Rodent breeding and allergies?

Anyone have bad allergies to rodents yet still breed em?
My allergies get so bad that I break out in hives and my throat swells to the point where I wheeze when I breathe when I clean racks yet I still breed em. Why do we do it?

I'm allergic to my rodents but I still breed them because I can't find anyone locally capable of supplying me with 700+ a week and soon to be over 1000 a week.

I actually seem to be getting "less allergic" to them over time ... last couple of cleanings i didn't have to take any allergy meds and I did relatively well.

Good topic.

-adam

I never have taken meds. I just tuff is out and within 2-3 hours of being done, I usually go back to normal. Sucks but I can't affort to pay 50-60$ food bills EVERY week

I just take one generic anti-allergy pill right when I start to clean ... helps keep me from tearing up and itching ... i have A LOT of rats to clean each week and it takes a long time, so the pill helps ... but hopefully I'm done with that now.

-adam

If you don't want to take medicine, would one of those paper masks (like what doctors/dentists wear) help??? I am not sure if they are relatively inexpensive or not, or if they would even help, but could be worth a try.... I have mild allergies myself and take a benadryl on occassion, but can't imagine braking out in hives and having my throat swell and having to "tuff it out" for a few hours.

I have thought about it. I cleaned em today and I didn't get a bad reaction at all other than a little throat swelling. I recently started using a damp bandanna to breathe through and that seemed to help

Jake, seriously, if you react that strongly...to the point your breathing is compromised and your throat is swelling...you aren't "toughing it out"...you're risking a reaction that could kill you. Some people's bodies learn to tolerate the things they are allergic to as is the case with Adam, but for some people repeated exposure to allergens causes an even worse and more deadly reaction. You need to seriously decide what your risks factors are here. At least consider a preventative medication before your clean the rats. A minor reaction like itcy eyes or slight hives is one thing, when your throat starts to close and you wheeze...that's nothing to play around with.

I'm allergic to my rats, I have to take Benadryl right after handling them (but I think I'll start like Adam and take it before). My eyes get VERY itchy, and any place their toenails have touched my skin welts up.

Invest in a gas mask :) lol

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I'm allergic to my rats, I have to take Benadryl right after handling them (but I think I'll start like Adam and take it before). My eyes get VERY itchy, and any place their toenails have touched my skin welts up.

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Wow the same thing happens to me. I get all itchy for while after. As far as pork chop's goes it sounds like you have an asthmatic reaction to rats, i have the same thing but for cats.... If im in a room with feline dander i start taking shallow breaths and i have to go to the hospital.

I have a bad reaction to the rats as well. Cage cleaning can sometimes just make me sneeze all the way up to having an asthma attack. I've found the using a mask eliminates the need to use any kind of meds, but just a simple over the counter allergy med works too.

I welt up from their nails as well... hydrocortisone cream works wonders for that.

There's no sense in suffering everytime you have to clean. I keep them because my daughter absolutely love, love, LOVES them, and I really enjoy them as well.

The smell and my allergies to rats were the deciding factor for me to switch over to F/T. I'm not sure if it was the ammonia they produce or the dander...but it would kick my athsma into overdrive. I wear latex gloves and use hemostats when I handle any F/T rats... just in case.

wow... our rats are right in the bed room with us. I couldnt imagine being allergic to the little buggers.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

wow... our rats are right in the bed room with us. I couldnt imagine being allergic to the little buggers.

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I only have allergic reactions when handling them, not from being in the same room with them. But I know I couldn't sleep with them in my room - between Wisdom jumping like on a pogo stick over and over and over again, to Scarlett pulling her water bottle away from the glass then letting go, over and over and over again! Too much racket! LOL

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Jake, seriously, if you react that strongly...to the point your breathing is compromised and your throat is swelling...you aren't "toughing it out"...you're risking a reaction that could kill you. Some people's bodies learn to tolerate the things they are allergic to as is the case with Adam, but for some people repeated exposure to allergens causes an even worse and more deadly reaction. You need to seriously decide what your risks factors are here. At least consider a preventative medication before your clean the rats. A minor reaction like itcy eyes or slight hives is one thing, when your throat starts to close and you wheeze...that's nothing to play around with.

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If I'm lucky it'll close my throat all the way:D
Just kidding of course. A wet bandanna seems to work pretty well for my breathing

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

If I'm lucky it'll close my throat all the way:D
Just kidding of course. A wet bandanna seems to work pretty well for my breathing

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Good luck with that.