It is believed that chinchilla is a hypoallergenic animal. Therefore, with a tendency to manifest the reaction of the body, people choose this particular animal. Could there be an allergy to chinchillas? For the owner of this animal, there are risks that are described in the article.
Features
Is there an allergy to chinchillas? This phenomenon is found, but very rare compared to other domestic animals. The dense fur of the beast falls out in small quantities, moreover, it does not have strong volatility.
Since the coat is thick, parasites cannot start in it. Judging by the reviews, the advantage is the cleanliness of the animals and the regular adoption of sand baths. Rodents do not use their own saliva during daily hygiene activities. This is considered a plus for an allergy sufferer, as the saliva of many pets leads to a negative reaction.
Many are interested: if you put chinchilla in the house, is there an allergy to them or not? According to reviews, these animals are not too contact, so they are reluctant to go to their hands, which reduces the chances of allergies. But even with such disadvantages, an allergic reaction can still occur. Symptoms may not be caused by the animal itself, but by its vital products, food, bedding, sand for swimming.
If there is any doubt that the allergy appeared from the animal, the litter should be changed. Allergenic are sawdust. Hay can also lead to allergies. It is advisable to select a granular filler. Do chinchillas cause allergies in adults? A similar phenomenon is rare, but it does happen.
Causes
Before you start a chinchilla, you should consider many nuances. This animal lives in a cage, so waste products accumulate in one place. It has no sweat and sebaceous glands, so the smell is practically absent. The fur is dense, so parasites are uncomfortable developing there. The causes of allergies are as follows:
- Urine is absorbed into sawdust, which dries. During the cleaning of the cell, sawdust change is performed, due to which wood dust rises, with which protein from the urine enters the body and leads to an allergic reaction.
- The epidermis in these animals is separated in the usual way, becomes part of the dust and enters the human body through the respiratory tract.
- The epidermis and urine, excrement gets on the hair, with the interaction of which allergens affect a person.
Predisposition
The cause of the allergy is a protein that is in the urine, saliva, on the epidermis of the pet. In contact with animals and objects on which he is, a person is able to face a negative reaction. Due to some facts, the risk of this problem increases:
- Weak immunity. When the immune system does not function properly due to a long illness, taking medication and other reasons, it will perceive proteins as foreign and dangerous components, therefore, a negative reaction appears.
- Childhood. This is due to the fact that the child’s immunity is more susceptible to allergens.
- Bronchial asthma. Asthmatics are sensitive to what should not cause a negative reaction.
Symptoms
How is an allergy to chinchilla? Usually it is observed in children under 12 years of age, since the immunity of the child is not fully formed. This also applies to children who previously had allergies or bronchial asthma.
An allergy to chinchillas in adults can lead to serious consequences. Like other herbivores, these animals can harm human health with an appropriate diagnosis. Pets (cats and dogs) can also suffer from allergies. Therefore, their owners must take this fact into account.
What are the symptoms of chinchilla allergy? A negative reaction can be detected:
- by tearing;
- conjunctivitis;
- rhinitis;
- shortness of breath
- coughing
- urticaria.
These are the main symptoms. According to reviews, in severe cases of allergies to chinchillas, the appearance of:
- difficulty breathing caused by edema;
- severe runny nose;
- Quincke's edema.
Symptoms can not appear immediately, but after a few days. There are cases of a reaction one year after the acquisition of the animal.
Diagnostics
Usually, before purchasing a pet, you need to properly equip the cage. If at this time no symptoms of the disease appeared, then the animal itself became a source of allergy. But you should not immediately abandon the chinchilla. Even with the appearance of alarming signs, it is necessary to visit a doctor and establish the cause of the allergy. For this, several tests are performed - skin tests. On the arm in the place of the forearm, an injection or scratch with an allergen is performed.
Before the event, the skin is wiped with a solution of alcohol. In a scarification test, scratches are applied with a disposable scarifier. And with a prik test, injections are performed with disposable needles. The depth of immersion of the needle into the skin is not more than 1 mm. For 1 procedure put up to 15 samples. After each event, you need to wait a while, to observe the reaction. If there was no redness or swelling, the test will be negative.
A test for a response to Ig E antibodies, which cause serious complications, is considered to be complex. For analysis, you need a blood sample from a vein. Less often performed provocative test. In this case, the allergen is applied near the nostrils and dripped under the tongue.
If the allergy appeared not on the animal, but on other means, then the allergen is easily eliminated. To do this, replace feed, bedding or accessories. If the reason is in the animal, then the decision must be made depending on the severity of the disease, the likelihood of its treatment or simplification of symptoms. Usually parting with a furry pet is avoided.
Treatment
How is chinchilla allergy treated? This disease is not completely treated. This does not mean that symptoms must be ignored. Antihistamines are used to alleviate the condition. New drugs are taken orally 1 time per day. The result of the action of the drug occurs in 15-20 minutes. Effective use:
- "Loratadina."
- Claritin.
- "L-Cet."
- Zirteka.
According to reviews, sometimes doctors recommend the use of hormonal drugs to get rid of the symptoms of an allergy to chinchillas. They are usually prescribed in severe cases or when antihistamines do not help. Glucocorticosteroid drugs can be used after consulting a specialist and under his supervision. This group of drugs includes:
- "Dexamethasone" - tablets.
- Azmacort - spray.
- "Alrex" - drops.
- Lokoid is an ointment.
- "Prednisolone" - solution for injection.
In complex treatment, it is desirable to use sorbents. They cleanse the body of toxic components. This can improve the general condition of a person, and medicines will act faster and more efficiently.
Of the sorbents often prescribed:
- Enterosgel.
- "Filtrum".
- Lactafiltrum.
In addition to drug therapy, careful pet care is needed. The cell and all items in it should be kept clean to prevent the spread of allergens. To do this, the cell is wiped with a damp material. It requires daily minor cleaning and a weekly general. This should be done with rubber gloves and a protective mask.
Still need to perform wet cleaning of their homes. It is advisable to buy a purifier and a humidifier. Such devices eliminate volatile allergens. If you are allergic to chinchilla in children and adults, you should take the cage to that part of the house where family members spend less time.
Predisposition
If you have a slight suspicion of an allergy, you should contact your allergist to perform a screening test. The procedure involves the application of a likely allergen to the skin.
To do this, the doctor performs a special injection or scratch. A skin test is considered negative if after some time there are no changes in the area with the applied allergen - redness or swelling.
Owner recommendations
Another way to solve the problem is the acquisition of a new home for the pet - display cells. You can buy it in specialized stores. The showcase not only looks aesthetically pleasing and original, but because of the enclosed space, the spread of volatile allergens is not allowed. Males are more likely to cause allergies. The exception is the period of pregnancy.
Opinion about the hypoallergenicity of animals will appear due to the fact that few such cases have been identified. But when a problem is identified, immediate resolution is required. If all else fails and the symptoms worsen, it is best to find a new owner for the animal.
Prevention
Preventive measures are needed to reduce or eliminate the effects of allergens. If the negative reaction is acute, then you need to present the pet to friends. If the ailment is mild, then the following rules are required:
- You need to buy air purifiers that eliminate allergenic components from space.
- Wet cleaning is required every day.
- You need to clean the chinchilla cage often.
- Disinfection of the cell with boiling water is periodically performed.
- Every day it is necessary to ventilate the room where the pet lives.
- Do not pick up the animal.
- Do not place a cage in the bedroom.
- Do not stay long near the pet.
Conclusion
Thus, we found that allergies to chinchillas are rare. In this case, it is necessary to observe all effective measures to eliminate the symptoms. But any medication should be taken only as directed by a doctor.