Sad about dog allergy

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Lol! Yes I know - I convinced OH about the Puppy (as a pedigree it was expensive - in the hope I wasn't allergic to that "hypoallergenic" breed - or we'd have got a rescue dog. OH wasn't keen on the cost!). I had never had a problem with poodles before - a friend had one - but it was some time ago and I guess things can change (my age?)

I have heard lizards can grow quite big. I am really not sure he'd be that interested though and then I'd be stuck with a giant lizard for 10 years!

I think it's the progression from cuddly toys and teddy bears - outgrown - not cool for a 13 year old new teenager. So a real cuddly pet is a real pal. I think ultimately it's about wanting a pal who'll react with him and a dog would have been perfect. It's why I keep thinking a rat would be ideal.

When we first got Charlie (who was a big hamster) OH was very unsure and said he looked a bit like a rat (he was the size of a small rat!) and wasn't keen at first - but of course got to love him when he used to sit next to him on the sofa.

But he has a total aversion to rats. And yes rats give rats a bad name!

I've seen a few bearded dragons for rehoming but wonder if they can have behavioural issues if no longer wanted and rehomed (maybe they have been rehomed a few times).

Yes, my granddaughter is a teenager since yesterday and is into horses now. Youngsters of that age also have a habit of changing their minds depending on what's popular with their friends.

Our Rodney looks like a rat and your OH likes hamsters. There isn't that much of a difference appearancewise. I think that you should drag him into a pet shop to show him that pet rats don't look like the rats behind a Takeaway shop.

Totally get the longterm commitment aspect with a reptile, something i obviously hadn't considered.

Your allergy is intriguing because i always thought that its the fur/hair that's triggering allergic reactions but you are fine with hamsters and react to a poodle. So you would react to a short haired dog like a pug or dachshund as well because you are allergic to dogs, full stop?

Age does come into it i think. I seem to have developed later life hayfever and now have Blepharitis. Never had crap like that before in my life, so must be my age (63).

[Pebbles82]

Same age as me Ria I do know hormones affect allergy. For and against. All mine disappeared completely in my teens during puberty. Got much worse in my twenties. Improved after diet change in my forties (once I removed wheat virtually everything else wasnt a problem any more). So I kind of figured as I was so much better I could maybe tolerate dogs better - especially a low allergenic breed. But nope - massive reaction within the first couple of hours which got worse and worse.

So I think post menopause things change as well hormonally and maybe some allergies have got worse (or I am just still just as allergic to certain biggies), My Mother developed Eczema after the menopause. Pregnant women find allergies either disappear or get worse. Weird how hormones affect the immune system.

I think it is different proteins in animals (saliva, dander etc). And yes I was very worried I might be allergic to hamsters but had no issues whatsoever - the only thing that affects me is things like grass hammocks, pine shavings and hemp bedding - plant type stuff - and hay. Which kind of rules out guinea pigs and rabbits although its doable if careful with the hay.

You can be allergic to one type of animal and not another, but I think most asthmatics are allergic to dogs, cats, horses. Maybe rodents are different.

I think with the rats its the long tails that would freak my OH out. He just refuses point blank. However much I say they are completely different.

Anyone know much about degus?

[Amethyst_ice]

I hardly notice my rat tails now, people think they are cold but they are warm and velvetty.Oh and when I first got the rats and hadn't asked the landlord, I said they were long tailed himilayan hamsters lol

I always wanted degu before the bf at the time got the rats. Im glad I didn't tbh after degu sitting. And the rescues are always full of them

They need diabetic type diet and chew EVERYTHING so need steel cage and constant wooden things inside. They also are noisy little so and so's, like how guinea pigs make that screeching!

Some can be cuddly and friendly but they can also be quite nervous and skittish.

That's my knowledge on them lol

[Ria P]

Don't know anything about degu.

Apparently, a female Duprasi can be kept alone because females often fight and they don't need a huge cage because they are rubbish climbers.

They have a fat enough tail not to freak your OH out, i would have thought.

Just a thought.

