Rat Dander Allergy Test Result-Positive :(

It is funky how they attack isn't it? I've dealt with assorted allergies my whole life. It starts with initial exposure to build up antibodies. The more severe allergies tend to be exposure during times of a compromised or immature immune system of course, but sometimes folks just have a weakness in some areas. And it seems that exposure combined with long periods away from the allergen followed by exposure again makes the reactions more severe. Constant low level contact to the allergen in the right amounts can help build the immune system...if it's in the right low doses that don't have your immune system in a constant state of weakened distress. Most folks start with dermal reactions with the welts at the claw scratch sites and it builds up from there to a full blown respiratory situation. My reactions are respiratory more than dermal. Mostly because I have always had more sensitive lungs, having been an asthmatic premature baby (six weeks early, in the early in the 1970s. Amazing I survived).

I would agree that my reaction is more severe with the intact boys, the little dirty musk monsters.

I've mentioned a friend who breeds. She had to drop the number of rats and breedings a year drastically and make some sweeping changes in her house set up etc. because she just couldn't breathe.

I imagine it's similar to Bird Fancier's Lung. Another friend of mine almost died from that before it was diagnosed and she purged her house and grounds of all traces of feathered friends.

Yikes, that makes my nose itch just reading the post!



Yes, I did actually tell the doctor that with all four of my boys, Klausse and Wolfgang included, that I always did have that low grade skin irritation thing that Lilspaz mentioned...how my skin would welt up a little and get hot and itchy if their claws grazed my skin, and of course I just made a habit of when I got little ratty scritches on my forearms from handling the boys, just to wash my hands and forearms with some warm water and antibacterial soap and after a few minutes it would just ease up and go away.


So I knew I had a mild allergic reaction to the nails/urine on the claws thing, but when this started recently, it was full blown and nasty with very raw throat, lots of mucus in my nose, sneezing tons and the roof of my mouth even itching. Thus the actual rat dander test. And I realized that this started after Achilles lost that short silky baby fur and got his long hair. Drats and drats! Weird eh?


I give him and his brother little wipes on their fur every so often, with my unscented baby wipes...Achilles actually enjoys it and it can't hurt but it may not help either? Not brave enough to try any bathing yet based on how timid they have always been around water from their pea fishing excursions, no matter how shallow or pleasant I make the water. Ha.


Vlad----> Wuss.


Last night, though, I spent some long quality time with my squishy Achilles at my desk and I scritched and massaged him and rubbed his little cheeks and he bruxed so hard and closed his eyes and nuzzled me like a lil puppy. Ahhh...pure bliss....even though I paid for it a little later, it was so worth it. I call him my little jersey cow, because of his cow spots and he weighs about as much as one too. :lol:


Just can't give up the cuddle times with my baby. I need da ratteh love!! :sneakyhug