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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 11, 2009 10:15:19 GMT -5
Ok, for some time now, my husband has been developing a contact dermatitis to the ferrets(no- we are NOT rehoming!). He's found that Benedryl, cortico-steroid creams, and creams with cetemides help. Is there anything I could/should be doing with the ferrets to help decrease the reaction? He develops an eczema- type rash that starts out as a redness, and will progress to blistering, then full eczema, if he misses a spot and doesn't treat it with the creams.
Like he says- how do you see a fuzzum asking to be picked up, and not do it?
And the allergy is definitely to the ferrets. When he stays completely away from them for a couple of days, the eczema clears up.
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Post by Heather on Jun 11, 2009 12:11:04 GMT -5
Ouch that sounds painful. Is there anything that you put on your ferrets or put in their drinking water? Just fishing here  Do they play outdoors...can they have got into something outside? I found a beautiful poison ivy plant in the ferret run   Dh was breaking out in this horrible rash, he's violently allergic to poison ivy. Ferrets aren't affected, nor is anyone else in the house but Bert is  The oil was getting on their coats and then they were bringing it in. The plant is now gone and so is Bert's allergy to the ferrets . Does this rash only affect his hands or does it affect his face and arms too? ciao |
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 11, 2009 14:58:09 GMT -5
I wish it was something that they were getting into! This started way back in Nov/Dec. At first we thought maybe his shaving cream, soap, chemicals, etc. Anything but the animals. It was through trial and error that we found it out. And today, he's realized that one of our cats is starting to cause the same problem. Stubbs uses the ferret litter boxes, and when hubby picks him up, Stubbies paws are up around his neck. Now, for the first time, his neck is also broken out. I'm thinking it may have something to do with the fact that ferrets pass salmonella through feces and saliva on the raw, and that's somehow affecting him. They made the switch to full raw in Sept., and he started reacting in Nov., or thereabouts. What do you think? Is that possible?
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Post by suds on Jun 11, 2009 18:16:48 GMT -5
that is very interesting problem Sherry. The Ph in the urin changes and the oil in the fur also changes hence the nicer smells then kibble fed I also think think certian food will have differnt affects on there coats and pottie's to does he have any food allergie's ? could try changing foods if possible and see if there is a link . try no chicken for a for 2 weeks or no pork for 2 weeks and so on be intersting if it works anyway.
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 11, 2009 20:44:36 GMT -5
That might be worth a shot, Suds, thanks! And no, hubby has no food allergies. The only other things he seems to be allergic to are formaldehyde, and menthol!
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Post by Heather on Jun 11, 2009 23:51:43 GMT -5
Could it possibly be your litter??? Even dust free leaves a residue. If it was so easy  . If he's now showing signs of reaction to the cat...and it's from the cat's feet...it makes sense. ciao |
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 12, 2009 8:22:49 GMT -5
I use yesterday's news litter. What else could I try, just to see? And he's never shown a reaction to the other cats, but they just use the regular clay scoopable, in the basement. I've tried just using newspaper before. Since I'm gone all day, it gets too wet, and they just go in their cage instead |
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Post by Heather on Jun 12, 2009 13:24:49 GMT -5
I use yesterday's news too but did you notice they've changed their "recipe" for the lack of a better word....new fresher scent..softer texture. I just happened to pick up an old bag the other day...it used to be a blue flag with white writing, now it's a red flag. I couldn't figure out what it was. It's not written in bold letters anywhere, it's the colour of the writing in one section on the bag. I've been watching the ferrets for reaction...maybe??!! I was using something called mewsprint...it's the same stuff, just a little cheaper and a larger pellet. There's a thread somewhere in here about different litter box fillers that people use. I used wood pellets for a time, it works great but...I don't like the fact that it becomes a powder when wet...too hard to clean up A lot of people use it because you can buy it really cheap. I have a friend who uses a horse stall pellet...seemingly it works very well too. It's just a thought. Especially if the he's not allergic to the other cats...and the ferrets and this cat use that litter... ciao |
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 13, 2009 0:32:35 GMT -5
I'm thinking I'll try the Sweat-scoop. If I can get the little beggars to stop digging in anything that's not "THEIR" litter . I'm also going to email Yesterday's News, and see when they changed their content! |
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Post by cristina on Jun 20, 2009 12:18:10 GMT -5
I actually just developed this same condition about 5 months ago.....I have had great skin and no allergies all my life and I have all of the sudden become sensitive to ferrets and cats! I get a contact dermatitis rash on my eyelids and around my lips and neck, which starts with red dry patches that can be swollen and will flake depending on the day.
Giving up my ferrets is NOT an option of course but I can relate to your husbands skin issue...nothing really seems to help me though, so I am glad he has found some sort of calming for his skin
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 20, 2009 17:05:59 GMT -5
Well, they've been using the Sweet-scoop for a week, and no difference at all in his rashes. He stayed away from them for 4 days(hides up in his office when they're out and about, and he still reacts within an hour of handling them! I'm also trying Suds idea of eliminating particular meats from their diet. I'm leaving off with the pork first for a couple of weeks. We'll take it from there, see what happens.
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Post by Heather on Jun 20, 2009 17:18:06 GMT -5
Good luck
ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 21, 2009 9:30:43 GMT -5
Thanks! He's in hiding again today. Handled them a lot yesterday, and now has the rash running most of the way up both arms, neck, and face, poor man!
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Post by cristina on Jun 27, 2009 12:22:44 GMT -5
I have tried switching meat too, I have left out pork for a couple weeks no and no change for me  But I was told that sometimes when you form an allergy like this (to a ferret) that its very close to a cat allergy and the shot treatments for cat allergies have in fact helped some people....I am looking into these for myself so I will update with anything I find out, I know how irritating it can be! |
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Post by suds on Jun 28, 2009 7:36:59 GMT -5
! thing to remember when changeing food for allergy results it takes several week 4 to 6 before you can be sure all is out of the system .( recently learned this with my dogs allergy issues) its not a quick proccess because of many factors such as fat stores fur also holds things for long eproids of time .
I was hopeing Heathers thoughts on the litter was the key . be a easy thing to fix if it was the case .
Have you tried wipeing there feet and fur with baby wipes before he handles them ?
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