Fitch allergy

spacebyte · 03-10-2018, 10:06 AM

Hi,
Just a warning to any owners/looking for some advice.
Today I cleaned Lunas cage out, she was acting normally, then I put her back in the fresh cage and went for a shower myself. I came back through once I was dressed and she was sitting hunched, eyes shut, and screaming. She is quite an old hamster and I wasn't sure if maybe she was just passing away- she is normally very vocal (odd for a hamster) so I didn't quite know if the screaming was in pain or just annoyance. Then she started sneezing and excessively grooming. I was on the phone to the vet at this time and they asked me to bring her in for an emergency appointment. She was not passing away, she was having an allergic reaction. She was having breathing difficulties. The vet gave her a shot of steroids and since then her eyes have opened back up, she has stopped yelling, she is doing much better.

The cage clean today was with a brand new bale of fitch. The consistency was different than usual. The bedding seemed kind of grey, crispy, and more dusty than usual. The vet says this is most likely the culprit of the reaction. I'm going to be contacting the company but I wanted to warn people if their fitch bedding looks different than usual it probably shouldn't be used.

I also want to ask which hypoallergenic beddings people use? I am in the U.K. and Luna has been on fitch her whole life. I'm thinking we are going to go with emergency carefresh or tissues this weekend, but any recommendations for anti allergy beddings which are affordable for filling a detolf would be great.

Pebbles82 · 03-10-2018, 11:00 AM

Goodness poor Luna - it sounds awful. I have never heard of anyone being allergic to Fitch (or a hamster) - it's supposed to be hypoallergenic. I do know it can go damp and mouldy smelling though. It sounds like a very strange batch - I should phone them and ask them to send a replacement batch and tell them what this one is like and what happened with your hamster.

Having said that - did you use anything different when cleaning the cage? They are bothered by scents and perfumes and some cleaning solutions can cause issues and allergies.

I've used Fitch for a couple of years - some batches are more yellowy and some softer and whiter but never had an issue with it. I am asthmatic myself and find any wood beddings and hemp set me off. Carefresh can be a bit dusty. There is finacard which is hypoallergenic. Rat rations sell it. Shredded cardboard, but it's quite soft.

spacebyte · 03-10-2018, 11:05 AM

Luna is just over 2 years and has been on fitch this whole time. I agree it's really odd, same experience as you, each batch is a bit different but this, compared with the little "old" fitch I have is quite a difference. I am also asthmatic and sensitive, but I can't think of anything else. I didn't use any cleaners, her food and sand are the same, the only "new" thing was this odd batch of bedding. I have emailed fitch for a refund for now.
I will look up finacard. I am going to put her on tissues for now I guess, tesco didn't have anything except shavings and my local pet shop is closed until monday :/
She is sleeping in a temporary cage just now on paper. She seems to be much better, I thought she was passing away for sure, but luckily the vet seen her as an emergency.

Pebbles82 · 03-10-2018, 11:09 AM

It sounds like it must have been the bedding then - a bad batch maybe - unless she has something else going on as well.

spacebyte · 03-10-2018, 11:15 AM

It's upsetting because she was very sick, but she has certainly livened up and seems back to normal now. Fitch has worked so well for so long and I used it with previous hamsters I've owned too. It's not going to be possible to have any new bedding delivered until the new week anyway :/ so I guess I have time to pick one/wait and see what fitch say.

Fluffagrams · 03-10-2018, 01:31 PM

I used to use Fitch but stopped buying it a couple of months ago. I now use Megazorb but some people have found it to trigger off allergies. I've heard that Finacard can be a good alternative though.

You can buy it direct from them: FinaCARD Cardboard Bedding Maxibale [Finacard One Maxibale] - Â£15.50 : Finacard, Quality Animal Products

BorisPasha · 03-11-2018, 05:46 AM

I use fitch too and haven't had any problems with it, hopefully it was a bad bag but I can understand you not wanting to use it now after what happened with Luna.

I noticed that amazon were now selling Kaytee clean and cozy so got some to try. I find it less dusty and nicer than the carefrsh and holds their tunnels well. The hams seem to like it too so could be an option for you to try

spacebyte · 03-11-2018, 08:03 AM

Luna is back in the detolf, having hoovered it out. Used two mansize boxes of plain tissue as bedding for now.

I've ordered finacard, which I will just mix in with the tissue once it's here (don't want to stress her with more of a cleanout this week) she didn't sleep well in her temp cage, didn't make herself a proper nest she just slept in the open and was very groggy when I put her back in the detolf. She ate ALL the food I put in there though, more than usual. Now she is in the detolf she has made herself a nest, drank, eaten more and is sleeping. I think she is going to be okay. This freaked me out a lot but I think it has passed. Still disappointed as fitch has been so good up until now..