Knowing What To Do About Mild Allergic Reactions To Your Guinea Pigs
Sadly there isnt a cure for allergies but sometimes kids outgrow them in time, which is worth bearing in mind if it is your child who is affected.
In addition to the tips provided above, if you know that your pet is causing your allergies, you should be able to ask a doctor or pharmacist for guidance on over-the-counter treatments to ease mild discomfort, such as:
- Eye drops
You could also try natural allergy remedies including:
- Nasal barrier balm, such as Haymax
- Essential oils – lavender and chamomile have anti-inflammatory properties and which are often used in diffusers or as sprays.
Fellow piggy parent and influencer, , swears by Chamomile water as she says it helps calm down the allergies when she finds her skin gets itchy after handling her guinea pigs.
Other tips for reducing allergy symptoms include:
What Are The Symptoms Of Guinea Pig Allergies
If you find yourself or anyone living in your house or friends sneezing or coughing a lot when they are around your guinea pig, then its likely they are affected by it. Other symptoms associated with guinea pigs include being out of breath, itchy eyes, and rashes.
Guinea pigs also carry numerous diseases which they can transmit to human beings. Some of these illnesses include:
- Choriomeningitis
- Hymenolepis nana
Wash Your Hands After Handling
You should obviously be washing your hands often anyway, but it can be easy to forget that this will also help with allergies.
The most common way for allergens to get into your body is via the mouth, eyes, and nose. So touching your guinea pig and then touching your face without washing your hands is certain to cause an allergic reaction.
You should wash your hands after handling and petting your guinea pig, and also after cleaning their cage. It is also a good idea to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to your guinea pigs cage.
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Living With Guinea Pig Allergies
CavySpirit.com
If you are truly committed to your companion animals, there is almost always a way. I cannot imagine life without mine, so a little suffering is worth it ten-fold! by Laurie Ansberry.
The information on this page is not intended to be used as medical advice. This is a compilation of multiple sources about allergies and suggestions for dealing with and living with allergies. Please consult your physician or allergist for proper medical advice.
AllergiesSigns include itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, a skin rash, and anaphylactic shock .
Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Asthma, which is a respiratory reaction that causes difficulty in breathing.
- Rhinitis, which is characterized by a stuffy, runny nose.
- Conjunctivitis, which is an inflammation or infection of the eyes.
- Eczema, a skin rash which can be itchy and inflamed.Guinea pigs distribute allergen in the urine in the bedding. This allergen easily becomes airborne when the animal scurries around in its cage.
If you do not test positive for guinea pig allergies, work with your allergist to determine a cause. You may be allergic to the hay. You may be allergic to pine or aspen bedding . Some people have switched from pine bedding to aspen bedding and their allergy symptoms go away! Many have switched from pine to CareFresh or Yesterdays News and their allergies go away.
Excellent Reading
What Is A Pet Allergy
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reports that almost 62% of all households in the U.S. have pets, with over 161 million of these pets being cats and dogs.
Animals without fur, like reptiles, amphibians and fish, do not shed dander so they have less of a chance of triggering an allergic reaction. But any mammal, like cats and dogs, as well as guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters, etc. shed dead skin cells called dander which is most likely to trigger an allergy.
Besides dander, people with pet allergies can also be allergic to the proteins that are present in pet saliva, urine and feces.
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Can Guinea Pigs Eat Pistachio Ice Cream
If we werent able to convince you that pistachios are bad for your guinea pig, then pistachio ice-cream is even worse, because it contains more calories and extra sugar.
Thats not all, this ice-cream is made out of ingredients which arent suitable for the pig either, such as cream, milk and other dairy items. Since the pigs are unable to digest milk, or any milk related product, that makes it extra bad for them to eat this ice-cream. So, no, they cant eat it.
How To Live With Guinea Pig Allergies
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Most of us have allergies to something, whether it be dust, animal dander, or pollen. But what if youre allergic to guinea pigs? You may feel like your life is over because you cant live with these furry little critters anymore!
Or can you?
I scoured Internet forums and Facebook groups looking for a response to my question, How do you live with your guinea pig allergies?
Specifically, I investigated:
- How many people rehomed their piggies
- What caused the allergies
- Percentage of people who used different solutions
- Less commonly known solutions to guinea pig allergy issues
Many people have guinea pig allergies and are looking for ways to live with it. The good news is there are steps you can take to deal with it!
In this blog post well highlight 12 terrific tips to help you live with your guinea pig allergies.
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Where To Get More Information About Guinea Pig Allergies
If you are still experiencing allergy symptoms, you may need to manage them with antihistamines or other medications. . Talk to your pharmacist, doctor or allergy specialist about what is right for you.
