Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Can you be allergic to a pet Hamster?

Support Forums
>
Allergies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
younglady94
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 178
Posted 12/30/2006 12:42 PM (GMT -8)
Hello Everyone!

   My question to you all is. Can a person possible have an allergy to a pet Hamster. The reason that I am wondering is. My family and I, purchased a pet Hamster December 15th, at a pet store. I have noticed in the last few days when I am playing and holding our hamster (lucky) I have been coughing and some wheeze. Then after I have washed my hands and Lucky is back in his cage it all is ok then.

 Could this simply be all in my head? or something all different that the hamster that could be triggering the cough? suggestions? advice? Thanks, Brandi.

 

profile picture
dragonfly137927
Veteran Member
Joined : Sep 2006
Posts : 2527
Posted 12/30/2006 12:49 PM (GMT -8)
being that i work with animals and am highly allergic the answer is yes. I am not allergic to the small animals such as hamsters, gerbils, rabbits etc but i am very allergic to the hay that you feed them. Here is a funny thing, we give dogs and cats allergy shots at work and I was amazed to find that they can be allergic to human dander!
profile picture
Red_34
Elite Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 12/31/2006 5:56 AM (GMT -8)
It can also be the bedding in which you have your hamster. I have two degus and use a cedar bedding. It creates a fine dust that coats the house if I don't dust every other day. The hamster can have the dust from it's bedding in its fur. If this is the case, you can try using newspaper instead of bedding. It's not as dusty and it will give it something to do by chewing the paper. Hmmmm I don't know if newspaper would be a good thing because of the ink, but maybe another type of paper with no print on it?
profile picture
HolisticRN
New Member
Joined : Jan 2007
Posts : 3
Posted 1/2/2007 2:03 PM (GMT -8)
Newspaper isn't very healthy for your pets, we also have allergy issues with the cedar chips.  I use the aspen pine chips that seem to work better with less allergies and are safer for your pet.  Also, you need to keep your cage clean, the bedding can grow mold as well.  Which my whole family is severely allergic too.

Hope this helps

Holistic RN

profile picture
Ceres
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2005
Posts : 59
Posted 1/3/2007 5:53 PM (GMT -8)
My son in law, who has bad asthma, takes Alavert (24 hr) because he has a dog.
I take it when I'm visiting and it helps a lot. redface
profile picture
SnowyLynne
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 1539
Posted 1/4/2007 8:04 AM (GMT -8)
You can be allergic to anything that had fur,dander,& saliva........
profile picture
younglady94
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 178
Posted 1/5/2007 10:19 AM (GMT -8)
Thankyou everyone for the suggestions. I keep my hamster's cage really clean. I clean it everyday. Clean the feces and wet bedding everyday. I seem to not wheeze to much now when handling my hamster. My eye has been swollen and closed when waking in the morning. I don't know if that has anything to do with my hamster. I usually play with my hamster before I go to bed. I was my hands after handling my hamster. I am trying to take an allergy pill before handling him and see if that makes a difference. My hamster is so adorable and fun to play with. Thanks. Brandi. :-)
profile picture
younglady94
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 178
Posted 1/11/2007 2:42 PM (GMT -8)
Thankyou, all for your advice and suggestions. IT only seems to happen when I am changing my hamsters bedding (Lucky). I am going to take an allergy over the counter medication before cleaning his bedding, and see if that helps out any. I don't want to get rid of (lucky) my hamster I adore him. He is so cute and fun to play with. Best Wishes, happy 2007. Brandi.
profile picture
Red_34
Elite Member
Joined : Apr 2004
Posts : 23581
Posted 1/11/2007 3:53 PM (GMT -8)
Just a suggestion Brandi....have you tried using a dust mask when changing the cage? I'm allergic to whatever is in the grass and if I have to cut the grass, I wear a mask to prevent my allergies from going haywire. So you can try that if you don't want to resort to an allergy med to see if it helps.
profile picture
younglady94
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 178
Posted 1/16/2007 11:26 AM (GMT -8)
Thankyou all for suggestions. I keep the cage very clean. Feeding, cleaning, bonding, excerise, I make sure my hamster has all of that. I have tried taking an over the counter allergy medication before cleaning his bedding, and that has helped some. I will keep the mask in mind Red. Thanks, Brandi.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Allergies

6 Health Tips For People With Asthma

6 Health Tips For People With Asthma

How Stress and Mental Health Affect Eczema

How Stress and Mental Health Affect Eczema


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2023 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.