Causes, symptoms and treatments for hamster allergies

1. Reasons for the development of an allergic reaction
2. Features of the development of an allergic reaction
3. Allergy symptoms
4. Hamster allergy treatment
5. Prevention

Hamsters are loved and adored not only by children, but also by adults. Many of them, believing that these animals take up little space and do not require special living conditions, purchase hamsters in the hope of pleasing, first of all, their children, as well as themselves.

However, unfortunately, allergy to hamsters has become increasingly common lately, which is becoming a real problem for its owners.

Causes

The main reason for the development of allergies to hamsters is not the animal’s fur, but its saliva and dander, and in some cases food. The body's reaction often occurs after an animal bite.

The cleanliness of hamsters does not affect the ability to induce a specific immune response. Thus, Djungarians, which are valued for their beauty and lack of odor, are more likely than other breeds to provoke allergies in children and adults.

Allergies to hamsters are not as common as reactions to dogs and cats, but have recently become increasingly common. The disease develops in the presence of the following factors:

• hereditary predisposition;
• polyvalent allergy, in which an acute immune response occurs when exposed to different allergens;
• chronic diseases (bronchial asthma, bronchitis);
• weakening of immune defense.

The risk of developing an allergic reaction increases if the room where the hamster lives is rarely wet cleaned and there is no normal ventilation. In this case, the allergen accumulates in the air and is more likely to cause a negative reaction.

The mechanism of development of hamster allergy goes through three stages: immune, biochemical and clinical. During the immune stage, the body first comes into contact with the fur and saliva of the animal. The allergen can get on the skin or in the respiratory tract and be perceived as a foreign protein, causing hypersensitivity. The biochemical stage occurs upon repeated contact, in which case histamine is produced. At the clinical stage, pronounced symptoms of an allergic reaction are noted: shortness of breath, rhinitis, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.

Why does the disease occur?

Until now, the mechanism of this feature of the body has not been fully studied, but it can be described relatively accurately as follows:

• first, the body becomes familiar with the allergen and identifies it as a foreign element;
• when the allergen re-enters, histamine is already ready for its visit - a substance that is activated when “strangers” appear, signaling this to other organs;
• then the reaction of these organs begins in the form of a runny nose, cough, etc.

A reaction of this kind can be either almost immediate or delayed - symptoms may not appear from 2-3 hours to several days.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hamster allergy in adults and children depend on the severity of the disease and the individual characteristics of the immune system. An allergic response may occur within 5–10 minutes, several hours or days after contact with the irritant.

If you are allergic to hamsters, the following symptoms may occur:

• from the respiratory system: sneezing, copious mucous discharge from the nose, feeling of suffocation, shortness of breath, chest pain;
• from the organs of vision: redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes, lacrimation, photophobia, itching;
• on the part of the skin: urticaria, itching, pinpoint rashes that merge into large spots.

Headaches and joint pain are also possible. The most severe reactions are angioedema and anaphylactic shock. They are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

Stages of development of an allergic reaction

Allergies develop gradually

There are 3 stages of reaction development: immune, biochemical, clinical. Their development takes some time, but there are times when a few minutes are enough for pronounced symptoms to appear.

At the first stage, a potentially dangerous component penetrates into the body - a protein contained in the secretions of a rodent. Dzungarian and Syrian breeds have much more of it than other breeds. If the body determines that the component is allergic, then the body reacts to the irritant, and it goes into “combat readiness” mode.

The biochemical stage begins with repeated interaction with the protein. The reaction is fixed, and the early recognized foreign substance is rejected by the immune system as dangerous. At this stage, the body initially perceives it negatively. Antibody production begins.

During the clinical stage, acute symptoms appear. The severity of the symptoms that appear depends entirely on the general condition of the person. If the body is weakened or has some chronic diseases, then the immune system desperately fights the foreign protein.

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Diagnostics

Symptoms of an allergy to a hamster are no different from hypersensitivity reactions to the fur and saliva of other animals and even to food allergens. Rhinitis can easily be mistaken for a cold, and allergic conjunctivitis can be easily mistaken for a viral one. If you suspect this condition, it is recommended to undergo a series of medical tests.

• Blood tests. Two research methods are used: the RAST test, which allows you to narrow down the range of allergens, and the specific immunoglobulin E test, which can be used to identify a specific allergen.
• Skin tests. The method makes it possible to determine hypersensitivity during direct contact with various allergens. These can be scarification tests (through a scratch on the skin) or application tests (through a swab soaked in an allergen solution, which is applied to the body without damaging the skin), prick tests (an irritant is applied, then the skin in this area is pierced with a sterile needle). Itching and redness will indicate hypersensitivity of the body.
• Provocative tests. The allergen is injected into the nose, directly into the bronchi and under the tongue, strictly under the supervision of a doctor. The study can cause a violent reaction, including anaphylactic shock.
• Elimination tests, or the method of excluding the allergen. If you remove your hamster from your home for a while and the symptoms stop, it is likely that he is the cause of the allergic reaction.

Folk remedies

You need to approach their use with caution - some herbs can be harmful if the tincture or decoction is not prepared correctly. The same applies to dosage.

Traditionally, decoctions and baths of chamomile (especially for itching), calendula, and peppermint are considered useful. Rosehip decoction taken orally helps well - it is rich in vitamins that activate the fight against allergies.

For severe itching, baths with nettle or celandine help well, however, these herbs should be collected in the spring; at other times of the year they contain relatively harmful substances.

