Wow, I didn't realize so many people have severe rodent allergies too. Several times I think its ironic that I am allergic to rodents but I breed rodents to feed to my snakes :rolleyes: Even if a rat or mouse touches me, I get hives on my arms, legs and neck. Also my lungs will start tightening up so I won't be able to breathe. I am also very sensitive to the bedding...just can't win. Like Bruce, even when I enter the rodent room, I am wearing mask, gloves and protective clothing. I just have to be careful not to touch any part of bare skin to anything that touched the rodents. Zyrtec, various steroids and inhalers are what I use...but they are not 100%.
I first noticed how bad my allergy was about my 3rd year working with lab animals at MIT (was there 6 years). I had mice and rats in the past and never really had problems. When I went to the medical facility there, they told me that prolonged exposure can make allergies worse, I hadn't been wearing face masks 100% of the time to protect myself. I had always thought the masks were a pain to wear, I didn't realize they were actually there for MY protection (duh) rather than smell. They also told me that there is a certain protein in rodent urine which is what alot of people develop allergies toward, thats why the hives break out on the skin that has touched a rat/mouse.