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Small pets

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Original poster

DH is allergic to dd's rats

21 replies

twinkletoedelephant · 17/12/2013 13:29

Our dd has two very lovely rats who she absolutely adores dh has finally figured out what is causing his breathing problems he has been having over the last year he actually held the rats last night. And came out in lumps blotches and started wheezing - he had rats as kids and had no problems

Dh has been hospitalised twice in the last few months and now diagnosed with asthma and is on steroids etc. I think it's fair to say the rats have to go although Dd (7) will be devastated.

How would we go about finding a new home for the girls obviously we want a forever home for them and their cage and paraphanilla would go all together??

Is there a rescue / 're homing place for rats?

Its so sad dd was in tears yesterday as she knew it was her rats that makes daddy sick :(

OP posts:

PeterParkerSays · 17/12/2013 13:34

Whereabouts in the country are you?

Original poster

twinkletoedelephant · 17/12/2013 13:37

We're in Surrey

OP posts:

D0oinMeCleanin · 17/12/2013 13:39

Yes, there are but I wouldn't be so quick to rehome the rats, they can be contained one room.

It's highly unlikely that the rats are the sole cause of the problem. I'm allergic to sawdust and hay, but my sisters kept animals that lived in sawdust and hay, as long as I didn't handle them, I was fine.

Asthma can have many, many multiple triggers.

If your husband has them as a child, it could perhaps be the rats bedding that is causing the issue? Allergies to sawdust, house dust, grass and hay are much more common than allergies to rodents.

Original poster

twinkletoedelephant · 17/12/2013 13:47

He is fine unless he goes in her room yesterday he held them to test out his theory and his arms legs and head came up in rad itching bumps his eyes were watering and he was wheezing I thinking fairly conclusive - we are going to try keeping dd bedroom door shut at all times but this means dh cannot go in her room to out her to bed or tuck her in at night....

OP posts:

Original poster

twinkletoedelephant · 17/12/2013 13:48

OP posts:

Original poster

twinkletoedelephant · 17/12/2013 13:52

OP posts:

D0oinMeCleanin · 17/12/2013 13:52

What bedding do you use in their cage/tank? Are they in a cage or tank? A tank would be better at containing the allergens than a cage, you scan still have platforms and tubes for them. Mine were kept in an 8ft tank and my Dad built them little ramps and platforms from wood.

Asthma is often uncontrolled when it's first diagnosed, it can takes months or longer to find the right combination of inhalers.

I'm fine around most of my triggers now (all but long haired cats) so long as I've been using my preventative. I still get the other side effects of allergies (dry eyes, itching, sore throat etc) around other triggers but my asthma rarely flares up.

PipkinsPal · 17/12/2013 13:54

I never used sawdust for my rats. Rats are known to get respiratory problems so it was recommended to use wood pellet cat litter. You can get a massive bag from Pets at Home and they sometimes have them on offer.

slalomsuki · 17/12/2013 13:57

I have a severe allergic reaction to pets, dogs included but have had pets most of my life and managed to control it.

Essentially I have one room in the house that is completely pet free at all times so if I wheeze I have somewhere to go. If I touch an animal then I make sure I wash my hands in warm soapy water as soon as possible a bit like a surgeon and do not touch my face as it swells up quickly. I also do that if I touch dog towels or leads etc but my reaction isn't quite as strong.

I control my asthma with steroid inhaler but not all the time and never go anywhere without a blue inhaler.

I would have though with rats it's manageable and wouldn't necessitate them being got rid of.

Original poster

twinkletoedelephant · 17/12/2013 14:03

We're going to try the keep door shut for a month to see how things go hopefully it will settle down.

OP posts:

mercibucket · 22/12/2013 19:13

does he take anti histamines?

also, can you wash rats? I wash my gpigs when they start making me sneeze.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/12/2013 19:56

merci my daughter has developed an allergy to our new guinea-pig (six month old) We haven't washed him yet but I'll see if it does help. Hers isn't a respiratory problem though. She gets red patches on her face if he sits near her neck.

Older boar is a smooth (no allergy problems)
New boar is a Rex.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/12/2013 19:58

If you have The Range near you they do 30litres wooden pellet cat litter for about £8 (Yellow bag ' Nature Cat' or similar)

It says on the bag that it's ok for furries.

mercibucket · 22/12/2013 20:21

definitely try washing him lisa. what a shame

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/12/2013 20:26

one handed typing, i've got gp3

she's fine if he's on her lap or stomach.
there are four laps in our house -well 3, ds doesn't cuddle the pigs - so gp3 doesn't go short of hugs.

it's weird though, we had the smooth and an abby, no symptoms.

i wonder if gp3 coarse little coat harbours guinea allergens .

he does need a bath though, getting a bit stinky boarey.

HermioneWeasley · 22/12/2013 20:31

Oh FFS, they are making your DH ill! Just get rid. They are animals, he is a human and a critical member of the family. Why should he suffer in his own house, or have his daughter's room off limits?

mercibucket · 22/12/2013 20:32

oops sorry don't know where 'lisa' came from!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 22/12/2013 22:36

Why not consider the options first Hermoine ?

twinkles DH has previously kept rats so there may well be something they can eliminate from their set-up that will reduced his allergies.

My DD would never give up her guinea-pigs. (She's 11.6) And TBH , we took the guinea-pigs into our house- it's our responsibilty as a family to care for them for life.
If push came to shove, I'd find a way that my DD wasn't affected by them.

Yes humans are humans. But if there's a way round it (and twinkle sounds like she's prepared to try to combat it) then the animals deserve the chance.

I don't know about rats but I'm sure the situation is similar to Guineas. Rescues are over-run.
Gumtree is full of "child lost interest" / "child allergic" animals for rehome.

For "rehome" read "For Sale" - want a new home but I still want to make a profit from it

StinkyElfCheese · 24/12/2013 15:49

DH is still 'bad' when he goes into DD room (where the rats are) but as long as i tuck in / goodnight / stories or daddy has to do them downstairs and i tuck her in. things are working ok at the minute.

Long term not sure - DD absolutley adores her rats and says she loves them just the same as daddy :)

DH dosnt want to be the reason DD (7) has to give up her pets.

On the plus side DD is spending lots of time in her room playing with the rat a tatters with the door closed -and is therefore leaving her DT brothers alone .... the house is much more peacefull, without the constant yells of he is breathing in MY room !!!!!

PigletJohn · 29/12/2013 23:31

here you are

Christmas rats

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/12/2013 16:11

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I was thinking they are either tiny teddy bears or you have some GIANT rats round your way PigletJohn......

But I have some of those mini teddy bears from The Museum of Childhood , so phew. Normal sized rats

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