Quote: Kory Fox

My 7 year old son is asthmatic and has some allergy issues that trigger it. He was tested a couple years ago and dog what one thing he was NOT allergic to. However, he has been having major problems since November. Constantly coughing, red eyes(looks like pink eye but it's not). He just can't stay healthy. The interesting thing is he was given a chinchilla around that time, so we thought that was the problem but we're told that chinchillas have no dander, but it could very well be the bedding. So we moved the chinchilla out of his room and into the utility room where he never goes. Cleaned his room thoroughly more than once. Still the problem persists.

So my wife took him to the allergist Friday to test his breathing capacity and it's down 20% from 6 months ago. He's going back this coming Friday to redo the allergy testing. The nurse said to be prepared that he could very well have developed an allergy to the dogs and we need to be prepared to make them outside dogs. I would have thought exposure to them would make him more allergy resistant to them, but they said this happens sometimes.

So I need to be prepared. We have kennels outside but rarely use them. We only use them is we are going to be gone for a very long day so they aren't forced to hold it so long. The problem is that when we do, we sometimes come home to one neighbor, even though we live on 10 acres in the country, that has left a message complaining about the barking. Legally during the day they can't do much but complain but I'd rather not have a neighbor feud. I can crate them in the garage at night if I have to. I'm not educated on bark collars, but my instinct is I'd rather not do that. As a side note to the bark collar, I am working my 1 year old rottie in Schutzhund. Don't know what effect that my have if we went that route. We really really don't want to have to put them outside, but it's better than re-homing them and our son's health has to come first. So any suggestions how to handle this if that's what we're forced to do?

I looked up chinchilla-related allergies and found several "side" problems. Have you researched this thoroughly? I really know zero about them, but I'm reading that something called chinchilla dust, and something called chinchilla hay, cause a lot of allergy problems.

In addition, they must have proteins in their bodies that will come out in saliva and urine. Mammals who lick themselves transfer proteins to their fur. Many proteins are potential allergens.

I'll see what I can find. The dander answer sounds to me limited.

JMHO, though. (Allergies -- in dogs, at least -- are something I research quite a bit.)

These are very limited quotes. You'll want to read the entire articles.


http://www.chincare.com/HealthLifestyle/HealthLifestyle.htm#caremyths
"Myths about Chinchillas" ....
QUOTE: CHINCHILLAS AND ALLERGIES: NOT "HYPOALLERGENIC"
Animal proteins, not found in dander alone, are now believed to be the chief cause of allergic reactions by pet owners. Chinchillas don't have dander, but the potential still exists for them to produce allergy-causing proteins through other excretions, such as saliva or urine. Chinchillas do shed (and regrow) their fur, but very subtly, in almost unnoticeable amounts approximately every few months. But probably the biggest problem to people with allergies is the generous amounts of hay and dust that chinchillas use regularly, those items being common allergy irritants. ...... If you are allergic to hay or dust, please don't choose a chinchilla for a pet. "I'm allergic" is one of the top reasons that chinchillas are surrendered to rescue, often after having been long-deprived of hay or dustbath to accomodate their owner's problem; this is grossly unfair to the chinchilla who requires hay and dust for health reasons. To quote from one rehoming request received by us in our rescue work, "Before getting them we were under the impression that they were a good pet for people with allergies. This is a totally wrong assumption. Since getting them I've gone from having regular hay fever, to needing an emergency inhaler, to needing a steroidal inhaler."


http://www.mustask.com/chinchilla/What_You_Should_Know_About_Chinchillas_And_Allergies.php
QUOTE:
In general, warm-blooded animals with fur have proteins in their body. When these furry animals wet their fur by licking, saliva sets in. After it dries, parts of the protein flutter about and end up on different material in the home. ... This is why even though people initially get a pet chinchilla, they have to give it away because the hay and dust proves too much for them to handle. Not only do the owners suffer, but their pets suffer as well. They don't get the hay or dust bath their supposed to get on a regular basis. ... It can get so bad that as an owner of the pet, being allergic to hay and dust can cause breathing problems. END QUOTE

Thank you Connie. I have been convinced that the chinchilla had to have something to do with this. The timing was just to coincidental. I simply asked someone I knew who had them and she told me the bedding and dust bath could be the problem but it sounds like it's a bigger deal than even she knew. He's going to be tested anyway so hopefully that will confirm that he's still not allergic to the dogs.

Since I made the post above, I've read on chinchilla group sites that asthma should rule out chinchillas as pets from the get-go because of how often families with an asthmatic have to rehome the animal.

I'm sorry you received bad information.

Yes, the dust, hay, urine, can flare Asthma. We have always had critters, the Chin dust can bother me and I don't have Asthma. My oldest has Asthma.

I would check and see if the Asthma/Allergy is being triggered by something outside the home too. School, are they doing any renovations?

Tammy, how does your oldest do with the chinchilla stuff? I know it's individual, but this (chinchillas and allergies/asthma) was a new topic for me and it's very interesting.

Connie, the chinchilla has never triggered her asthma. She is adult now, but raised and showed goats, rabbit, poultry, dog venues. She says the dogs, grooming them, is a big trigger.

Yes, so individual!

A few people on the chinchilla forums I looked at had no trouble with any animal except the chinchilla (or more likely the chinchilla accoutrements, I guess).

Everyone, though, was distressed at the prevailing myth about chinchillas being perfect for allergy- and asthma-sufferers.

I learned a lot over the weekend.

Yes, it is individual, and just a myth about them being good for allergies. I have heard people tell others this about Guinea Pigs. I know many kids that are fine with rabbits and very allergic to guinea pigs.