allergies

[aqh88]

My boyfriend is allergic to something and I'm pretty sure it's the bedding. I use woody pet pellets. They are highly compressed and heated pine to remove all the oils but he's still coughing and gets a stuffed up nose for a few days after I change the cage. I know he's allergic to hay but I was using fresh orchardgrass or bluegrass before while he was here without problems. The only difference I can think of is I usually cleaned the cages three days before he came. This time he's moving here and the girls are going to live in his apartment. We moved the cage to the apartment and filled it with fresh bedding and now he's coughing constantly. I tried carefresh for awhile but it's expensive and doesn't absorb urine well at all. Has anyone used eco straw?
(broken link removed)
If he is allergic to the hay I was thinking of using hay cakes. (broken link removed)
They aren't as chopped up and compressed as most hay cubes so they still have the long strand fiber of hay but without the dust. I know the squeakies wouldn't be as happy without their cage full of hay so I'm going to try to avoid doing that. There's an air purifier in the room with them and we're getting another one today. I also ordered various things from the national allergy supply store for dust mites and allergens in the carpet and bed. Hopefully lessening other things he's allergic to will help lessen the symptoms when he's around the guinea pigs. Is there anything else that might help?

 

[RubyPiggie2]

If you use Kleenmama's Bluegrass, he shouldn't be allergic to it- it's especially good for allergic owners.
you can always use fleece/towels as a bedding.

 

[aqh88]

It's $2 a load of laundry here and fleece requires alot of vacuuming in between. Vacuuming is great at throwing dust and allergens into the air. When I tried fleece I started sneezing everytime I vacuumed.

 

[Eventrocker33]

You could potty train your pigs and then use fleece or some kind of carpet.