Bonding Itchy after handling our piggies

[Karleen Garcia]

Hello everyone. I wanted to ask, should we be concerned that all three of us become itchy after handling our piggies? Their vet appointment isn't till the 13 of match and we got them from a pet store


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[CavyTV]

I think it depends how itchy you're feeling and how long the itchiness lasts. I sometimes get a little itchy when one of the pig's whiskers brush against my face during laptime, but it only lasts for a minute or so. Try to see if it's the hay that's making you itchy. Most people that think they are allergic to their guinea pigs are actually allergic to the dust that's in the hay.

 

[Karleen Garcia]

@CavyTV Maybe you are right. That's what I was thinking or maybe it's the dust from the temp bedding we have for them. Thank you.


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[bpatters]

Unless your guinea pigs are scratching insistently, your itching is not likely to be from a parasite. And while a parasite on a guinea pig might bite you, it won't set up housekeeping on you.

It's more likely that you're allergic to the hay than to the guinea pigs. Timothy is a pretty common offender, so you might try bathing the pigs, cleaning the cage, and replacing the hay with orchard or meadow grass and see if that helps.

 

[Karleen Garcia]

@bpatters I think we have Timothy sweet grass hay. They do scratch but to me it seems like their normal itch and constantly grooming themselves. I have wood shaving as bedding to as well and I know that has a lot of dust, the natural aspen one from so phresh. Waiting for our fleece bedding to come in

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[Karleen Garcia]

This is how my skin gets when I hold my piggies. What are the chances that the aspen bedding I got is making us itchy? It does accumulate a lot dust as well


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[guineagirl123]

Your probably allergic to your piggy and should see a doctor wash your hand before and after you play with it


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[guineagirl123]

Or you could be allergic to the hay because your piggies roll around in it


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[Karleen Garcia]

@guineagirl123 not do I become itchy but so do my daughter and husband. Not all 3 of us can be allergic to our piggie. I think it's either the hay or the bedding I had in there but I just switched it to the fleece bedding since it came in today. I know aspen bedding has a lot of dust as well like the hay does


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[guineagirl123]

Oh ! Fleece is way better by piggies prefer it but I still keep hay racks


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[jaycriae]

It's pretty rare to be allergic to pigs, but it's pretty common to be allergic to Timothy hay. I've never heard of someone being allergic to aspen though it's probably possible.

Since it's all three of you, I'd bet on the hay, and try switching to orchard grass or bluegrass and see if that helps.


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[Karleen Garcia]

@guineagirl123 they LOVE the fleece bedding. Hopping all around the cage. I also finally got the ramp for them and they love the second level. Still gotta add fun things to the second level.
@jaycriae can I buy bluegrass or orchard anywhere?


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[guineagirl123]

Really! My piggies would love a ramp, I have a c&c cage but am not too sure where to get a ramp is it diy?


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[Karleen Garcia]

@guineagirl123 I got mine from the guinea pig store

https://www.cagetopia.com/ramps


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[guineagirl123]

Thanks soo much will order! How many piggies do you have and what are their names?[emoji194]


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[Karleen Garcia]

@guineagirl123 I have 2 female piggies. Cocoa and Butterscotch. How about you?


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[guineagirl123]

I have 2 females and they are called macaroni and peanut


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[Karleen Garcia]

@GuineaGirl those are some adorable names. Love them!


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[guineagirl123]

Thanks love yours too[emoji3] well hope their doing well


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[jaycriae]

You can buy Orchard Hay which I believe is orchard grass from Small Pet Select, and Bluegrass hay which is a variety of orchard grass from KMS Hayloft. I believe Oxbow also sells orchard grass in bags at some pet stores, but that's a much more expensive and dusty option.


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