Foo - Apparently I'm allergic to rats...

...does that mean I can't get a guinea pig?

I want this one cute little fellow from our local petsmart--he's all brown, and kinda looks like a mini-beaver without the tail. Adorable. My siblings would have loved to have him. Unfortunately, we had a rat experiment in class earlier today, and the moment I was exposed to it I started wheezing and had to use my asthma inhaler. So if I'm allergic to rats, does that mean I can't get any rodent of any sort? :(

OOPS, this should've been in Foo, sorry mods. Can you move it please?

You don't even know for sure it was that rat. Could be something on hte rat or even the bedding materials.

As to other rodents why not do it the simple way. Go to a pet store, explain your situation and ask to approach and then handle whatever rodent looks good to you. You are sort of lucky here. It looks like your reaction is fast and obvious.

EDIT: Just having a rat in the house is not likely to cause you a probem. There already are several in the house and surrounding yard, you just don't see them. So if the worst happens your siblings have to care for the pet. A rat is not a huge commitment as 2-3 years is the life span.

OOPS, this should've been in Foo, sorry mods. Can you move it please?

Thanks for the practice, neko!

East Hill

You don't even know for sure it was that rat. Could be something on hte rat or even the bedding materials.

As to other rodents why not do it the simple way. Go to a pet store, explain your situation and ask to approach and then handle whatever rodent looks good to you. You are sort of lucky here. It looks like your reaction is fast and obvious.

EDIT: Just having a rat in the house is not likely to cause you a probem. There already are several in the house and surrounding yard, you just don't see them. So if the worst happens your siblings have to care for the pet. A rat is not a huge commitment as 2-3 years is the life span.

I think it wasn't the bedding materials as the rat was in a plain metal cage, but maybe it had leftover stuff on the fur or something. I dunno. Anyway, I shall go to the store when teh bf comes back and we'll check it out. A guinea pig would be great fun and a better companion than my betta fish.

My guess would be something in the bedding too. If you are allergic to rats, you are not necessarily allergic to guinea pigs. The biggest cause of allergic reactions to rodents is the protein in the urine. So, try to avoid male rodents (they have more protein in the urine).

East Hill

if you are interested in getting a guiena pig please look into local rescues before getting one from the pet store. :)

...does that mean I can't get a guinea pig?
Not necessarily. Guinea pigs aren't quite rodents, but they are more closely related to rodents than, say, cats are. Also, sometimes babies you live with as they grow will result in you being less allergic. Get a pair of baby females. You'll be more likely to have allergic symptoms to males. Guinea pigs are definitely herd animals, unlike other rodents, and living alone makes them very strange. They're not half as nervous and neurotic when they have a herd-mate...

Another idea would be to go see an allergist who can give you a challenge test to rats, mice, and guinea pigs. That way, you'll know for sure. Find an allergist who knows a lot about allergies to animals.

I was mowing the lawn for the first time this spring yesterday, and noticed that apparently my yard has become a rabbit sanctuary, because tons of little brown baby bunnies were popping out of nowhere and running to and fro. I was mowing a large patch of clover when one jumped out about a foot in front of the mower and just stood there, I guess waiting for doom. I stopped the mower and tried to get him to run off, didn't work, but I didn't want my dog to mess with him so I picked him up.

Good Lord, what a cute thing.

Possibly the cutest thing I've seen ever, my dog was cute as a puppy but nowhere near this supernatural level. I guess maybe the sound of the mower overwhelmed this bunny's tiny brain, but in turn, the little bunny's cuteness has overmastered my mind, and I keep on thinking about it's tiny feet and see-through ears. I set him down next to the Koi pond, where I'd seen most of it's litter-mates earlier, it wouldn't move, so I figured it had gone into one of those reflexive states where they just shut down. I've read that owls screech to induce this state in their prey when they are swooping down. I left it alone to see if it would go on being a bunny. Sure enough, a couple minutes later, it was gone. :)

My dog got wise to the bunnies, following their scent trails and barking at what I assume is their Fortress of Solitude under my porch. The dog is the sheriff of the lawn.

