Help! Allergy and BReathing Problems!

[jordan60831]

I have two male chins. I rescued them almost 2 yrs ago when their owners could no longer care for them. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I have done tons of research. They were from two separate homes, it took a year to introduce them safely, and now they live together in a 5' cage very happily. They appear to be thriving emotionally and physically. I am the one suffering. I constantly cough and have a sore throat. I stopped using loose hay, and started using the compressed hay blocks. I found receyled bedding that should have less dust. I was told to try putting a sheet over the cage when they have their dust baths so it doesnt get blown around. I also purchased two air purifiers. Any other suggestions? I need some relief because I do not want to send them to another home.

 

[ChinnyMom]

stay doped up on benadryl for the rest of the time the chin babies are alive? lol.

sorry i can't be of much help, but maybe speaking with your doctor about a long term allergy medication prescription might be a good start?

 

[caiti]

Do you take antihistamines daily? You could try using different types of hay that you don't know you're allergic to. I know some people use gloves and masks when handling whatever they are allergic to as well. There's also allergy shots that people get; they desensitize you to the allergen so you're immune system doesn't react that way. I don't know which ones they have, you'd have to ask your allergist.

Have you been having problems since they came to you? Is it possible that it's something else?

My only advice would be to try and pinpoint exactly what you're allergic to and go from there. Allergy tests can help with that.

 

[jordan60831]

I take the medication on bad days. I have an allergy to grass/hay in general. breathing and to the touch. it seems to be better with the changes ive already made. i have had problems them the entire time ive had them, but once they were there I wasn't going to send them away.

 

[Stackie]

I have an air purifier and it has done wonders for me. I also switched to fleece liners because wood shavings would cause me to wheeze for days. The air purifier helps with the dust and loose fur.

 

[Mcrew7]

I have asthma on top of my allergies and I have found that Singulair coupled with Allegra D work best for me with combating my allergies, the dust and hay rarely bother me now and the chins live in the same room as me. I was on Zyrtec, but it just didn't do much for me. I also get shots for my allergies once ever week.

 

[jordan60831]

I will try the liners! also, thank you for the medication suggestions!

 

[Godofgods]

i no the feelin man. its beyond horrid. Ever since becoming disable my allergies have gone absolutly berserk. Im even allergic to toilet paper now wtf...

With the chins, for me is mostly the sand bath dust that aggravate mine. Now i give them their baths rights before i go to bed, and leave my air purifier on all night. So its not bad when i get up. I also have a ton of dust masks that i use if needed. Their also a decent preventative measure before baths or cleaning a cage. Even if its only a little

 

[Godofgods]

I have asthma on top of my allergies and I have found that Singulair coupled with Allegra D work best for me with combating my allergies, the dust and hay rarely bother me now and the chins live in the same room as me. I was on Zyrtec, but it just didn't do much for me. I also get shots for my allergies once ever week.

so u get allergy shots which stay with you, then take singulair, and then take allegra D.. all at once?

 

[Mcrew7]

I go to my allergist for my shots once a week (it's for my allergies with grass, weeds, cats, dogs, and a few other things) Because I refuse to get rid of my pets and have a large collection of stuffed animals (over 300 & the allergist said something about my collection harboring allergens, those stuffed animals aren't going anywhere either lol) the Singulair and Allegra D that I take daily are just to combat the every day flare ups with allergies. Allergy flare ups can cause asthma attacks in my case so I have to be on meds like this unfortunately (I was hospitalized in the ICU for asthma complications back in '08) but it's all good because in the end I'm alive, and I get to keep my pets and stuffed animal collection! I do own an air purifier as well as a large fan that helps circulate the air in my room; in all I take about 5-6 different meds a day to keep myself "normal". I'm stubborn and I refuse to let this asthma and these allergies defeat me lol

 

[Godofgods]

could u wash the stuffed animals? i no back in the day you could

 

[Sesame]

I'm in a similar boat with you with the allergy/asthma issues and use a medication regiment similar to Mcrew7.

Just a few things to add:
- Use face masks when giving them a dust bath and when you really need to get in there to clean. I also use latex gloves as well.
- Vacuum daily and do minor cage cleaning daily with a dustpan to keep residual dust levels down in fleece houses and shelves.
- Do use the air purifiers, but don't forget to change out the filters when needed.

 

[Mcrew7]

could u wash the stuffed animals? i no back in the day you could

Yes, I can wash my stuffed animals, it's just that some of them are pretty rare and worth a lot (Ty beanie babies, classics, and buddies), the ones that are in my collection stay in my closet where they will be safe. I do have some that reside on my bed and they do get washed.