You can also have testing for guinea pig allergies to determine if you are allergic. Read more about allergy testing in our post All about genuine allergy testing the tests specialists use And if you have severe allergies to hay it is possible to have immunotherapy. Again, talk to your allergy specialist. Ive decided not to have immunotherapy for my guinea pig allergy for a few practical reasons, that I talk about here: Important questions to ask about starting allergy shots .
1 Zacharisen, M C, Levy, M B, Shaw, JL and Kurup, V P , Severe allergic reactions to guinea pig, Clinical and Molecular Immunology, 3, 14.
*Disclaimer: Allergy Spot does not provide medical advice. You should always consult a suitably qualified medical practitioner in respect of your own medical conditions, symptoms or concerns. See our Website Terms for more details.
How Do You Know If You Are Allergic To Guinea Pigs
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Thankfully, for the most part, allergic reactions to pets are on the mild side and rarely result in death. Allergy sufferers that come into close contact with an animal may experience skin irritations such as itching, rashes or welts, or respiratory problems including hay fever or asthma.
Signs you may have a guinea pig allergy include:
- Runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or tightness of the throat
Unfortunately, if you, or a member of your family, experiences any of these symptoms around your piggy, then there is a very good chance you are allergic to it. However, its not all bad news.
When it comes to guinea pigs, its not their hair that causes allergens. Instead, cavy parents with allergies will more than likely react to their piggys saliva, urine, and even the dust or pollen particles in the wood shavings or hay.
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Coping With Guinea Pig Allergies
Our guinea pigs are part of the family. They are loved by all of us, especially the kids. In our family, a pet is for life unless something drastic happens. So we are not keen to find a new home for our furry friends.
There are lots of things we do to manage guinea pig allergies. I definitely recommending trying these first, so that rehoming is really a last resort. Obviously if someone in your family has severe allergies to guinea pigs that cause serious symptoms, you would need to take more drastic steps. Otherwise try these tips.
Where to keep your guinea pigs home
Never keep your guinea pigs in the bedroom. You might think that you should keep their cage outside the house altogether. However it is really important to keep in mind that these little guys cant tolerate temperature extremes. The ideal temperature is around 18-23C . We keep ours inside give them regular outside time in a safe run on days that are not too hot or too cold.
Keep the hay under control
If hay is causing or contributing to your allergies:
Cleaning the cage
Cleaning your guinea pigs cage regularly and not letting allergens build up is really important.
- Preferably get someone else to clean out your guinea pigs cage.
- Make sure you clean the cage outside
- If you have to do it yourself, wear gloves and a mask of face covering while you do it and again, wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Handling your guinea pig
Guinea pigs shouldnt just be left in a cage, they need some love and attention!
How To Cope With Your Guinea Pig Hay Allergy
Use good quality, dust extracted hay, keep it in a closed container to reduce air pollution, open windows during cage cleans, and use an air purifier to remove tiny irritants from the air such as dust and hay particles, like who says: Air Purifier with HEPA filter is .
Wear sunglasses or goggles and one of those fabric face masks that you probably have hanging around right now, to protect your eyes and airways when handing hay.
You should also wear gloves and long-sleeved tops when handling hay to protect your skin from irritation from hay, as wooarkansascavies recommends: My husband has developed an allergy to timothy hay and he has never had any allergies before. He wears an N95 mask when he helps clean up and a pair of nitrile gloves.
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Can You Be Allergic To Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs have been used as laboratory animals for a long time.
As a result, there are plenty of documented cases of an allergic reaction to guinea pigs in animal handlers. And while severe guinea pig allergies are rare, they can occur.
Before you panic about potential conflict between your guinea pig and allergies, however, there are a few other things to keep in mind.
Many pet stores sell cedar shavings as bedding and timothy hay as food.
These and other bedding supplies and animal forages can also cause allergies in people.
Try switching your guinea pig to a new type of bedding to see if that helps your allergies.
And talk to your veterinarian about alternate forages that wont set off your allergies.
If this doesnt help your suspected guinea pig allergies, it might be time to have a discussion with your doctor.
Change The Hay Or Wood Shavings
We have already mentioned that your guinea pig might not be causing your allergic reactions. Instead, it could be the dust or pollen particles in the wood shavings or hay, certain oils or fragrances in these products or the hay and shavings themselves. An allergy test will help you identify exactly whats triggering your allergic reactions.
Change to products that have had the dust removed and avoid anything with added fragrances or oils. You could also swap hay and shavings for fleece bedding which will reduce your exposure to possible allergens.
Take a look at how to set up a guinea pig hutch using fleece bedding.
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Symptoms Of An Allergic Reaction
As already discussed, sneezing, coughing, wheezing and runny nose are symptoms of an allergic reaction. However, those arent the only ones.