Treatment

To get rid of an allergy to a hamster, you must completely eliminate contact with the animal. To eliminate the main symptoms, conservative therapy is prescribed, in particular antihistamines. To relieve angioedema and anaphylaxis, first generation histamine receptor blockers are used - Diphenhydramine, Hifenadine, Clemastine. They have a depressant effect on the central nervous system and are not recommended for children and pregnant women.

Second generation antihistamines, which do not have sedative properties and have fewer side effects, are considered safer. These are Astemizole, Loratadine, Terfenadine. Drugs in this group can have a negative effect on the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

To treat the main symptoms of allergies, third generation antihistamines are prescribed: Xyzal, Telfast, Erius. The drugs eliminate itching and swelling and are suitable for treating children, but can cause insomnia, nausea, and headaches.

An effective method of treating hamster allergies is specific immune therapy (SIT), which involves introducing minimal doses of the irritant into the body.

In case of severe allergic reactions, hormonal medications may be prescribed. They quickly relieve the main symptoms, but are not recommended for long-term therapy. These are Cetirizine, Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone.

To support the immune system and prevent recurrence of an allergic reaction, immunomodulatory drugs may be prescribed. These include Imunofan, Derinat, Timolin, Lykopid.

Detoxification therapy is indicated for patients with allergies. For this purpose, enterosorbents are prescribed: Polysorb, Lingin, Activated carbon. Such drugs help reduce acute allergy symptoms in children and adults.

SIT therapy is the most effective. The method is that the patient is administered a minimum amount of allergens with a gradual increase in dose. Therapy allows you to reduce the body's sensitivity to irritants and achieve stable remission.

Bedding made from scrap materials

It is not difficult to make a bedding for a hamster with your own hands, but you cannot use newspapers or hard paper for this. This is explained by the fact that the baby will taste it all; newspaper paint is unlikely to be useful.

Paper napkins

Many people are interested in the question of whether it is possible to give napkins to a hamster. If they are without drawings, paint or flavorings, just plain white, then you can. This is a good alternative to wood fillers if your baby is allergic to wood dust. Therefore, if you don’t know what to replace sawdust with, feel free to go to the household chemicals store and buy odorless white table napkins. The baby will appreciate your efforts, because this is good material for arranging a nest. The rodent will tear the napkin into small pieces (you can help him) and make a warm nest.

Toilet paper

Rodents rarely use toilet paper for toileting. Offer this material to your baby and he will use it in decorating his bedroom. But can hamsters be given paper? Definitely yes. The main thing is that the composition does not contain flavorings or other additives.

Sometimes cotton wool is used as bedding, but this is not the best option. This bedding is dangerous for the Djungarian hamster - it gets tangled between the tiny fingers. Cotton wool is a subject of debate; many people use it as bedding, arguing that nothing bad happened to their pets and, moreover, Syrians love to wrap themselves in it. In fact, there are many known cases of Djungarians breaking their legs after getting tangled in cotton wool.

Prevention

To avoid hamster allergies in the future, you need to protect yourself from contact with the animal. If you are not ready to give up your pet, strengthen your hygiene measures.

• Ventilate the room where the cage is located twice a day or more often.
• Wipe the dust daily and wet clean every 2-3 days.
• Clean your hamster's cage thoroughly, especially in areas where excrement accumulates. It is advisable for a family member who does not have allergies to do this.
• After handling your hamster, wash your hands and all exposed body parts with antibacterial soap.

Wood filler: pros and cons

Wood granular filler. The optimal filling for the cage is wood filler or a smaller option - pressed sawdust.

The material has good absorbent properties and is able to retain odor for a week.

Since the granules are quite heavy, the animal is not able to scatter them around the perimeter and around the cage. If you want to feast on the flooring, the rodent will not get hurt and will not stain its fur coat.

The product is environmentally friendly, but has several disadvantages.

• Wood filler is slightly more expensive than regular sawdust.
• The presence of wood dust, which provokes allergies.
• Inconvenience associated with the animal's movement on large pellets.
• When spot cleaning a cage, it is difficult to distinguish the contaminated area.

Allergies in a child

Symptoms of hamster allergy in children are the same as in adults. But kids usually have difficulty describing their own condition. Parents should be wary if, upon contact with a hamster or within a few hours after it, the child develops a runny nose, cough, red eyes, or a deep voice. Children may complain that their eyes itch, feel weak, and refuse to eat.

You should not have a pet if your child is prone to allergies or suffers frequent and severe colds. An animal with a hypersensitive reaction to other rodents, as well as cats and dogs, is not recommended.

If you or your child are allergic to a hamster, it is not advisable to keep such a pet at home. This applies to Golden, Djungar, Angora and all other breeds. Cross-reactions that occur upon contact with mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits cannot be ruled out. At the first sign of an allergy, consult a doctor.

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Why is it dangerous?

Manifestations of allergies can be varied, and among them there are two extremely dangerous ones:

1. Quincke's edema. It is rarely observed, but it is important for parents to know the manifestations of this dangerous condition. In most cases, swelling develops rapidly. Lips, eyelids, tongue swell, breathing is difficult. In some cases, more serious symptoms are observed: neurological disorders, severe abdominal pain, asphyxia. If a child experiences these symptoms, it is important to call an ambulance, give him an antihistamine, for example Suprastin (preferably intravenously), eliminate anything that may interfere with breathing (unfasten the top buttons, remove jewelry from the neck), and remove all suspected allergens.
2. Anaphylactic shock. Deadly condition. If a child develops anaphylaxis, he or she needs immediate medical attention. Signs: drop in blood pressure, convulsions, various disturbances of consciousness, increased body temperature, weak pulse, skin swelling, acute pain in the heart.

First aid: call an ambulance, eliminate suspected allergens, lay the child horizontally, turn his head to the side, eliminate anything that may interfere with breathing.