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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

Test for 4 yr old for pets

7 replies

Pippy2022 · 14/04/2023 17:57

Hello,
My 4 year is allergic to cats. The kids want to get a rat or rabbit as pet so I need to get the 4 year old tested (I've previously bought a kitten that then had to be rehomed when I realised....boo hoo).
What's the best way of doing this? Is it possible to test for individual animal types and can I do this through GP (would rather this than pay privately obvs)? I can't even get an appointment to speak to anyone!
Grateful for advice as I'm clueless and it's sad for the kids to go without pets.

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 15/04/2023 16:31

I think the easiest was would be to visit a DF who has one as a pet and see how she gets on, assuming she's not anaphylactic to cats?

Whyisitdarkalready · 15/04/2023 16:46

I'm allergic to cats. We offered to look after the school guinea pigs over a half term holiday.....we lasted three days before we had to send them back as I had asthma attack!

If there is the option of keeping a rabbit outside you may have a chance or maybe a rat which uses the pellets in its home rather than wood shavings for bedding, as I found the wood chip was setting off my allergies too. This was the only way my dc could have a hamster!

Could you borrow one from a friend to try out?

SinisterKnitter · 15/04/2023 17:00

Allergy tests aren't definitive, and history and symptoms are often more important, so really you need her to be spending time with rats and rabbits (though rabbits are not good family pets and are very high maintenance, so I'd look at Guinea pigs instead). Even so, with one pet allergy the risk of another is higher so maybe look at fostering through a rescue first to allow for longer term exposure, just in case.

Original poster
Pippy2022 · 15/04/2023 21:05

Drat, I should have got my 4 yr old to spend time with the neighbours bunnies before going on his hay fever medicine! He'll be on it for 6 months! Still, I'm encouraged to hear you could cope with hamsters! Hanging out for hope with rats!

OP posts:
Original poster
Pippy2022 · 15/04/2023 21:07

I will look into fostering too, thanks!

OP posts:
Skybluepinky · 15/04/2023 21:13

I’m allergic to cats and rabbits, it’s normally the saliva that causes the issues and as they lick themselves it cause the reaction.

Original poster
Pippy2022 · 16/04/2023 18:02

Thank you. I'm also looking into decent quality rabbit hutches that allow the rabbit to stay outside all year round, even when it snows.

OP posts:
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