Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been dealing with asthma problems for about the last
6 months. I have never had any problems with allergies.
Over the last few months I have noticed that after holding
Digit I have welts on my arms. I somewhat jokingly said to
my husband that maybe I am allergic to him.

I cleaned both of my igs cages on Sunday. As usual I did
Beanie's first and then moved on to Digit's. I was not in
the cage but maybe a few minutes and I began sneezing time
after time. My eyes began to water and swell and then the
burning started in my throat and lungs. I had to leave the
room and use my inhaler. I felt like crap the rest of the
day and had to use the inhaler several more times.

My vet made her usual spring house call for wellness checks
and I asked her if it is possible to be allergic to an iguana
and then if it was, wouldn't I be allergic to all of them.
She told me that you can be allergic and it is on an individual
bases who you may be allergic to. She said I should start
putting out feelers for a good home for him. I am heartbroke
about this whole thing but also don't want to keep him and
not be able to interact with him.

Has anyone gone through this? Did it get better? For those
of you who have asthma, you know what it is like to not be
able to breath easily.

Linda

Have you talked to a doctor or an allergist about possibly going on a medication for allergies. There's one out there called Zyrtec and it works amazingly well without too many side effects. Its what I'm on and I'm allergic to dogs, cats, anything with fur, and mealworms. Since I raise and breed mealies, taking the zyrtec helps a lot. Also helps since I have dogs and cats as well as rats and mice. I also have asthma so I do know what its like. I've never had an allergic reaction to any of my reptiles but its definately possible. But usually a maintenance dose of a medication can be helpful and keep them from acting up. Zyrtec is a one a day medication.
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Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
3.5.3 Leopard geckos (2.0 Blizzards (Caine and Goliath), 0.1 Tangerine Albino (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short), 1.0 Rainwater Albino (Mycah), 0.4 Poss. Het. Albino (Annika, Lace, Rain and Aris) and 2.1 dbl. het blizzard x tang albino (Malice, Malfeas, and Mystic))
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros)
13 rats
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
3 cats (Ashe, Sahara and Hercules)
6 Fish (4 Red Danios, 1 Cardinal Fish, and 1 Tiger Barb)
8 Ramshorn snails
"And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!"

i have had cats all my life and was never alergic but i have one cat that is lost at the moment (got outside) and i am alergic to him. im ok around him but when he comes up to me and starts rubbing on me i get red watery eyes and sneeze. so it is possible to be alergic to one iguana and not another. im so sorry your having this problem. i hope meds can fix it.
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brandy

Meds may well help. Also, you may think of having a full screen allergy test done just in case. Maybe it isn't the actual iggies you are allerigic to but something in their cage? Perhaps the substrate they are on, and maybe it was on the ig and thats why your arms got welts. Its worth a shot anyways...

good luck!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

so we will see how things go. I am hoping this will take care
of it. Just to clarify, I am not allergic to my older female.
It seems to be my 2 year old male.

Thanks to everyone for posted

Linda

Check first to see if you are allergic to any CLEANING CHEMICALS used in your igs cage. He might have trace amounts on him, which rub off on you. Good Luck. Keep us posted.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~