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Post by dreamsome on Jan 20, 2011 20:45:44 GMT -5
i haven't posted in quite awhile, so hello again i was wondering if anyone had the same sort of "issue" like me. i have 2 ferrets, london and vienna. i've had vienna for a year now and have never itched from her, but london is my newest addition and he makes me itchy! i'm allergic to most furry animals, and my allergies have always been sort of "picky," as in not EVERY dog or cat will make me itch. could it be the same with ferrets, too? he is a boy afterall, maybe his stronger smell is causing it? one of my favorite things is to pick him up and snuggle him against my face- but my chin and chest are HATING it!
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Post by bluemoose on Jan 20, 2011 21:32:50 GMT -5
Allergies can definitely be set off by one ferret and not by another. I'm not sure if the gender of a neutered animal would affect it though. He probably just has more dander than your female. Same thing for why some dogs and cats affect you more than others. It's just differences in each individual animal.
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Post by Heather on Jan 20, 2011 23:53:42 GMT -5
Are your little ones on a natural diet? ciao
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Post by rarnold18 on Jan 21, 2011 2:27:09 GMT -5
I was about to ask the same thing because I would assume, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that a natural diet would help with dander control because their fur and skin won't be as dry....
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Post by bluemoose on Jan 21, 2011 2:29:03 GMT -5
If nothing else (you don't want to feed raw or you're still in the process of switching) you can try adding fish oil to their diet. Most ferrets love it and it's good for their skin and coat.
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Post by Heather on Jan 21, 2011 3:04:32 GMT -5
I've had a number of people who are violently allergic to pets who've discovered that they're not allergic to these same pets once a species appropriate diet is applied. I had one friend who was so allergic to pets that after spending a weekend at my house switched her dog over to a raw diet so that she could hug him. She has had no problems since, she still can't hug the cats but she can pet them as long as she washes her hands after handling them. There appears to be some sort of reaction between some chemical or component of kibbles that when consumed by our furkids causes an allergic reaction in humans. ciao
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Post by bluemoose on Jan 21, 2011 3:08:47 GMT -5
That's interesting! There's no end to the wonders of raw
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Post by bibliophiliac on Jan 21, 2011 7:46:10 GMT -5
You could also try bathing them more often (but not enough to dry their skin out), or some of the non-harmful conditioner sprays. When my mom found out she was allergic to our cats, she began spraying the house and our poor cats with smelly sprays. It stopped her from being plugged up.
Also, air purifiers are quite amazing. I highly suggest one for anyone, especially people with pets.
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Post by dreamsome on Jan 21, 2011 9:15:40 GMT -5
i could believe that, heather! i'm all for the benefits of a natural diet- the kibbles are just no good. but actually, he's been on raw since i got him this november. i'm still trying to convert my little girl, but i'm taking it very slow because she might be sick (the vet recommended an ultrasound for a lump). i don't want to stress her out if she already feels horrible! i've read about the air purifiers in here but not sure if that would apply- my breathing or asthma hasn't acted up, it's only my itchy skin! also, we have a bit of a flea problem so i've been bathing them which otherwise i don't really do. gee, what gives??
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Post by sherrylynne on Jan 21, 2011 10:13:03 GMT -5
I certainly wouldn't bathe them more, because that will increase the output of oils, and actually wind up making their skin even drier. Ferrets are weird that way As for smelly sprays, their respiratory systems are so tiny, they can be affected by many things. And since most "smelly" sprays have essential oils, that's an even bigger no-no for both cats and ferrets. It ultimately winds up leading to multiple organ failure in them, since they can't excrete the toxins from the oils.
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Post by rarnold18 on Jan 21, 2011 15:11:21 GMT -5
The fleas are probably your problem...I'm allergic to them so if I get bitten instead of the bite being small, I swell up and get hives and super itchy! I end up looking like I've got the plague! fleas+me= no bueno!! Instead of bathing them to get rid of those nasty little blood suckers, comb them with a flea comb and as you find one drop it into a bowl of rubbing alchol, there is less surface tention than water so they sink and the alchol kills them pretty quickly so they don't try climbing out. When I find them I comb through everyone (dogs, cats, ferrets, and if needed guinea's) twice a day. Also change out their bedding frequently, vaccume carpets and upholsterd furniture daily....you'll have to do this for a couple weeks because the flea's life cycle is 10-14 days. Also it's best to treat your yard...I use Dawn dish detergent in a "miracle grow" type spray container that attaches to your garden hose and just spray everything down....
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Post by dreamsome on Jan 21, 2011 16:21:10 GMT -5
i've read about the flea comb on here- haven't picked one up yet! i do have a fine tooth comb but it's not tiny enough to actually pick off the fleas. as much as i wanted to stay natural and try alternative methods, it wasn't working when we had to keep cleaning and cleaning. following good reviews i picked up something called ultracide. it says it prevents flea infestation for 7 months. the carpet is vacuumed every few days along w/the bedding being switched every few days. he gets bathed when i see several fleas on him at once, and i use dawn. i haven't noticed them itching from dryness, at all! i thought it was strange but hey, if it works, it works. i had thought at one point maybe it was the fleas, too- but i've been bitten by them before around my ankles and this is not it! i basically just get an itchy rash on my chest and my chin is very itchy. i honestly think he just has more dander- that was something i didn't really think about. it really sucks, though!
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Post by rarnold18 on Jan 21, 2011 18:32:44 GMT -5
Flea combs are like $2-5 at Wal-Mart and combing and vaccuming daily (removing couch and chair cushions and using the crevice tool to get into the tight spaces) is the best way to go...that way you don't risk anyones health (yours or your furbabies) by using potentially harmful chemicals. I'm allergic to everything it seems to be lately including my cats.... I can't use any type of pyrethirein based insecticides or my face gets swollen, red, and numb... (yeah, I'm a freak of nature) Dawn is an awesome product but because it is such a strong cleaner it can dry our thie skin very easily.... when I use it on the dogs (I'm in Florida and fleas are a fact of life down here) after I rinse them I use Panteen conditioner on them to help with the drying, though I'm not sure about it's safety for ferrets I don't bath my fuzz at all unless they roll in poo and get REALLY nasty and it has helped with my allergies...along with a script for Singulair!
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Post by dreamsome on Jan 21, 2011 19:24:03 GMT -5
my boyfriend are thinking about relocating to florida to be closer to his family. the only thing i can think is "UGH" when you say it's a haven for fleas!! gosh dang, isn't there any escape?? you remind me a bit of my sister, she is very allergic to many things. i've seen it, and i feel very bad for you too, girl!
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Post by dreamsome on Jan 21, 2011 19:24:42 GMT -5
um yeah. i meant my boyfriend and i.
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