Rash from Hedgie?

[Element]

Ok I had my hedgie for about a month now (i think i might be allergic).... I use vellux for bedding and paper towels for litter box. I am allergic to cats and dogs - the dander I believe and I have hay fever. My eyes don't get itchy or I do not sneeze or anything around my hedgie. When I hold her she does not give me really any red bumps or rashes were I hold her. This is the second time I broke out... it is a itchy, pimply, rash like break out. On my chest, stomach, and thigh. I have not changed anything in my everyday life, just getting her is the only change. Does anyone have problems like this? Like breaking out and being itchy in areas that don't touch the hedgie?

Thank you...I hope you guys can help...I don't want to get rid of her.

[Nancy]

Usually any reaction from a hedgehog is where the hedgie actually touches. Usually it is slight red itchy hives on your hands.
I think any reaction would start at the contact areas. :)

[lyndaj]

I definitely have this problem. I get my husband to get my sweet out of his hedgy bag because I get less pricked that way. I find washing my hands and putting hand cream on helps.

[Midwest Exotics]

i also would agree that it would probly cause a reaction where the hedgie was touched or came into contact with you.

I have heard from a number of people that when they annoint that the spit is actually what causes an allergic reaction.. but, i think the quills being so sharp, then removed from your hand also just plays a roll in how your hands will feel when you put it down.

I was having this problem when i first got my hedgies.. my hands would itch SO bad after i put them down. All i have heard to do to help ease the itch is to bathe your hedgie often so the annointing spit gets risned away & or make sure to wash your hands right when your done.

A way that you may have to hold your hedge so no reaction is made, would be to use a pair of tight fitting leather or cotton gloves. I dont really advise doing this unless you HAVE to, as picking your hog up with gloves slows down the bonding process as well as would probly freak them out.. if you do use them, let the hedgie decide if she too is ok with them or not.

[Pringlesmom]

I have asthma and am allergic to cats and dogs too (but thankfully not to Hailey, my sister's dog :) ) I sed to break out from Pringle too. Mosty on my chest if that was where I was holding him and on the undersides of my arms. I noticed that it happened more when Pringle needed a bath either from annointing or from getting messy on the wheel...pee in his quills or something. This happens to me with dog's too. I usually break out in hives after I get licked. I think it does have something to do with the saliva. I hope you don't get rid of your hedgie. I used to bath Pringle and scrub him with a baby's tooth brush with Johnson and Johnson once in a while and it seemed to cut down on the reactions.

[kaiteedyd]

When you say pimply do yo mean like a really bad case of acne or small bumpy pimples?

Sometimes my hands get a little itchy from handling my hedgehogs but I've never noticed a rash. However right now I have a really horrendous rash or skin disease on my thumb that looks like a horrible case of acne. My doctor has been treating it for the last week and it continues to get worse. So I have a dermatologist appointment tmrw. I'm just curious to know if this could be caused by hedgies. (I doubt it as it's only on my left thumb.)

[barton]

I definatly get a rash from my bebes...anywhere they touch me but it doesnt usually last too long and rinsing the area definatly helps. i have made a habbit of wearing my house coat during indoor play time because it is think and lessens the amount of prickles i get. i defintaly get individual bumps with redness around...and i have had a bump or two get infected before though this doesnt happen often

[Element]

Hey it is like little pimples all over my chest, not really like red all over just like a break out of little pimples it is wierd. I am going to give her a bath tonight to see if that helps I really don't want to get rid off her

[Pringlesmom]

If they are itchy, they are probably hives. They should go away after washing them with soap and water or applying benedryl cream if that is what they are.

[Nancy]

What bedding do you have her on? You may have said and I missed it...Often people react more to the bedding than the actually hedgehog. I know myself that when I have a mom on shavings and babies I get hives on my hands. :)