Allergy advice?

[Muze]

Im hoping someone can give me some advice if they have been through the same thing.

I have recently been diagnosed with asthma and with that seems to have come a serious allergy to nearly all things furry, which is a huge problem as i keep quite a few different sp. The main problem is it tends to affect my breathing, giving me asthmatic symptoms all the time aswell as cold/flu type effects. Handling certain pets also brings me out in raised lumps and bumps/itching and extremely sore watering eyes that feels like i have grit or sand in them. My GP has told me that i have to get rid of everything , now i will not be getting rid of my dog, hamsters, bald rats or multis as these dont seem to trigger it.

I was wondering if anyone else here has/does suffer a similar sort of thing and wether there is any treatment for it i can ask for (over the counter anti allergy stuff doesnt work), so i dont have to rehome my other pets.

This has completeley come out of the blue and the allergies only started up about a year or so ago...gradually getting worse until i got the asthma diagnosis about 2 months ago and things seem to be getting worse since then even with the inhalers. Any help would be greatly appreciated

[KathyM]

Believe it or not I am (mildly) allergic to rats and allergic to cats, but I have hardened off to it and it doesn't bother me as much as it does you (mine is mostly nasal and skin reactions). There is a shampoo you can get for the pets, Petal Cleanse, that apparently helps as it removes the dander from the coats that sets allergies off. However, some allergies are contact with saliva/urine too so keeping skin contact to a minimum is all that can help in those cases. Rat wee and cat saliva/nails are what sets me off most - I don't have cats any more but I have quite a few rats.

Have you had the blood tests done for the specific animals? The docs told me Connie was allergic to the pets and we had to remove them, but when she had the blood tests it proved she is not allergic to any animals we keep. It can also be their bedding that sets you off rather than the animals themselves, so keeping to cardboard or paper based bedding can really help.

Lloyd's Pharmacy do a cheapy air purifier that costs about a tenner and clears a room nicely, that might help as it really did with us.

[Muze]

thx for that hun

Bedding was the first thing i thought of, so everyone is on cardboard and fleece here. We have air purifiers going and windows open slightly in every room and i even sleep with our bedroom window open lol

Im pretty sure its the rodents here as as soon as i handle them or walk past a cage (even straight after cleaning) it sets me off. But will ask for specific tests when i go to see my GP tomorrow as i know dust doesnt help either and i have to hoover every day.

I will try and get hold of that shampoo you mention and see what results i get

[Shell195]

Use Petal Cleanse. Get a damp flannel and apply the solution wipe over the animal then towel dry, do this once a week and it will help your allergies a lot. You can buy it at large petshops, Boots or online

[KathyM]

Good luck and if I can help at all give me a yell. Those air purifiers should help too as they really strip everything out of the air and really help with the smell too.

The thing we learned is that GPs are very quick to blame pets for asthma and allergies and often without basis - if you haven't had the tests they can't tell you it's the animals. From your symptoms it sounds like it is, but I would try and narrow it down with the testing, as it might help work out the next plan of action - even with the worst news these things can be managed (dependent on the extent of the symptoms of course).

Anything at all, feel free to yell xx

[Muze]

That's 2 people recommending that...so im off to boots later


Thank you!

[Muze]

Originally Posted by KathyM

Good luck and if I can help at all give me a yell. Those air purifiers should help too as they really strip everything out of the air and really help with the smell too.

The thing we learned is that GPs are very quick to blame pets for asthma and allergies and often without basis - if you haven't had the tests they can't tell you it's the animals. From your symptoms it sounds like it is, but I would try and narrow it down with the testing, as it might help work out the next plan of action - even with the worst news these things can be managed (dependent on the extent of the symptoms of course).

Anything at all, feel free to yell xx

Thanks so much! As its really been getting me down.

I have an appointment first thing at my GP's tomorrow and will ask for a refferal to get testing done

[KathyM]

No worries, I absolutely remember what it felt like when Connie was ill and the docs were telling me we had to home out all our animals and laminate floor the whole house. It was really very stressful and upsetting, especially for Connie who is as animal mad as me, but the docs had to eat their words as she's not allergic to any animals that we keep. They can test for most specific species - they had no problem finding a test to run for rat allergy.

From what you've said I would expect the worst but even then at least you will know 100% what you are facing. However, apparently it is much more common to have normal dust mites set off asthma than pets. Best of luck!

[pigglywiggly]

i have breathing problems now and again, and taking the capet out and having laminate floor in my bedroom helped loads, as well as getting a decent hepa vaccuum

i think its the bedding i`m allergic to rather than the fluffies.

[Muze]

Ive already had downstairs done out in wood flooring and have a hepa vacuum ...its just so frustrating

As Kathy has recommended i will deffo get allergy tests for the specific rodents i keep.