Hayfever from Pigs' cage?

[muffin]

Hello all, does anyone who suffers from hayfever find that it is triggered by their pigs' cage? I really want to adopt guinea pigs, but after a lot of careful consideration about their needs my only concern is whether my partner's hayfever will be triggered by the hay in their cage. I know that some hay undergoes dust-extraction etc, but if he does start to show symptoms, do you think it would answer their needs to provide plenty of shredded paper bedding and one of the hay tubes or mats that you can get in pet stores, so that pollen doesn't get thrown around when they run round the cage? At the rescue centre they have paper bedding but no hay or vegetables. I know that guinea pigs love to tunnel in hay, but I would be offering a loving home to shelter guinea pigs. I don't know what to do. I got my partner to sniff some hay at the pet store and he seemed fine, but that's not a real test. His hayfever is soooo bad. Would it be selfish of me only to give them hay in the form of hay tunnels? I can't help feeling that it's better than what they have now. They would be so pampered in every other way. (I live in a flat, so the garden isn't an option).

[aqh88]

They need hay. You can't substitute it unless you give them an unlimited source of grass which is not really possible. You'd be amazed how much they can eat. Hay is good for play but it's main purpose is for digestive tract health, nutritional value, and wearing the teeth down. There is nothing that can replace all of these or really even one of these as effectively as hay. Hay tunnels are dried brown hay that has no nutritional value and will not be eaten at nearly the rate of good green hay.

Many people that can't tolerate alfalfa or timothy can use bluegrass or orchardgrass with no problems so that may be an option but it's impossible to say if it will work until you try it. I've never heard of hay that has been dust extracted. Not sure how that would happen.

[muffin]

I'm not sure either, the animal centre says that the stuff they use has been washed, and I'm definitely not sure how that works. I asked the assistant manager there if any of the staff had allergies set off by their hay, but he said that they don't use it, so I'm no further forward. I sooo want to give pigs a loving home, but I know it would be selfish of me to do so and yet not to be able to give them unlimited hay. It's better than what they have now, and possibly better than the home they might go to, but that doesn't make it right. If anyone has any advice or personal experience of hay and their hayfever please let me know.

Originally Posted by aqh88

They need hay. You can't substitute it unless you give them an unlimited source of grass which is not really possible. You'd be amazed how much they can eat. Hay is good for play but it's main purpose is for digestive tract health, nutritional value, and wearing the teeth down. There is nothing that can replace all of these or really even one of these as effectively as hay. Hay tunnels are dried brown hay that has no nutritional value and will not be eaten at nearly the rate of good green hay.

Many people that can't tolerate alfalfa or timothy can use bluegrass or orchardgrass with no problems so that may be an option but it's impossible to say if it will work until you try it. I've never heard of hay that has been dust extracted. Not sure how that would happen.

[rachieanne99]

I have pretty horrible hayfever, and I am also allergic to the guinea pigs themselves. I don't know why I thought this would be good for my health, but I adopted them anyway and have not regretted it one bit. However, I have been experimenting with different prescription allergy meds--hopefully I will find one that works. Is your partner on any medication?? Sometime that can be enough. But, I have to be honest, my head feels like it will explode when I am near the hay too much. I also have the cage in my bedroom, so that doesn't help much. If you could put the cage in a non sleeping area, that might be a better idea. I've also noticed the fresher the hay, the worse my allergies. I had pretty minimal reactions to the store bought hay, but since I ordered the really good stuff for my girls, I have been absolutely miserable. If your partner has no interest in the pigs, he may not be able to tolerate being around them a lot. But, if he is excited, like I was, he may be able to suffer through it. Sorry this wasn't the super positive response you were hoping for. Good luck.

[nissa]

I have pretty horrible hayfever, and I am also allergic to the guinea pigs themselves

I'm like this too. I actually get skin rashes from snuggling with them (I do it anyway). I also found out that I'm more allergic to timothy and using orchard grass have helped. I still wake up sneezing somedays though. I take prescription antihistamines when the allergies are bad and I find that I can live with this sort of arrangement.

I don't know how bad your partner's allergies are. Because when you have piggies, they're bound to play with the hay and toss it with dust flying everywhere. How about using cubed timothy hay and putting out loose hay during floortime only (like maybe in a different area of your home where your partner does not use/go to)? It might be less dusty. I'm not sure if this is the perfect arrangement, but maybe it would help?

Good luck! Hope you figure it all out!

[muffin]

Thanks guys, your advice is great. What I'm trying is this. I bought a small pack of hay from the pet store, which is dust-extracted, and has no seed heads that I can see. What I have done is put it loose in a bowl next to my partner while he's watching tv, and ruffled it up now and then. So far, so good, but I'll give it a week and see what happens. Fingers crossed. I like the idea of having hay for them during floor time. That was the only other option I could come up with. Anyway, only time will tell, fingers crossed.