Allergic reaction?

[Vilatus]

Hi everybody!

So I've had my budgie for a little over two years now, and my tiel for a little over a year. Recently my father has started complaining that when he comes upstairs, (where they're kept) his face/hands itch. It was his face first, now only his hands. He doesn't have any issue breathing or anything, and he doesn't itch when he pets my tiel.

Do you think it could still be her or maybe he's coming into contact with something else? I have extreme allergies from his side of the family, and I'm worried he could develop a worse allergy if that's what's happening. He refuses to take an allergy pill or anything so...

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[EllenD]

It could very well be the cockatiel and his dust/powder, though I doubt it is the budgie or the birds in-general, as usually bird allergies pertain to cockatiels, african grays, and cockatoos due to their dust.

Often allergies do take a while to develop, it's not uncommon for a person to be totally fine for years and then suddenly develop an allergy to something that they've been around or been using forever, such as makeup, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, cleaners, perfume, etc.

That's not to say that there isn't something else in your house that's causing it. Have you guys changed any products that you're using in the house to clean, to do laundry, etc.? Or has your dad changed any products that he uses on a regular basis, such as soap, shaving cream, shampoo, after-shave, cologne, etc.? The only way to figure that out is for your dad to go through everything that he uses daily, especially products he puts on his hands and then applies to his face, and then for everyone to go through the household cleaners and laundry stuff to see if anything is new...

If it is the cockatiel causing the issue, the best way for your dad to deal with it is to take a Benedryl or a Claratin once daily, that usually takes care of it, but if he doesn't want to do that, then he needs to be sure to wash his hands with an antibacterial soap directly before and after handling the cockatiel, and make sure that he doesn't touch his face with his hands while touching the bird, not touch the bird to his face, or make sure that he washes his face as well directly after handling the bird...

 

[Vilatus]

It could very well be the cockatiel and his dust/powder, though I doubt it is the budgie or the birds in-general, as usually bird allergies pertain to cockatiels, african grays, and cockatoos due to their dust.

Often allergies do take a while to develop, it's not uncommon for a person to be totally fine for years and then suddenly develop an allergy to something that they've been around or been using forever, such as makeup, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, cleaners, perfume, etc.

That's not to say that there isn't something else in your house that's causing it. Have you guys changed any products that you're using in the house to clean, to do laundry, etc.? Or has your dad changed any products that he uses on a regular basis, such as soap, shaving cream, shampoo, after-shave, cologne, etc.? The only way to figure that out is for your dad to go through everything that he uses daily, especially products he puts on his hands and then applies to his face, and then for everyone to go through the household cleaners and laundry stuff to see if anything is new...

If it is the cockatiel causing the issue, the best way for your dad to deal with it is to take a Benedryl or a Claratin once daily, that usually takes care of it, but if he doesn't want to do that, then he needs to be sure to wash his hands with an antibacterial soap directly before and after handling the cockatiel, and make sure that he doesn't touch his face with his hands while touching the bird, not touch the bird to his face, or make sure that he washes his face as well directly after handling the bird...

That's what I thought. We haven't, and he says he only has the issue when he comes upstairs, so I'm assuming its something up there. I think I'm going to have to give my dad a kick in the ass to take an allergy pill. I'd be livid if he developed an allergy bad enough that I had to get rid of my birds (I've developed severe allergies to pets in the past and had to rehome them, birds/dogs/reptiles are the only pets I can have now) just because he doesn't want to take an allergy pill...

Any ideas on convincing him? Lmao

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[EllenD]

What is his problem with taking an over-the-counter allergy pill in the first place? He doesn't have to go to a doctor and get a prescription one that he has to get filled every month, blah, blah, blah, nor does he need to necessarily take one that has Ephedra or any other stimulants in it. Just one Benedryl or regular Claratin that you can buy in any store and not behind the counter at the pharmacy is usually all it takes.

If your dad is really being bothered that much by the allergy, I'd suggest to him that he simply TRY taking either a Benedryl or a Claratin, probably the Claratin is the best to try first as they typically work very well with no side effects...Just ask him to try taking a Claratin in the morning for a few days in a row just to see if it helps, and so he can see that he won't notice any side effects at all from the pill. If it doesn't help him then at least he knows that, and if it does help him and he see that the pill doesn't cause him any side effects, then he will probably be okay with taking one a day.

