy watery eyes, runny nose, and at sometimes horrible weezing before bed, like I can't breath.
Jeremy cleans the cage for me:kiss: so I won't have such a bad reaction. I tried a bag of aspen bedding once and it would give me tiny bumps up my arms and make me very itchy. Right now, we're using the plain ECO bedding since it's the only bedding that doesn't make me itchy so far and once we get our FN I'm switching to fleece liners.

I've tried all types of OTC things, and a few prescription pills, but nothing helps completely. I'm debating on getting an allergy test when I get the money.