[sushi_78]

Degus are the most destructive of rodents! I've even heard of a degu who destroyed a metal wheel. I don't know how, but they did. They need lots of space - a big metal cage with wooden shelves to run up and down.

What always put me off degus was that whenever I look at degu forums or Facebook groups, most of the posts seem to be about health issues (especially teeth) and while some illness is to be expected from any pet, it gave me the impression that they're not very healthy animals. I suppose people don't tend to post when their degus are perfectly healthy, but even so.

I would have suggested a duprasi as they're quite similar to Syrians in many ways, but they're very nocturnal. Either sex can be kept alone.

[Imogen]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Thank you Imogen. Lol its OH who is scared of rats, not stepson Can you really get a chipmunk? I did suggest sugargliders and stepson was quite keen at first but he googled "do sugar gliders make good pets" and unfortunately the first article he came across said no. So that was that.

Birds we ruled out. Not just for asthma (which may or may not be an issue) but I know a bit too much about bird fanciers lung so am paranoid about that. Although my nana had budgies for years without issue.

We've had budgies inside the house for over 14 years now, no issues whatsoever. My boyfriends grandma had a parrot for over 40 years and no issues either, the parrot was sent to the zoo after she passed as he turned out to be a rare and going-extinct parrot so he was put into a breeding program.

But, obviously if you're worried than that's okay!

Budgies are so lovely to tame, mine can talk and they like to sit on your head when you go for a walk down to the shop. All the by-passers love them!

What exactly are you allergic to with cats? Is it their fur? Have you ever thought about a Sphynx cat?

Sugar gliders are meh, can be hard. It takes a lot of skill, but they're so sweet!

Yes, as well to chipmunks. You can own them. I've never owned them, but I know a friend of mine that has.

Rabbits can be taught to an extent, have you ever thought about rabbit competing with them jumping over jumps?

Maybe a hedgehog? Though, not really trainable.

There aren't really any other 'pocket pets' (which is what us vet students refer to for small pets) besides gerbils, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, chinchillas etc.

[Pebbles82]

when I first got the rats and hadn't asked the landlord, I said they were long tailed himilayan hamsters lol

LOL! Amethyst - that really made me smile

Imogen that is good to hear about the birds. It's maybe a bit pot luck but even the idea of lung issues freaks me out. If it wasn't for the internet I may never have heard of such a thing!

I don't think anyone knows what it is that makes people allergic to what aspect of a pet - usually its some kind of dander that gets in the air and/or a protein in their saliva (which gets on their coats etc when grooming).

I think itll have to be a case of "trying out" pets by visiting them or spending time with them so that may have to wait until the world is much more normal. Although by then Stepson may have grown up!

I am happy with hamsters - I'm not allergic (which is brilliant) and like them. But the teen is looking for something else as a family pet as well.

Degus sound like they're off the list then. Off to google duprasi. Thing is then might as well stick with hamsters! I actually think rats are the best option - but OH has ruled them out.

[Amethyst_ice]

When the rat shows get going again perhaps a little family day out to one of the northern rat club shows could be an accidental wrong turn on the way to a village farm shop Meet some real world smoosh floofs hehe

I keep trying to take a break from rats, especially after a hard year losing many last year... but I just can't imagine life without them now, had them,11 years! And I never wanted them to begin with even! I just felt bad the bf left me and them and as they were already rehomes i didnt have the heart to rehome them again!

Im hopefully picking up a pair of kits this week, eep!

I didn't realise budgie had to be kept in pairs at least, I see so many on their own. My friend has a very friendly cockatiel but birds are too "flitty" for my anxiety lol

My friend had a pygmy hedgehog that was amusing to watch!

Have ferrets been ruled out? Quite similar to rats in terms of groups and habitat I believe

[Ria P]

I thought ferrets were little stinkers.

[Pebbles82]

Lol. Yes I suggested ferrets - loads of those need rehoming. That was ruled out by stepson straight away. I think I have an impossible task. Kept him happy with electronic pets for years

I feel so guilty though - it's so good for children to grow up having pets and having a best friend. I am just lucky they didn't tell me to move out instead of the dog.