Asthma woes - Page 2 - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**PiggieMom** · #21 08-16-06, 05:59 pm

Good luck. I'll be thinking of you and your family.

**NMPiggyMom** · #22 08-16-06, 07:16 pm

It sounds like you are doing everything you can and checking into all the options available. My heart goes out to you having to make the decisions you are facing. But we all know.....when choosing between piggies and your children....the decision is forgone. If you have to make the decision to rehome your girls, I'm sure someone here on the forum would have ideas and ways to help. I'll be thinking about you. Keep us posted on how the blood tests turn out and if anything develops with medication for your son. Sending hugs your way!

**smartorl** · #23 08-16-06, 08:43 pm

Take a look at this website: NAET - Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques

I know it will sound weird at first, it did to me but I have seen first hand the results. We live on a ranch, hay, dust, horses, dogs, they are around us everyday. My neice started having violent reactions to several things that she had previously tested positive for but were being controlled with bi-weekly injections. I once had walked through the horse barn (without touching any) and later at my sisters picked up Kaley and she started to swell and stopped breathing. THings had gotten so bad that all the carpet was pulled up, all the toys and drapes removed, and all new a/c ducting with super filtration were installed. My sister found Naet and found a doctor not too far from here. It was the wierdest thing I have ever seen. The office holds thousands of vials of all types of things. The doctor has you hold the vials and is able to diagnose what allergies exist and in what levels. The amazing thing is that she never asked a history and had never met us before and hit every allergen right on the money. There were various treatments for different things and she had us expose her to things that would counteract some of them. After about four months of weekly half hour sessions, I can say that my neice is much improved. She rides the horses, she had pets in the house now. It really made the difference for us.

**Buggie_00** · #24 08-19-06, 10:06 am

Well it's pretty official, we're going to have to re-home. I thought we were doing pretty well keeping asthma at bay since the last attack, and Brett's not so worried about it so I know that wasn't a factor this time. Last night he had another attack, I didn't know what was going on until I heard him fall out of bed, it was the middle of the night and everyone was asleep. I heard a crashing sound and no one was crying, luckily I didn't just roll over and go back to sleep or this reply could have been much much worse. I went into the room just to make sure that it wasn't Jacob trying to climb out of the crib and I saw Brett on the floor. Eyes bugged out, half unconscious and turning blueish. I called 911, I knew better than to just try to control it and take him myself I needed pros there fast. I got his emergency inhaler, and it helped a tiny tiny bit. We were rushed to the ER and after about an hour he was breathing a lot easier. It was so severe.
They kept him there and I'm only here to get some clean clothes and take a shower, plus pick up some books for him to look at. They will more than likely release him tomorrow morning but they wanted to keep him for observation until then.
My husband was as panicked as I was and said, "that's it I'm putting my foot down, the pets have got to go." Honestly after last night I can't say I really disagree with him. Loving my animals is one thing but at the detriment of my son's health...it's just not an option. I told Adam, my hubby, while I was home I'd put a post up on the adoptables section and hope that someone can take them.

Thank you all for all your well wishes and kind thoughts, I really have appreciated it all.

**I_Want_A_Piggy** · #25 08-19-06, 10:15 am

My sister is allegic to our cat and dogs, she takes two types of medication everyday to avoid us having to give them away. Maybe if your son is allergic he can get a medication that will help him stop sneezing and not bother him as much.

**Buggie_00** · #26 08-19-06, 10:19 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_Want_A_Piggy

My sister is allegic to our cat and dogs, she takes two types of medication everyday to avoid us having to give them away. Maybe if your son is allergic he can get a medication that will help him stop sneezing and not bother him as much.

We've gone to the allergist already and he is severly allergic to them, we didn't know this when we got them. We until next week to find out if he has options as far as medications and last night he had his 3rd asthma attack in about 2 weeks and is in the hospital. I have to put his health first and my husband has had enough and says they should go to avoid any more problems.

**I_Want_A_Piggy** · #27 08-19-06, 10:39 am

Oh, that is so sad. Hope they can find something she you don't have to get rid of them. Best of luck, Hope your son feels better soon.

**lynn's Cavies** · #28 08-19-06, 04:54 pm

My heart definitley goes out to both you and your son. You are making the right decision to rehome them. You cannot risk your son's health, it is just too scary and life threatening.

When I was 18 months old my parent's almost lost me due to an asthma attack triggered by cat dander. They had put a used loveseat in my room that was their friends. The friend had 3 cats that always sat on it. I had a terrible reaction and stopped breathing. The loveseat was thrown away. I had no carpet in my room after that, only linoleum. I was also severly allergic to dust mites and wasn't allowed stuffed animals in my room. I had plastic bedding under my sheets to keep dustmites away from me. I also had to undergo allergy shots for 4 years.

During my teen years my allergies went away and I adopted a cat. I was fine until I hit my 20's, mostly my mid-20's. I had lots of sinus infections, asthma attacks, etc. I had to get cat allergy shots again. Luckly, I have been able to keep my cat and she is now 13 years old but I will not get another one. It is too high a risk. I currently have to use 20mg reactine, and flonase, which is a nasal spray and had a ventolin inhaler for emergencies. We have all hardwood flooring in our home and wash our bedsheets in hot water once a week.
I have fish, turtles, newts and toads inside that I am not allergic to. Of course, my cat does come inside but I limit her access to our bedroom.

When I was young I was part of an asthma group that helped me to learn how to relax when my breathing was short, how to get help fast, etc. I think that your son might benefit from a group like that, also he won't feel alone. I remember feeling very alone and like I was a freak because I had to be very careful in gym class as I also had exercise induced asthma.

