Allergic to my roborovski Poppy?..

[spacebyte]

I have allergies (the hamster rarely sets them off though) and this might sounds mad but I think it's the wee? If I don't keep 100% up to date on pee corner cleaning I'm much more likely to be wheezing and sniffling. Are you cleaning her sandpit often enough?

Antihistamine tablets cost less than a pound for a sheet, one or two of these might reveal whether it's an allergy or an illness? They can be bought over the counter but may cause you drowsiness - there a few different kinds, ask the pharmacist which is the best for pet allergies or less likely to cause the sleepiness.

[RoboPoppy]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Could it also be possible that you have had a bad dose of flu? I am thinking the illness symptoms and bad cough. But if staying away from Poppy elsewhere means you improve then it is something in your home, whether it's the bedding, Poppy or something else. That's why I asked if you'd moved recently. In case it was something else in the house (eg mould/dry rot which can affect people).

I moved houses 2 years ago. Food allergies started half a year later. Breathing allergies in spring started after a year or so. Then I was fine with breathing for a while and afterwards started problems with bed mites after sleep. There's quite a bit of mold that I cannot get rid of in the bathroom in this house. It always bothered me since to my knowledge it is a health hazard. But I think breathing symptoms took a while to show. I also had plenty of stress in past 2 years, crazy amounts, so I would be more leaning towards that theory.

Also this is first year I got plants and this is my fist spring with them.

And about flu part - I do think that it overlapped. Started with allergy, then got flu,then allergy was the only thing left. I'm saying this because I feel better outside and get coughing attacks only at home. When I sleep at my boyfriends place I wake up with clear nose and no headache. My tongue also gets swollen in past 2 days when i'm at home and I get rashes on my neck now. It adds up everyday. The swollen tongue is also why I find it hard to ignore at this point. :/

Originally Posted by spacebyte

I have allergies (the hamster rarely sets them off though) and this might sounds mad but I think it's the wee? If I don't keep 100% up to date on pee corner cleaning I'm much more likely to be wheezing and sniffling. Are you cleaning her sandpit often enough?

Antihistamine tablets cost less than a pound for a sheet, one or two of these might reveal whether it's an allergy or an illness? They can be bought over the counter but may cause you drowsiness - there a few different kinds, ask the pharmacist which is the best for pet allergies or less likely to cause the sleepiness.

Poppy is a bit messy, i'm trying to potty train her to make her pee in the sand bath toilet, which she does and did from the very first minutes I let her in the cage, but she also peed in her wheel multiple times (which was a beautiful wooden wheel that I had to now throw away for a plastic one at least until she is potty trained). I clean her pee bath and her other sad bath she plays in every day, but then again, when I was cleaning her cage I saw that she pees behind her wooden sleeping house and it's also now soaked on one corner.. I cannot find plastic houses to buy in Germany for at least temporary use. I was thinking about getting one from aquarium or reptile section, but I'm not sure if it's safe to nibble,cause she loooves to nibble on things.. So if I am allergic to her pee is actually a big problem.

I was using half of zyrtec allergy tablet a day, but it's only for upper respiratory problems and the other one I ever tried is making me sleep where i'm standing. So tomorrow pharmacies work in Berlin again and I will go to search for an alternative drug. Thanks for the insights! Pee is def a problem too..

[Pebbles82]

I don't think the bathroom type mould is an issue - it's more the kind of wood rot type moulds that release spores if you happen to be allergic. That kind of fusty smell.

Whatever the reason it sounds like this has been coming on for a while and not just Poppy. Although if you're hypersensitive then things that wouldn't bother you much normally will set you off. So sorry you're having all this. Flu can take it out of you for some time as well. Moving house is stressful too.

I don't think the hamster pee in itself is an issue but if you are feeling short of breath it can "catch" a bit and be a bit strong.

I think allergies aren't just standalone things and go with a condition like asthma or hayfever, which are autoimmune diseases and why you can get allergic reactions. And everything gets worse at times of stress.

I think if it was Poppy you'd be aware of it when you handle her and are near her.

Sorry I'm not much more help. Maybe a week-end away somewhere would be good so you're out of your normal environment and relaxed and chance to recharge your batteries and then see how things are when you get back.

[RoboPoppy]

Thanks for so much great advice and insights. I am aware that stress is a big problem and I have been working on it for more than a year now. With meditation, yoga, good food, appropriate rest and travel. Obviously, it's hard to undo years of damage that was done by stress. All I can do now is to eliminate the allergens until I get any kind of treatment from a specialist. And I just hope it's not my pet. I will keep sleeping not at my own home for now and see doctor after Easter..
Also there's still hope in changing bedding and managing Poppy pee issue.
Thanks so much again!!!

[SlavicaK]

I hope you find a solution. I have nothing to offer other than commiseration; my husband and my daughter are both allergic to dust mites (he to other things as well, such as cats, it's not yet clear for her). I'm hoping they'll both be fine with the hamster, but that remains to be seen.

I missed this info - do you have a barred cage or a closed terrarium? I would think the latter might be easier on you if you're allergic to Poppy or her bedding. Also, if you can, don't have her in the bedroom but maybe in the hallway.

It's good you're handling her with gloves until you figure out what you're reacting to.

[RoboPoppy]

Hey SlavicaK,

I unfortunately live in one room apartment. I do have a closed terrarium, also I placed now an air purifier near the lid. It's quite complicated, let's see how it goes. I wish you best of luck for your future hamster!!

[Pebbles82]

Mentioning air purifiers. If you get a good Hepa filter it's supposed to really help with house dust mite and other airborne allergens. You can get a good one for about £80. A really good one for allergens costs about £400. To get one that filters things as small as mould spores costs about £1000 but it is supposed to work. The small basic air purifiers dont't work really.

This is the very good one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-AC3...ds=hepa+filter

This is the good one that costs less - has the seal of approval of the allergy foundation. It needs to be able to handle larger rooms to be effective.

It's something I've thought about myself as we have a room that gets fusty when the heating is on and it bothers me. I just leave it off in that room for now!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HoMedics-Pu...ds=hepa+filter

It would be worth it to breathe easier, whatever the cause is. Some asthmatic reviewers speak highly of it and removes pet odours too.

It has to be a pure hepa filter to be effective. But you don't want one that is also an ioniser - that's supposed to be bad for you.

[RoboPoppy]

Thanks so much for filter advice! The one I have thankfully doesn't emit ozone, but it is also not expensive one, so you can only expect so much (although it promises great things like every product description ever). I am of course planing to up the game and get a better one in upcoming weeks and this is great info for orientation. Being new to something is very confusing and I am so grateful for the help!

[Pebbles82]

You're welcome. Been there - got the t-shirt These things become manageable.

[Pebbles82]

After mention of Kerry set up options, just taken some up to date photos of Nugget's Kerry. I started out with deeper substrate but found it works better with about 4". Nugget has actually built it into a mound under the shelf where he wants it deeper and there's a burrow hole in the mound You can also see the wheel stand now.

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This is the mountain he made under the shelf

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