Reaction to my hedgies - two days later?

SIChins · 09-16-2004, 06:53 PM

I haven't held my hedgies for 2 days, now, here is the reason.....two days ago, I had a reaction to their quills. I mean, my hand have always itched from them, I wash them well, and it goes away. Well, I noticed while holding them the other day that I was getting red welts from them. I eventually put them away, and washed my hands, and they were getting worse as the day progressed. I kept washing them and used an anti-allergen cream that the doctor gave me for something else, and it helps relieve the burning, but that is it. 2 days later, the welts are still really bad.
Is this a developed allergy or something? The reason I ask is because not too long ago, after eating eggs all my life, my body decided to have violent reactions against them, so now I am worried that I am having the same thing happen with the hedgies. I would hate to have to wear gloves just to handle them

weesiepoo · 09-16-2004, 11:43 PM

it very well could be a developing allergy. it also could be just that you ahve a mild reaction to their saliva and they have been annointing a lot or something lately.

let me ask you something, are they boys or girls? many people are allergic to their sperm and so when they get "gummy tummy", it causes a reaction in the owner.

it also could just be that your skin is dry and/or sensitive right now from other things, and so the irritation is worse.

if the antihistimine creams etc are not working, then i would consider something other than allergy.

try bathing them, use a soft toothbrush to scrub well in circles in order to get all the dander and dried saliva (and possibly "gummy tummy") off.
also, check the little quilly kids' skin, is it dry and flakey. look irritated? if it is mildly so, use olive oil, essential oils, etc and turn them upside down and dip just the quills in a little tub of water with just a few drops of one of these oils. if they are severly dry, have them checked for skin fungus, mites, etc. many of these conditions could affect your skin as well.

let us know how it goes!

SIChins · 09-17-2004, 12:44 AM

It's a male and female, the male annoints some, the female, rarely annoints, and they were actually both bathed 3 days ago, and it still happens. The allergen cream works somewhat, but as soon as I touch them, I react. Their skin isn't irritated at all though, they are doing just fine, and no one else in the house is having this problem. It's hard though, my hands are so sore right now, I had to get my daughter to take them out tonight

pamm013 · 09-17-2004, 06:10 PM

ohh that is s sad... I hope you can figure something out so you can hold them....

weesiepoo · 09-17-2004, 07:56 PM

then it would seem to me that you ahve developed an allergy to their saliva or dander. let me check and see what my exotics connections suggest. ill get back to you.

hang in there.

Brandy · 10-08-2004, 12:53 PM

how is it now Laurie?

SIChins · 10-08-2004, 12:57 PM

It's still really bad, I sometimes have to wear gloves to handle them

My daughter is really good at handling them when I can't, but she can't always be here to help out.