 

[Chub_Chub]

Just a few things to add:
- Use face masks when giving them a dust bath and when you really need to get in there to clean. I also use latex gloves as well.
- Vacuum daily and do minor cage cleaning daily with a dustpan to keep residual dust levels down in fleece houses and shelves.
- Do use the air purifiers, but don't forget to change out the filters when needed.

I agree with all the above, especially the vacuuming and air filters. I've had progressively worse allergies since getting my furballs.. I've changed to fleece, and have my BF handle anything related to loose hay and dusting, and its made a HUGE difference. I also go the extra mile and buy high end air filters for my AC unit, I can tell the difference immediately. We also use a more expesive filter for our shop vac for cleaning the chins areas that is more allergen-trapping.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Two air purifiers - wow. May I ask what type you're talking about?

For instance, I have a friend with an air *ionizer* that's supposed to purify the air... but I don't really notice it doing too much. In contrast, I've experienced HEPA filters working miracles on reducing allergens... provided they're the right size for the room - it's quite possible to get one that's too small for the space you're trying to filter.

Sorry you're going through the allergy mess I hope some of these ideas will end up helping out soon.

 

[jordan60831]

its the HEPA kind, the ionizer does othing for ther dust lol

 

[Luci]

i really would suggest seeing an allergist. I had to go a year ago and learned that since i lived in such a humid environment, none of the main allergens died off so my "seasonal allergies" became year round. since i have allergies so much, i have to be doped up on benadryl any time im gonna be around cats or other animals that cause me to sneeze.

this isnt just about you owning chins...over time your nasal passages will become too sensitive and may develop scar tissue that is easily inflamed. simple allergy medicines used to do the trick when it came to being around my sisters cats. now each time ive spent a week or so with her, ive ended up with a URI or bronchitis...its not fun. allergies lead to sinus issues which lead to bigger complications. it really wouldnt hurt to see an allergist. i say this since i personally suffer from allergies.

 

[greychins]

It really does help to see a doctor, maybe even a specialist. I have severe asthma and allergies, my pulmonologist said my lungs work at 80% (while on all medications) so I really can't afford to be wheezing all day. It took many tries with different combos of medicines, but we finally found a combo that works pretty good. I'm happy anyway. Now I'm on Zyrtec, the generic for Flonase, Advair, and albuterol when I need it, and between all of this, I can stay around the chins for a reasonable amount of time each day. I still do need to get an air purifier down there, because if I forget to take my Advair in the morning, I can't spend 5 mins near the chins without an asthma attack.

I used to have an air purifier with an ionizer... my doctor actually told me to get rid of it. He said that the ionizer emits ozone, which is bad for people with asthma. I've since read that somewhere in some health magazine. The amazing thing was that once I got rid of the ionizer, I was significantly less miserable (that was before I had my herd of chins though, I only had a few then). I would never have guessed that that was aggravating my conditions so much.

For awhile I was actually doing ok regarding the watery eyes and sneezing... but I could never breathe through my nose, I was always stuffed up. For me, the answer was the generic Flonase - and I did have to try several others, because nasal sprays like that really depend on the PH of your body to work... several I tried just made me sneeze and sneeze and sneeze... and if you're always stuffed up, at least for me, the nasal spray really does the trick. It takes awhile for them to kick in, but once they do, it's like *breathes* ahhhh I can breathe in through my nose! LOL.

With the dust, though, blue sparkle doesn't kill me too bad, but when it's show season (like now) and we're using blue cloud, I HAVE to use one of those surgical masks if I'm down there and they're dusting. I'm actually considering getting one of those masks with those changeable filters because the blue cloud makes me hack for days.

... but using all of this stuff, I'm doing pretty good and can still have the chins, so I'm happy *thumbs up*

 

[Ronda]

Since you only have 2 chins why not try dusting them outside (weather permitting). If that doesn't work try the bathtub and pull the curtain. That way you can wash the excess dust down the drain. You can also stop using any type of hay or hay cubes to see if that will help stop some of your problems. As you probably know in testing alergies they take everything away and start adding things back into your diet. Well trying that with the chins can work too. When you find the culpret then try to find another way of giving them what they need without using that product.

Good luck!

Ronda

 

[readingchinlover]

Really bad allergies!!

I have never had allergies all my life and now with the addition of a chin rescue I recently added, I am having real problems with coughing, sore throat etc. I purchased a mask but that seems to make matters worse, any special kind of mask anyone reccomend. I am older and my husband and myself are both having the same symptoms, really hate to part with them but I cant stand this coughing ect. I only have the two but they are in a small room .:cry3: