allergic to rats?

[doctorbob]

My son has a couple of pet rats; they came to live with us maybe 8 months ago (it was sort of a rescue situation). Anyway, I clearly have some kind of skin allergy to these animals because wherever I allow them to touch me, whether it's with their toenails or just brushing past, I break out in hives or whatever. This reaction is getting steadily worse. I can almost deal with that. However, I wondered if my recently-developed respiratory allergies might be attributed to those girls as well. Anybody ever heard of such a reaction?

If this is possible, I will be kind bummed about it because I like those rats a great deal. They're fun to have around, they're smart, and they clearly have a good time with us when they play.

I've been to an allergist recently but rat isn't in the mix of allergens they test you with. I just wondered if anybody had heard of this condition or if it's something else. Honestly, the "new" rats are the only changes in my environment in the last year.

Thanks for any advice,
bob

[Die Fledermaus]

I was allergic to cats for ages. Then, I took the risk and tried one out - proximity to the kitty! Rubbing my nose against her fur. Nothing!

But. . . whenever they, in play, scratch me just a bit (no blood) or "mouth" my hand with their teeth, I ITCH!!

Same thing just happened with Petey the rat's nails on my forearm. Rat/cat allergy lingering, or merely a reaction to dirty nails? Don't know. I slap a little generic Bactine on or an anti-itch medication and I am fine.

We have a few real rat experts in here and I will e-mail them as they may not be around for a day or two.

Ironically, most questions I read about allergies and rats are about the RAT having the allergy and people being worried.

If you have used different clean new bedding and isolated the rats from other potential allergens and are therefore sure THEY are the cause. . . it could be rat dander, urine, or saliva. But try Carefresh Ultra first - the most hypo-allergenic bedding there is.

Females are slightly less prone to produce urine with allergens to those susceptible. This increases with age. I do not know if neutering would help but I doubt it. (Neutering is good for other health reasons).

I have a hairless rat here, Telly. Photos are up in other threads. Clearly, as with dogs, they are easier on those who are allergic.

Testing. One is called a RAST (radioallergosorbent) test and is done on a blood sample. The other is called a scratch test where tiny amounts of allergens are applied to a small scratch or prick made in the skin. If you have an allergy to that allergen, your skin will react by forming a welt. The severity of the reaction tells you the severity of the allergy. It is common for some allergists to have to order the serums for rats and mice, but they exist.

Reducing allergies:

Keep them out of your bedroom. Have someone else clean their habitat, or wear a painter's mask and rubber gloves when you do it, and then wash face and hands. A smock or some such could be worn over your regular clothes. Ventilate the habitat area well.

As with cats, wiping down the animal with a damp cloth can reduce airborne allergens; there are commercial sprays that do the same (for cats). Should work for rats; same principle. Letting the rats swim in a bathtub once a week should reduce airborne irritants. Warm water!

Wina Products, Inc. sells Dust-Seal for use on furnishings and Dander-Seal for use on animals. Their number is 800-445-4407. A mail order company called Priorities sells a spray for furnishings as well as a lot of other allergy products. They also sell Aller-Pet sprays for use directly on animals. Their catalog also includes lots of tips on reducing allergy exposure. 800-553-5398, www.priorities.com. Ask at pet stores for other options.

Try to reduce ALL allergens from ALL potential sources, including house dust.

Use a HEPA filter or other such device. An ion-emitter might be worth a try - it supposedly removes airborne pollutants.

Beware of kitchen and bathroom mold sources, outside pollen, and possible food allergies (dairy or wheat are common).

Treatments? Over the counter pills such as Allegra, or shots from the allergist to slowly reduce the sensitive to the rats. I had loads of those after many many scratch tests! I was allergic to chocolate, peas, tree mold, house dust, etc. et al. One doctor told us to get rid of all the furniture! We thought he was nuts and went to another doctor, and we kept the furniture.

I had MANY allergies as a child and went through ALL this - and we had no pets! I got loads of shots; I still recall his name and place - Dr. Zohn! Ah. memories. I had asthma for a whole Summer.

And then I outgrew the allergies.

Anyway, that should help. And welcome to the forum. Don't be a stranger and keep us posted.

[Hamsters82]

Hi doctorbob and welcome to RR! To me, one can be allergic to any animal. Sometimes when we're not near a particular animal, we're not immune to it (fur, dander in the fur, saliva, etc) and we can break out from this.

Is there anything you can take? Whenever I go to work as I work with many animals and particular bedding, I take Allegra and it works just fine. Ask your doctor if you can try Allegra, it does work.

Also after you play with your son's rats, I'd advice you wash your hands straight away and do not allow the rats to be anywhere near where you sleep or in a room where you use the most. That way you can have some clean air and a no-fur zone.

Do you have asthma? I only ask because if you do, maybe you should have a medahaler with you at all times when you are with the rats. I carry mine when I go to work, for a just in case.

That's really all I can think of right now; I hope it helped. See you around the forum.

[adoptaratcanada]

You've got a couple very good answers so far.

Sadly, I think rat allergies mistakenly get blamed for very common (and preventable) other reactions.

First off, check the bedding. For instance, (contrary to what DF suggested) I gave up using CareFresh because I had such a time with it, making me itchy and it was quite dusty so I always wore a mask (to me, it felt like handling fibreglass).

Rats have RIDICULOUSLY pointy (FINE pointy) nails. The tips of them can penetrate and you might not ever know - kind of like when you get a teensy sliver or pet hair (or worse, whisker) stuck in your foot! Those itch badly, too (or do me, anyway). Always wear long sleeves when handling rats.

I wash my hands AND my arms if I forgot to wear long sleeves. The pricks from their nails tend to well up a bit on me, but as I mentioned, I think any such pinprick would. Although they well up, they don't itch if I get them washed. Sometimes it takes a little time for the welts to go away (an hour?)

Between the pinpoint nails, and trekking through questionable bedding, and through pee, their little nails can act like an allergy test in themselves, if you visualize it. "Let's knick your skin and put substance X into it."

I can't say I've heard of respiratory reactions, but more so the skin reactions. With your recent respiratory issues, my thoughts would be: bedding, and also the bedding may need to be changed more often (you may react to the build up of ammonia? I've heard it can bother ratttie lungs, so maybe human ones, too).

I agree, always wash your hands after handling them, and the wipes or a jaunt in the water are a good idea, too, to cut down on possible airborne allergens. I've heard that kitten wipes are safe for rats.

If you decide on the poolside visits to the bathtub or basin, and the rats have never done that before, you might have to wean them into it.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Die Fledermaus]

>> For instance, (contrary to what DF suggested) I gave up using CareFresh because I had such a time with it, making me itchy and it was quite dusty so I always wore a mask (to me, it felt like handling fibreglass). <<


Please note I said Carefresh ULTRA which is not dusty at all.

[adoptaratcanada]

My mistake!

I didn't know there was an Ultra

[Die Fledermaus]

Yep. And it comes in lovely colors. I like purple!

[doctorbob]

All excellent replies; thank you to everyone.

It's interesting - we have tried different litter/bedding but I have just forgotten the type/brand we're currently on. But I did take a sample (new stuff from the bag) and attempt a little allergy test with just that. Didn't get a reaction. I will say that the skin reaction seems to react more quickly and last longer every day. The fact is, I have some spots on me now from casual contact or perhaps an accidental scratch from yesterday's play and it is still bothersome today. No "anti-itch" or any other ointment has helped today and that's what prompted me to post. But I get what I call "contact dermatitis" from nearly every substance I can think of (unless it's practically inert, like the current bedding). I have a prescription oral antihistamine for a previous problem and also prescription topical treatment. No joy. I do have some impressive seasonal allergies at times but do not have asthma - the allergist did test for this a few months ago. Finally, I do have and carry an EpiPen everywhere to protect against fatal reactions from insect stings and such. I know that sounds like a lot of terrible stuff but I think it's all due to the same root cause. And I'm quite healthy other than that.

Oh, and I do wash immediately after playing with them. But I actually like the idea of letting the girls wipe their feet or using kitten wipes prior to play. I would like to try that and see if there is any change. Frankly, I can fully see my overactive histamines reacting as they do, for all those reasons (what the rats probably walk through).

As an aside: these are some of the cleanest animals I've ever known. I know people like to discuss how well rats groom but ours do it almost to obsession. Our third and most recent little girl (that was definitely a rescue) had been fostered for a week by an old lady that smoked some nasty cigars in the house. That's right; the old lady apparently smoked cigars. And the rat reeked of cigar smoke. But it didn't take much, between our wiping her down and she grooming herself, to get rid of the stench.

Anyway, thanks for the posts. I'll report back if I find any new information.

Thanks,
bob

[Die Fledermaus]

That is funny about the rats and cigars.

>> But I get what I call "contact dermatitis" from nearly every substance I can think of (unless it's practically inert, like the current bedding) <<

Wow. You see an allergist, I assume.

See ya.

[adoptaratcanada]

Rats sure are clean! When I adopted my first pair of boys from the Rescue, the lady there was smooching them all over, and I always remember her saying," I kiss the rats and I kiss the cats because they clean themselves...and I NEVER kiss the dog!" I didn't tell her I always kiss the dog....and shared ice cream cones with my family dog when I was a kid ;D

I find it very soothing to sit and watch rats and cats groom themselves.

My old cat was one of a pair of kittens I adopted from a neighbour. She was identical to her mother, so they would confuse me if both appeared from their respective side of the street when I walked home from the bus stop After I moved away I ran into their son some years later and asked how the momma cat was doing. His wife rolled her eyes and said that the cat actually seemed more YELLOW now, due to the parents TERRIBLE smoking (I've known lots of smokers, but those people meant business!!)

[Die Fledermaus]

Apr 5, 2009 23:48:35 GMT -4 adoptaratcanada said:

Rats sure are clean! When I adopted my first pair of boys from the Rescue, the lady there was smooching them all over, and I always remember her saying," I kiss the rats and I kiss the cats because they clean themselves...and I NEVER kiss the dog!" I didn't tell her I always kiss the dog....and shared ice cream cones with my family dog when I was a kid ;D

Better not tell those stories to Kate - she'll freak!

I started a thread in the Rat forum on Rodentistry. It is very common for rats to reach in peoples' mouths and nibble their teeth!

Smoking stinks!

[doctorbob]

Apr 5, 2009 23:39:06 GMT -4 Die Fledermaus said:

Wow. You see an allergist, I assume.

Indeed. As an aside, my allergist is a true geek, like me -- long story. She was also a high school and medical school classmate with my GP. Small world.

[adoptaratcanada]

Apr 10, 2009 21:23:25 GMT -4 doctorbob said:

Indeed. As an aside, my allergist is a true geek, like me -- long story. She was also a high school and medical school classmate with my GP. Small world.

Given our context, my brain just would not grasp "GP".


;D

[Die Fledermaus]

This is a rodent board, not The Lancet or the NEJM. Here, "GP" means guinea pig!

>> She was also a high school and medical school <<

So you ARE a doctor; you don't just play one on TV.

Well, a physician. We also have a Chemistry PhD around here. I am a humble ABD.

[doctorbob]

I am not a physician. The "doctorbob" is about a PhD -- systems management. I told you I was a geek. What I meant to say about my allergist is that she went to high school and medical school with my General Practitioner. Funny about NEJM - she's the only one of my medical "team" that has been published in that journal. Before I decided I couldn't make a living doing it, I was in entomology research and had written and presented a lot of research on insecticide resistance, with the emphasis on genetic factors, etc.

Now make your jokes on finding bugs in computers systems. I'll wait.