Eye irritation, hives, redness on the skin, skin rashes, eczema, conjunctivitis, asthma, and rhinitis are also signs that your body is averse to a particular allergen .
In severe cases, the bodys immune response can be life-threatening.
In such a scenario, you or anyone with a severe allergy will experience shortness of breath, dizziness, low pulse, and airway constriction.
And naturally, if that happens, you must run to the emergency room immediately to revert the anaphylactic shock.
Clean Clean And Clean Some More
It is essential to keep your guinea pigs cage clean, as well as the room where its kept. Regular cleaning and vacuuming with a good quality vacuum cleaner will reduce the number of allergens, and alleviate common allergy symptoms. Replace old and soiled bedding regularly and give the cage a thorough clean at least once a month.
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Is There A Guinea Pig Allergy Cure
There is no cure for allergies.
However, there are things you can do to help mitigate your symptoms without giving up your pet.
First, make sure that it is your guinea pig and not the bedding or feed that is the problem.
You can do this by seeing your doctor for a referral for allergy testing or by process of elimination.
Once you have established that it is the cavy that is giving you allergies, there are steps you can take to relieve the worst of your symptoms.
If at all possible, dont keep the guinea pig cage in your bedroom. This will aggravate your allergies as you sleep.
You should also avoid playing with your guinea pig in your bedroom or on your bed or other furniture.
Perhaps the only good news about your allergies are that they mean you can delegate cage cleaning to another family member.
The urine in the cage will make your allergies worse. If you cannot delegate, wear a face mask and gloves and rise off any dusty residue after cleaning.
When you play with your guinea pigs, try to keep them away from your face, and always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your guinea pig. You may want to wash your clothes as well.
Your doctor may have additional strategies and solutions for handling pet allergies, so be sure to consult with him or her about the best course of action for you or your family member with guinea pig allergies.
Causes Of Different Allergic Reactions
Different allergies are caused when your immune system comes into contact with pet hair, mold, or even pollen.
When you have an allergic reaction, your body produces antibodies because these substances are identified as harmful when they are not.
This is why, when you are near pet hair or pet skin, your body is responding and releasing antibodies that make it harder to breathe because of inflammation of your nasal passage or even your lungs.
If this keeps happening for a long time without any change in your environment or dietary habits, the inflammation will only increase and lead to an asthmatic reaction.
Allergies can be caused by various pets. Cats, dogs, hamsters, and guinea pigs are a few of the most common pets that can trigger an allergic reaction and cause respiratory issues like asthma.
Heres how this works: When your pet sheds its hair, it can easily stick to the furniture or your clothes.
Your pets saliva can also cause an allergic reaction, which can be found on carpets or even your bedding.
The only pet that may not cause any allergic reactions are fish since they do not shed fur or salivate in your home.
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Can Guinea Pigs Have Antihistamine
Antihistamines can be given to guinea pigs, but they should only be used as directed by a veterinarian. Guinea pigs are susceptible to allergies, and histamines are released during an allergic reaction. This can cause inflammation and other symptoms such as sneezing, wheezing, and watery eyes. Antihistamines can help to relieve these symptoms by blocking the action of histamines. However, it is important to use the lowest effective dose and only give the medication for as long as needed. Overuse of antihistamines can lead to side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth. If you think your guinea pig may have an allergy, talk to your vet about the best way to treat it.
Does That Mean You Should Be Concerned About The Allergic Reaction
No, until and unless you are a sensitive person you should not be much worried about allergies to guinea pigs. See, any pet can cause an allergic reaction to any person but that doesnt mean you cannot own a pet.
Many people even who are allergic enjoy sharing their homes with there pets but many people believe once they are diagnosed with an allergy to a pet they cannot have any pets. Today we are going to break this myth.
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Can You Give Benadryl To Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are adorable little creatures that can make great pets. They love to play and have a lot of fun personalities. However, sometimes they can get sick just like any other animal. Many people have a question about whether or not you can give Benadryl to guinea pigs. In this blog post, we will answer that question and provide some information on Benadryl and its effects on guinea pigs.
Benadryl is an over-the-counter medication that is commonly used to treat allergies in humans. However, you can also use it to treat other conditions such as colds, motion sickness, and insomnia. The active ingredient in Benadryl is diphenhydramine hydrochloride. This substance works by blocking the histamine receptors in the body, which reduces the symptoms of allergies.
So can you give Benadryl to guinea pigs? The answer is yes, but only under certain circumstances and with the guidance of a veterinarian. Guinea pigs are much smaller than humans, so they will require a smaller dose of Benadryl. The veterinarian will be able to determine the correct dosage for your guinea pig based on their weight and condition.
Benadryl can be given to guinea pigs orally. If you are giving it orally, you can mix the correct dosage with some water and syringe feed it to your guinea pig.
