Elisa Beth Stamm <[log in to unmask]> writes:
 
> ... Has
> anyone else had allergy problems with ferrets?  Or does anyone know how
> to solve the problem without getting rid of them?
 
I am very allergic to my ferrets.  I've had allergies for at least 20 years,
but I didn't have asthma until I lived with ferrets.  I'm also mildly allergic
to my dog.  I am able to live with my critters with only occasional use
of allergy drugs.  Here are some suggestions.
 
1.  Buy at least 2 of the HEPA air cleaners. They are becoming more widely
    available.  I've seen them in Sears, Brookstone and home improvement stores.
    I can also give you the phone number of an allergy product company if you
    are interested.  These air cleaners are expensive ($100-$200), but they
    really help.  I have fewer allergy attacks in my own home than in other
    houses with fewer animals. We now have three of the air cleaners, and I
    think that with one more I might be able to eliminate my asthma medication
    almost entirely.
 
2.  Keep the animals out of the allergic person's bedroom.
 
3.  Wash the ferrets' bedding, as well as the ferrets, more often.  Someone who
    is not allergic should do this.
 
4.  Keep the ferrets' cages in an area of the house that does not have
    carpeting.  Carpets really absorb allergens, raising the allergen level of
    the entire room.  My ferrets' cage is in our kitchen.  An air cleaner is
    nearby.  I use the kitchen table as a desk and sit there for hours, and my
    symptom level is tolerable, although sometimes I need to open the sliding
    door to provide more ventilation.  On the other hand, the ferrets play in a
    small room which is carpeted.  They spend only about an hour and a half a
    day there, but I can't go in that room without wearing an allergy mask.
 
5.  Limit the ferrets to a couple of rooms instead of letting them run all over
    the house.  This will give the allergic person some places to retreat to.
 
6.  Find out about the various allergy medications.
 
7.  Open windows more often.
 
8.  Be aware that an allergist may advise you to get rid of your animals.  Be
    assertive in insisting that this is not an option for you.
 
9.  Let someone who is not allergic be the ferrets' main caretaker.  It is best
    for an allergic person not to have to put her face near the ferret cage
    very often.  I am very fortunate that my husband is able to do most of the
    ferret care.
 
10. Find out what other allergies the allergic person has and deal with them.
    For instance,  someone who is allergic to dust mites should wash the sheets
    and blankets more often.
 
 
I hope these suggestions help.  Also, here's a simple home allergy test:
Observe what happens when a ferret scratches you hard enough to break the skin
a little.  Does the scratch swell up like an insect bite and itch? If so,
you've tested positive.
 
 Clare Sebok
[Posted in FML issue 1128]