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Uh... Allergic?

1388 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  mel2626
Hello!

So I've had my hedgie Tiggy for almost a year now. It's a lot of work, especially for a low-maintenence dog person, but I've been trying to be the best hedgie owner I could be.

But recently, as in the past 2 months, I've noticed that when I handle Tiggy, I break out in hives. The hives are only on my forearm, and only in one or two spots. And they itch!
Usually just washing the area and putting hydrocortizone cream on it makes the hives go away, but this now happens every time I hold her.

Is it normal for people to have this? I mean, whoever heard of a hedgehog allergy? And if i was allergic, why didn't it show up ... oh I don't know... how about when I first got her??

It's been cold, and her skin has been extra dry (wet hedgie and vitamin e oil have a unique smell) so maybe... it's the dandruff-y stuff that makes me itch?

Any advice would be great. I really hope I don't have to give her back, I have become attached.
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I get allergies somewhat from my girl but usually only if she "spikes" me as I call it. It's only happened twice I think but it itched and burned like crazy!!! I had her laying on my lap and she jumped and puffed up out of nowhere and managed to get both my legs and hands simultaneously~she's good, what can I say?! :lol:
As Deneen mentioned, she needed a bath at that point and so I really think it had to do with that. I do have very sensitive skin so it didn't surprise me, but I washed my hands afterwards a ton and put on a Benadryl type cream and it helped. Also, when you bathe her do you put any other sort of "oil" on such as flax seed? Miss Muffet has had really dry skin lately too (which I also attribute to the winter months, using a heater in the house etc) but I've started to put Vitamin E in her food and I think it's helping. My fiance' thinks that the flax seed makes her smell gross so this was a better solution! :lol: I can still hear her scratching at night, but it's definitely clearing up. Do you get itchy when you hold her after she's had a bath?

Edit* I'm sorry~I see you do put the Vitamin E on her~ perhaps, try to put it on her food. People can have allergies to anything, so I'd give it a shot! :D
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