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Guinea pig allergies
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Many people know about an individual heightened (and in most cases inadequate) protective reaction of the immune system to a substance that is practically absolutely safe for humans. This is an allergy or sensitization, that is, "an increase in the body's sensitivity to the effects of irritants, causing an allergic reaction." Such irritants (allergens) include domestic animals: cats and dogs, rabbits and hamsters. And even horses! And to the question of interest to many, "Do guinea pigs cause allergies?" allergists give a clearly positive answer.
The "guinea pig", "pig mouse", "Indian pig", that is, the well-known rodent of the pig family - the guinea pig - is not guilty of anything in itself. They are so cute, funny, trusting... Since they were domesticated by the Indians living in the Andes in 500 BC, these rodents get along well with people. But, unfortunately, an allergy to guinea pigs prevents a fairly large number of lovers of these animals from keeping them as pets.
[ Causes of Guinea Pig Allergy
Allergic reactions to animals, including allergies to guinea pigs, are commonly considered to be a reaction of the human body to the hair of their skin - that is, to wool. Of course, there is some truth in this, because wool contains such a type of fibrillar proteins as keratin. But in addition to wool, other "accompanying" irritants of protein origin are also to blame for allergies to domestic quadrupeds - skin flakes (dandruff), saliva, waste products (excrement). So the causes of allergies to guinea pigs are the entire set of these substances.
It is the proteins that make up these substances that the immune system reacts to as a foreign antigen, just as it does when pathogenic bacteria or viruses enter our body. A protective reaction is triggered, which is expressed in an increase in the production of specific IgE antibodies - immunoglobulins of class E, which are found in mast cells. Mast cells are immune and are scattered throughout the body - in the subcutaneous tissue, in the mucous membranes, in the bone marrow, spleen, near the lymph nodes and blood vessels.
The allergen then causes the binding of IgE molecules, which in turn destroys the cell membrane of mast cells and gives complete freedom to the histamine contained in them - a biogenic amine, a mediator (intermediary) of immediate-type allergic reactions. Free histamine is very active, and all signs of allergy to guinea pigs are due to its active "activity" in the body.
Symptoms of Guinea Pig Allergy
As a rule, each person's body reacts to an antigen in one way. In some people, an allergy to guinea pigs manifests itself on the skin, in others - in the form of swelling and redness of the eyes, and in others, a cough begins.
The following symptoms of guinea pig allergy are generally recognized:
- nasal congestion, itching in the nose and sneezing attacks, runny nose (allergic rhinitis);
- redness of the mucous membrane (conjunctiva) of the eyes, swelling in the eye area, itching of the eyelids, lacrimation (allergic conjunctivitis);
- erythematous skin rashes that cause severe itching and lead to scratching (atopic dermatitis or urticaria);
- dry cough, wheezing in the chest when breathing, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, attacks of suffocation (bronchial asthma).
Diagnosis of Guinea Pig Allergy
The main method of allergy diagnostics remains allergy testing. These are so-called skin scarification tests, with the help of which allergists identify the specific irritant that caused the allergic reaction.
The skin at the test site (on the forearm for adults, on the upper back for children) is disinfected, small scratches are made and a small amount of a special diagnostic allergen is applied to them, and on top of that - two more substances (histamine and glycerin), which should confirm the truthfulness of the reaction. If after a quarter of an hour the skin on some scratch turns red and swells, then the person has an allergy.
Another method for diagnosing guinea pig allergy is a blood test for specific IgE antibodies. A diagnostic allergy test for IgE antibodies in the patient's blood serum allows us to examine the body's reaction to epidermal and animal proteins, including guinea pig epithelium. This allergen is classified in the Phadiatop test system as e6 - inhalation allergen (domestic year-round).
Guinea Pig Allergy Treatment
Therapeutic measures for IgE-mediated allergies are aimed mainly at eliminating their manifestations. It is practically impossible to cure the allergy itself, as specialists admit.
True, there is allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), which fights the cause of this disease. However, it is not universal and cannot be used in all cases without exception. In addition, such treatment is very long and expensive.
That's why doctors still prescribe antihistamines to their patients, including those who are allergic to guinea pigs.
Of the extensive list of medications used to relieve symptoms of guinea pig allergy, doctors most often recommend taking third-generation antihistamines during periods of exacerbation, which do not have the side effects of their predecessors, in particular, sedatives. The therapeutic effect of antihistamines is based on their ability to block the body's H1-histamine receptors and the entry of histamine into the blood. That is why the use of these drugs can not only reduce the intensity of allergic reactions, but also prevent them.
To treat allergies to guinea pigs, the drug Zyrtec (cetirizine) is used, which is very effective in treating skin manifestations of allergy - atopic dermatitis, as well as allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Adults and children over 12 years old are recommended to take 1 tablet (10 mg) once a day (at night). The dose for children aged 6-12 years is 0.5 tablets twice a day. In case of severe renal dysfunction, the dose should be reduced by 2 times. The duration of the course of treatment is no more than 7 days. Side effects of Zyrtec include occasional drowsiness, headache and dry mouth. And contraindications include: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, pregnancy and lactation, as well as children under two years of age.
Telfast (fexofenadine) is considered one of the most effective and safe antihistamines. The dosage of this medicine is as follows: adults and children over 12 years old - 1 tablet (120 or 180 mg) once a day (regardless of food intake, drink with a sufficient amount of water). With prolonged use of Telfast, it is necessary to observe intervals between two doses - 24 hours. Children aged 6-11 years should take 30 mg of the drug twice a day. Telfast is not prescribed to children under 6 years old,
Another antihistamine drug, Erius (desloratadine), is prescribed for allergic rhinitis, itching in the eyes and nose, conjunctival hyperemia, lacrimation and cough, as well as allergic rashes on the skin. Erius in tablet form is taken by adults and children over 12 years old, 1 tablet once a day at the same time (regardless of food intake, wash down with a sufficient amount of water). Erius in syrup form is prescribed to adults and children over 12 years old, 10 ml once a day. Children 6-11 months old - 2 ml, children from 1 year to 5 years old - 2.5 ml, from 6 to 11 years old - 5 ml once a day (regardless of food intake).
Guinea Pig Allergy Prevention
Today, an average of 15% of the world's population suffers from various types of allergies. And no one has counted how many of this number itch, sneeze and cough because of their cats, dogs, hamsters and guinea pigs.
Is there a way to prevent guinea pig allergies? Despite the fact that these lovely little animals are easy to keep and even children aged 7-8 can take care of them, the only way to guarantee the absence of allergies to guinea pigs is to not have this animal in your home…
You can find offers to buy a guinea pig without hair (of the almost two hundred breeds of guinea pigs, there are also "naked" ones, for example, Baldwin and Skinny). But now you understand that it is not only about the animal's hair.
In addition, the main food of guinea pigs (up to 60% of the diet) is hay, and hay (i.e. cereal meadow grasses) is also a strong pollen allergen.