Thursday, July 30, 2009

Allergic to rats?

after handeling my boys i get little itchy spots on my hands. this doesnt seem to happen every time but is quite irritating. if this is as bad as it gets i can deal with it, but could it lead to a worse reaction??
Answers:
I had the same problem as you i kept rats for years and then had a break. My husband bought me two for valentines day but almost immediately i had problems, it started with itchy rash on hands/neck etc but then my asthma was very bad.
My advice to you would be to take anti histamines, wash hands etc after petting and keep them out or bedrooms - mine had to sleep in our bedroom because of the dog.
Unfortunately i had to rehome them after only a week it was so bad. Thankfully they went to someone we know who is taking good care of them.
good luck, i know how adorable they are hopefully you will be ok as your body gets used to them.
I had the same problem, but I didnt seem to get it with girl rats. Mine never developed into anything worse. Just wash your hands properly afterwards and put an anti-itching cream on. If it does get worse you could try taking anti-histamine tablets eg piriton.
Are your boys little rats..have your boys been touching tame rats.
YES! my sister is allergic and ended up in hospital after she rubbed her eyes after handling her rat she had to have her eye removed and cleaned. She suffered the same spot on her hands that started to go up her arms then eventually she would have violent asthma when ever she went near them.
I am so sorry but it would wise if the stoppped keeping them the allegy specialist at my sisters hospital also advied against other rodents as well as it could lead to anaphylaxsis. This is where the tongue and throat swell and if not treated with epipenpherin can cause death.
boy rat have ooils in their skin and fur, that can irritate sensative skin. keep your boys it wont get worse, try giving them baths once a month, no more often than that,or itll ruin their skin. next time, i would get girls, they dont have oils in their skin.
I get itchy spots everything I pet/hold any animal with short, prickly hair. I am allergic to animal dandruff. Small animals do me in, becuase they poke the dandruff down into my skin, and it irrates it. I own a rat, and she does it too. I jsut were long sleeves when I play with them, and I am seeing a Doctor to see if I can get a shot for my allergies.
I was going to post this question too. I've just got my first rats 2 weeks ago (females) and since then my eyes haven't stopped itching. I've had no skin reactions, just itchy eyes. I hope it doesn't get any worse!
Maybe it is not the allergy unless your doctor says it is. It may probably be because your rats aren't clean or have something else on its fur that is reacting to your allergies

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