Sorry, a little off-topic, I would have started a thread about this, but I am universally despised in Foo, and I didn't want to start a thread merely to have it sink down to the bottom like Godzilla.

Bunnies and squirrels rule my world.

My dog got wise to the bunnies, following their scent trails and barking at what I assume is their Fortress of Solitude under my porch. The dog is the sheriff of the lawn.
Your dog isn't going to rest now until s/he eliminates the bunnies. My wonderful and sweet childhood Golden Retrievers couldn't help themselves, either. :( Have you thought about getting a live trap and relocating them?

Your dog isn't going to rest now until s/he eliminates the bunnies. My wonderful and sweet childhood Golden Retrievers couldn't help themselves, either. :( Have you thought about getting a live trap and relocating them?He doesn't have the killer instinct for it. He likes to chase things and scare the crap out of them, but won't go in for the kill, I've seen him do this with squirrels and even bugs. Trust me, if I find a dead bunny, I promise I will relocate them, but I very much doubt he will hurt them. He's too well-fed.

Giunea Pigs dont usually live too long so it sux to get attached to them
and have to go through a grieving process in too short a time.

Big Thumper style rabbits are great pets ! You have to pick them up
coddling their feets and backside because they are so strong in the legs
they can dislocate/break their own hips if they kick :eek:

Ill stick to my kitties tho......Cats are the perfect pets ! :)

Giunea Pigs dont usually live too long so it sux to get attached to them
and have to go through a grieving process in too short a time.

Big Thumper style rabbits are great pets ! You have to pick them up
coddling their feets and backside because they are so strong in the legs
they can dislocate/break their own hips if they kick :eek:

Ill stick to my kitties tho......Cats are the perfect pets ! :)
Guinea pigs will live longer if you avoid giving them food with ethoxyquin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethoxyquin) in it. For that matter, cats and guinea pigs can get along together quite well. :)

Thanks Donna !
We are going through a allergy finding process with the old male
and Ill look for this crap next time we get him food.

Sorry, a little off-topic, I would have started a thread about this, but I am universally despised in Foo, and I didn't want to start a thread merely to have it sink down to the bottom like Godzilla.

Bunnies and squirrels rule my world.

Meh, you haven't pissed me off yet. ;)

Nice story in any case. We have bunnies in the yard to but I have yet to interact with them.

all i know about guinea pigs is that they breed fast and that they're high-protein, low fat and low cholesterol.

as for the rat allergy, i'd also figure it was something the rat was near or exposed to as well. i wouldn't be surprised if it was a reaction to, say, flea repellent on the rat.

Guinea pigs will live longer if you avoid giving them food with ethoxyquin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethoxyquin) in it. For that matter, cats and guinea pigs can get along together quite well. :)

AHA! That's good to know. If I ever get the guinea pig I don't wanna have to worry about the kitty eating or mauling it.

If you decide on the pig(s), just PM me. I've got some specific tips...

Sugar Gliders are smarter, better-looking and less stinky than Guinea Pigs. GPs aren't as bad as ferrets for stink, but pretty bad. SGs look kind of like flying squirrels, which are also cool pets if you can find one.

Sugar Gliders are smarter, better-looking and less stinky than Guinea Pigs. GPs aren't as bad as ferrets for stink, but pretty bad. SGs look kind of like flying squirrels, which are also cool pets if you can find one.

Ahahaha, you just reminded me of Samurai Champloo...

http://www.spookhouse.net/angelynx/comics/tn1-momo.jpg

I don't think they're legal in CA though... I mean, hedgehogs aren't legal here either.

I don't think they're legal in CA though... I mean, hedgehogs aren't legal here either.Ferrets or skunks, either.

Female guinea pigs barely smell. If you get the males fixed, they're pretty un-stinky.