Wow, this is a long post! I just really wanted you to know that you are not alone and I commend you for doing all that you can for your son. I wish you the best and I hope your pigs find a wonderful new home soon. I'm so sorry you have to give them up but life is not fair. Take care (((hugs)))

**Buggie_00** · #29 08-19-06, 10:28 pm

Thanks for the support lynn's Cavys. This has been a tough thing to have to decide but in the end, his health comes first. That's how it's got to be. I just hope that I can find them all good homes. He is still in the hospital tonight but will be released in the morning if he's still doing well. My husband is staying there tonight since our 16 month old couldn't handle an overnight at the hospital as a visitor. Since Brett is doing much better and the hospital is literally across the street I was comfortable letting my husband be the one to stay the night and try to sleep on the tpull out chair.

Thank you all again.

Casey

**PiggieMom** · #30 08-20-06, 11:17 am

I'm so sorry. I agree though that your son's health must come first. I'll be thinking of you and your family and hopeing your piggers find a good home soon.

**NMPiggyMom** · #31 08-21-06, 01:55 pm

My heart goes out to you. I know you have tried everything in your power to keep your whole "family" together. Good luck to you in rehoming your pets and getting your son's health back on track. I'm sure that's your main focus right now. Sending lots of hugs and best wishes your way!!

**KPIGGY** · #32 08-21-06, 02:37 pm

My heart and thoughts go out to you. I know what you are going through as my daughter has been rushed to hospital 5 times with bad asthma attacks (all before we had piggies).
Hope your son gets better soon

**kaiyora** · #33 08-23-06, 10:02 am

I have asthma myself and I've been dealing with it for about 10 years now. My fiance cleans the cage, and we use fleece (we used to use sawdust and hay). But we've found that the fleece actually helps because their hair and the hay both stick to the fleece. As long as I don't go near the cage I'm fine. It also might help if you pet them and give 'em a little grooming before the allergic person touches them.

But if you do have to rehome them - i'm so sorry. I hate it when my pets leave me

**Buggie_00** · #34 08-26-06, 03:12 pm

Brett's home from the hospital. They released him the next morning and he's had a few minor problems but no more trips to the ER. He has been forbidden to go near the cage and pigs which is making him really unhappy. He was in tears when we told him we were going to have to find them another home, and I understand how he feels, BUT he's 6 and his health must come first for us.
I'm not having any luck finding them a new home and I'm afraid that time is running out. My husband is threatening to take them to the local SPCA which, although very kind, they really don't know a great deal about guinea pigs or their care and I'm sure the girls would be adopted (hopefully) but that person might not know too much either. That's my biggest fear, they'll be put down or go to a home where they won't be cared for properly.
I have a post in the adoptables section here, and a post on another yahoo pig group as well as the critter classifieds. If anyone has any suggestions on somewhere else I can make their information known I would really appreciate it. We're going to have to do something sooner rather than later.

Thank you again to everyone for keeping us in your thoughts.

**JarBax** · #35 08-27-06, 02:16 pm

I am glad to hear your son is home from hospital, and really appreciate that you have no choice, but to re-home your piggies.

Can I suggest that you do put pictures into your adoptables post - I wonder if that might trigger more interest?

I do hope that you find a good home soon, and that your son's health improves accordingly

**PiggieMom** · #36 08-27-06, 03:03 pm

Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a puppy or kitten. has a classifieds section as well, that's where I posted my sister's beagle and had a successful adoption. Good luck.

**Buggie_00** · #37 08-30-06, 02:56 pm

I have an update!!!!

This morning Piggie Parent sent me a PM and said that she could take the girls into her shelter. She's already really full with having several come in from a breeder bust recently and a few of them having babies. She runs a shelter for guinea pigs and is closed to owner surrenders at the moment but said she would be willing to take my girls and find them good homes since she knows I'm not just dumping them.

She is truly an angel, and a godsend for my girls!

We're meeting up on Saturday, and although I am upset and very sad to see my girls go, I know they have a great future ahead of them and that she will find them the best home possible.

Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and words and every once of advice and help.

If you see a post by Piggie Parent, be sure to let her know how much of an angel she is!

**piggly wiggly** · #38 08-30-06, 03:18 pm

That is great news, I am glad it worked out for you. That is super nice of piggie parent for helping you out eventhough she is so full.

**Buggie_00** · #39 08-30-06, 04:24 pm

It definitely is nice of her. She's an angel to those piggies, and us. My son knew that we were going to have to find them a new home, but I think he thought we weren't serious. When I told him about them going to live with Piggie Parent he got very very upset. I feel terrible about taking them away from him, guilty even for him getting so upset. He said we couldn't give them away because he would never see them again and they would die. He just cried and cried. Saturday is only a few days away and I had to tell him sooner rather than later. I can't just leave with them and then tell him when I get home, he would be so mad at me. He's upset but we're doing what is the best thing for both him and the girls and I told him that the girls would have lots of friends there since PP has many other piggies and that she would take great care of them and I would ask her to send us some pictures of them in their new home. I hope he understands eventually, but the next few days are going to be upsetting. I just have to remember WHY we're doing this and not give in to the urge to side with him and say we'll keep them. I know that's just not an option, as terrible as it is.

**NMPiggyMom** · #40 08-30-06, 05:12 pm

Your son is very young and the memory of the piggies will fade once they are no longer in your home. It will be a tough road, as you already know, until you get to that point, but your son's health is the main concern here. Hopefully you can keep him calm enough the next few days to avoid an attack. I'm sending positive thoughts your way. Bless your heart for having to go through such a trying situation. Piggie Parent.....you are truly an angel.