 

[Vilatus]

What is his problem with taking an over-the-counter allergy pill in the first place? He doesn't have to go to a doctor and get a prescription one that he has to get filled every month, blah, blah, blah, nor does he need to necessarily take one that has Ephedra or any other stimulants in it. Just one Benedryl or regular Claratin that you can buy in any store and not behind the counter at the pharmacy is usually all it takes.

If your dad is really being bothered that much by the allergy, I'd suggest to him that he simply TRY taking either a Benedryl or a Claratin, probably the Claratin is the best to try first as they typically work very well with no side effects...Just ask him to try taking a Claratin in the morning for a few days in a row just to see if it helps, and so he can see that he won't notice any side effects at all from the pill. If it doesn't help him then at least he knows that, and if it does help him and he see that the pill doesn't cause him any side effects, then he will probably be okay with taking one a day.

My dad is just extremely against going to the doctor/taking medication. Mostly just because he's stubborn and "can handle it".

I'll try and get him to take mine... its otc and has no side effects so MAYBE he'll give in.

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[EllenD]

Ahh, I got ya, I know a lot of people like that, but again, it's just one OTC pill a day in the morning, and they have no side-effects. It may not even help, but that's the point, there's no harm at all in trying it to see if it would even be a solution...

Have you guys tried really cleaning the upstairs, specifically the carpets, curtains/drapes, furniture, anything made from cloth or material? Steam-cleaning carpets and drapes at least once a year can really help quite a bit, I used to own my own steam-cleaner, looked like a vacuum and heated it's own water, it cost me like $400 but was amazing, until a former friend borrowed it and then told the sheriff's department that it was hers when they came into her house to inventory everything she owned because she owed the township a bunch of money in tickets/fines/court costs that she wouldn't pay. So my steam cleaner was auctioned-off by the township, lol...So now I rent one once a year from the grocery store for a week and do my entire house, and it really does an amazing job of pulling everything out of the carpets, removing every little stain, etc., and they usually have a hand-attachment to do curtains and furniture. That could help tremendously.

I didn't want to tell you to keep your cockatiel's cage in your room or in a spare room away from the rest of the house, as that isn't a good option. Birds need to be in the room of the house with the most action, where their people spend most of their time, even if they are in their cages playing with their toys or sleeping, they still want to be in the same room as their people are...

 

[Vilatus]

Ahh, I got ya, I know a lot of people like that, but again, it's just one OTC pill a day in the morning, and they have no side-effects. It may not even help, but that's the point, there's no harm at all in trying it to see if it would even be a solution...

Have you guys tried really cleaning the upstairs, specifically the carpets, curtains/drapes, furniture, anything made from cloth or material? Steam-cleaning carpets and drapes at least once a year can really help quite a bit, I used to own my own steam-cleaner, looked like a vacuum and heated it's own water, it cost me like $400 but was amazing, until a former friend borrowed it and then told the sheriff's department that it was hers when they came into her house to inventory everything she owned because she owed the township a bunch of money in tickets/fines/court costs that she wouldn't pay. So my steam cleaner was auctioned-off by the township, lol...So now I rent one once a year from the grocery store for a week and do my entire house, and it really does an amazing job of pulling everything out of the carpets, removing every little stain, etc., and they usually have a hand-attachment to do curtains and furniture. That could help tremendously.

I didn't want to tell you to keep your cockatiel's cage in your room or in a spare room away from the rest of the house, as that isn't a good option. Birds need to be in the room of the house with the most action, where their people spend most of their time, even if they are in their cages playing with their toys or sleeping, they still want to be in the same room as their people are...

We haven't actually, but we do own a steamer specifically made for pet residue be it dander or poo/pee. I'll have to see if I can get it out, it works really well. In the meantime I'm going to try and shove an allergy pill on him to at least try.

The birds aren't getting moved anytime soon, no worries. They're in our secondary living room upstairs, as that's usually where I am. That way they get to see me even if I don't have the energy to take them out.

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[caiquewalk]

I have reactions some times to my caique during the molt. I find that as weird as it sounds, putting vaseline just on the inside tip of my nose lessens the reaction. I may also sound like a clean freak, but my house is also cleaned once a day to avoid any possible problems with family members.

 

[EllenD]

I have reactions some times to my caique during the molt. I find that as weird as it sounds, putting vaseline just on the inside tip of my nose lessens the reaction. I may also sound like a clean freak, but my house is also cleaned once a day to avoid any possible problems with family members.

Actually the vaseline makes perfect sense, as it catches the excess dander/dust from the molting before it gets up into your sinuses...