Piggies and My Allergies

lounge_kitty · #1 04-10-06, 08:47 am

Hey I am new here, something kinda bugging me.
Lately I've been getting sick- my sinus acting up more than usual. I keep my piggy in my room n my parents think she's the cause. I've had her abt 4mths now but my probs hav only emerged now.

If she is the cause, how can i take precautions but still keep her in my room? Is it a health risk keeping piggies in bedrooms? My mom wud like her absolutely GONE but i'll never even put her in another room much less give her away. Any help appreciated.

thanks..

**nikilovesdogs** · #2 04-10-06, 09:50 am

Have you ever been to an allergist? If not, I would recommend that your parents take you to one.

There is no health risk with having your guinea pigs in your bedroom. Many of us here do that.

Right now, OTC (over-the-counter) medications might help. In addition, please note that many areas have elevated pollen levels in the U.S. right now, and that wreaks havoc on allergies as well this time of year.

**TNpigowner** · #3 04-10-06, 10:03 am

I take benadril. haha. I have had reactions to the bedding. Sometimes it's really fine "dust" (usually it's not) and it gets my dust related allergies going. Sometimes i have problems with their "potty spots".

We do alot of spot cleaning and try to find the kiln dried low dust bedding that is actually LOW in dust.

An air filter might help too.

**fourbwabbys** · #4 04-10-06, 10:45 am

My mom's allergic to their pee and gets bad sinus infections if she's by them for too long. We just moved them into another room that she's not in often, and it's gotten loads better. Allergy medicines such as claritin or allegra also work well.

lounge_kitty · #5 04-10-06, 09:09 pm

Thank for the answers!

I took clarityne and it just made it worse. Perhaps its not an allergy but a full on flu.

I don't live in the US, I am in Malaysia so the weather is more or less the same all year round. My dad is still adamant about taking her elsewhere. I'll have to really think up a way to change his mind.

More ideas welcome and appreciated! thanks.

**Disney Pigs** · #6 05-01-06, 02:23 pm

I have allergies to my piggies too. Mine are contact allergies not sinus. I have used AllerPet-C to wipe my guys down with. It has helped I have also built up a tolerance to them as well. Try that.

**LBKK** · #7 05-01-06, 02:39 pm

What kind of bedding are you using? Maybe try switching to fleece with puppy pads underneath. The puppy pads absorb all of the pee and you dont get the dust that you do with shavings.....and it's cheaper!

**Disney Pigs** · #8 05-01-06, 02:41 pm

I use a combination of aspen and carefresh. I have recently tried Hunt Club bedding.

**LBKK** · #9 05-01-06, 03:31 pm

I personally swear by fleece.....then again, I've also got a 3 x 5 1st level, a 2 x4 2nd level and a 2 x2 3rd level. If I were still using Carefresh, I'd probably need to re-mortgage my house just to cover the cost of bedding!!! LOL

**Disney Pigs** · #10 05-01-06, 06:11 pm

Are your guys potty trained? I've often wondered about fleece. Do you wash it or throw it away when soiled? How often do you change it? Your cage sounds great! Is it posted here in any of the photo galleries/ If fleece would work out, I'd look into it. Between my 3x5 cage with a 1 x 5 loft and another 2 x 4 cage with a 1 x 2 loft and multiple rabbit litter boxes to clean, I have more trash than I can shake a stick at. Plus my cage cleaning time would cut in half. Please give me more info on the fleece.

**Aertyn** · #11 05-01-06, 06:20 pm

You wash the fleece. And if you type fleee into the search box, you will get a lot of ideas and tips about how to use it besst.

Mum and I just switched to fleece, and we love it, it's cheap, easy to spot clean, and dries fast when you wash, which is good because it's nearly winter here. And the pigs love it.

**LBKK** · #12 05-02-06, 08:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disney Pigs

Are your guys potty trained? I've often wondered about fleece. Do you wash it or throw it away when soiled? How often do you change it? Your cage sounds great! Is it posted here in any of the photo galleries/ If fleece would work out, I'd look into it. Between my 3x5 cage with a 1 x 5 loft and another 2 x 4 cage with a 1 x 2 loft and multiple rabbit litter boxes to clean, I have more trash than I can shake a stick at. Plus my cage cleaning time would cut in half. Please give me more info on the fleece.

Unfortunately they aren't so much potty trained. They generally keep it to the 2nd level though (this level they eat, pee and poop). The 1st level is their play area, and the 3rd level is their "sleeping quarters"......mind you half the time, my little Keira decides to redecorate and moves her pigloo to the 2nd level!

As for cleaning, I have a dust pan and a brush that I sweep up the poop on a daily basis. Before I "super-sized" their cage, I changed the bedding twice a week. Now that it's so big, once a week generally does it for the 1st and 3rd level, and twice a week for the 2nd. I have 2 sets of fleece that I use and what I do I sweep all excess fur, hay, etc off and then toss it in the washer. Once I am done washing it, I run an empty load with hot water and bleach to sterilize it and ensure my washer doesn't plug up. I also put a thick layer of newspaper underneath the fleece to absorb the pee. Here's the links to all my pics!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...nyandKeiko.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...koandKeira.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c46/LBKK/3rdLevel.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...MeandBritt.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c4...ggiePalace.jpg

**Disney Pigs** · #13 05-02-06, 02:36 pm

Thanks for the info!! I'm going to try fleece. You did an amazing job on your cage!!

**LBKK** · #14 05-02-06, 03:54 pm

Your very welcome. I'm glad you like my "Piggie Palace"!! Let me know how the fleece works out!

**Disney Pigs** · #15 05-07-06, 05:12 pm

I just switched to fleece. My guys are not potty trained. What is the easiest way to clean up the poop on a daily basis? How often should I change the fleece to keep the smell down?

**guinea_pig_luva** · #16 05-07-06, 05:23 pm

That's a good idea. I will try it.

**Cavyslavesteph** · #17 05-07-06, 11:27 pm

As far as allergies, it could also be the hay they are eating. Many people here have allergies that flare up when using timothy hay, but pigs can have other kinds as well. As long as it is a grass hay, the pigs are fine, and other types of grass hays seem to be more hypo-allergenic. Some grass hays you could try are brome, meadow, orchard, or bluegrass hay.

Thank you Disney Pigs for this useful post, says:
guinea_pig_luva (05-07-06)

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