Hay allergie problems

[Teddy niko]

I've concluded the Hay is messing with my allergies. Is there anything I can do to deal with this or are allergy meds the only way?

[evilnumberlady]

You could get an allergy test to see what kinds of grass you are allergic to. Maybe another type of grass hay can be fed instead. There are a couple different varieties that pigs can eat.

[Teddy niko]

Ok. Thank you. I'll go see what is going on

[aqh88]

If you are using timothy try switching to bluegrass or orchardgrass. Most allergy tests don't test for most grasses or hays. The allergist just claimed it's the dust and mold from the hay causing the allergies instead of the actual hay. Which we know from experience is false. The only thing they did test for was timothy grass and then weeds and trees. Most people though aren't allergic to bluegrass or orchardgrass while timothy is one of the most likely hays to cause allergy problems. Also try to avoid dusty hays incase you are sensitive to dust. Hay from Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home is slightly better than oxbow when it comes to the dust level but some people find the freshness of the hay and strong smell bothers their allergies when they first get it and actually do better with oxbow.

[evilnumberlady]

My brother got an allergy test where they tried about 10 different kinds of grass.

[aqh88]

Those grasses don't usually include the type used in hay. Most of the time it's local grasses that are thought of as weeds. I haven't seen a test for bluegrass or orchardgrass.

[evilnumberlady]

Actually he was tested for at least timothy and bluegrass, and I'm pretty sure orchard grass as well. I know because when I mentioned timothy hay to him he was sad because that meant he couldn't come to my apartment without potentially getting sick. He's very allergic to timothy, apparently, and slightly allergic to bluegrass.

While I don't doubt that the tests you've seen are different, one certainly can be tested for the pig's hay. Unless you've seen many many allergy tests from different doctors offices, I'm inclined to disagree that a given allery test can't include them.

[aqh88]

The allergists here at the university said such tests did not exist and it can't be done. Then again they also said people aren't allergic to hay but only to the dust and mold so who knows.

[Coopdog]

I'm allergic to Timothy and Alfalfa, but I do alright with the Orchard Grass. I still try not to touch my face after handling it, and if it's really fresh, I need to wash my hands. But I find it is tolerable at least. I also have to make sure any pine I get is kiln dried, not only for Louise but for me as well. Otherwise it also triggers an allergic reaction for me.

[aqh88]

We can't use pine. Softwood shavings which are usually spruce with maybe a tiny bit of pine in them work best. They have much less phenols and smell. It hasn't bothered Chris, my sister's, or my allergies even when I buy the cheap bags that haven't been dried properly and are so fresh they are still damp. Chris even complains of allergy problems when I use aspen but has never complained when using any of the bags marked softwood shavings.

[Coopdog]

Interesting! I always thought they were one and the same. But I just went and checked the bags in the garage, and the one I'm just finishing up is pine, where as the new ones say soft wood.