SOS need some allergy advice

[cateyes221981]

Hey I am almost done my vet tech course

I never had a bad reaction to an animal and had cats dogs and birds my whole life

I just got back from an allergy test and it says I am allergic to both cats and birds? Not crazy allergic but a def allergy? WTH?

Does this mean I cannot be a tech ? Also I have so many birds? I never had a reaction to them? Is it because conures and quakers are not dusty? I only have one cat...

 

[noblemacaw]

How scary for you to get such news. As a child I never experienced allergies to ANYTHING. However as an adult I began having asthma problems which was also linked to allergies. I popped for cats, dust and petroleum (that one gave me a clue as to why I always got nauseated when putting gas in my car)

Personally I don't think that you popping for cats and birds is a death sentence for your career. I did have a dick for an allergist and he tried to convince me to "get rid" of my cat, dog AND my parrots because I was very ill with my asthma.

I never gave up my furbabies (until this past month but that is due to foreclosure and finding people who can love and care for them) so I lived with them despite my apparent allergies to them.

Personally I only really react to dust and gas. I never actually reacted to my cat (I had a Ragdoll cat and brushed her every other day, took care of her litter and cleaned up after her) and I had a Scottish Terrier which was not known to be hypoallergenic. I have never reacted to my parrots either but the doctor wanted me to place all my pets or I was going to die.

Well I am still alive and I never did have a severe reaction to them. The dust is my worst and I react quite a lot to that. I eat benyadryl like candy and take zyterc every night.

You are control of what you are willing to put up with. IF you begin to react to your allergies then you figure out a solution to dealing with the allergies. If the allergy become life threatening THEN you have to take a more drastic action for the allergy not to end up killing you.

 

[cateyes221981]

Hey

They said i have very bad allergy to every type of grass and weed pretty much like rag weed

Much worse than the cat and bird allergy they said

SO staying away from that is impossible unless i want to hide in my basement like a hermit? :62:

THey said i can do the shots and that it really does work for people unlike animals (I did shots for my dog and it did not work for my dog)


They did not tell me to get rid of my birds or pets they said to just observe and watch my reactions to them, they said i may not be allergic to my particular cat and birds in that some people are immune to their own birds and cats and react to the cat and or birds they are tested on, is this common?

 

[cateyes221981]

ok i am at my parents hohuse right now and my allergy are still just as bad though

I am not allergic to dogs they said and my dog is here but my allergy have not changed

It makes no sense ? It does not matter how many months go by here either.

 

[KierneM]

If your doctor okays it, Benadryl is a life saver (nose saver? lung saver?) don't give up on your dream job or your pets until you've exhausted any methods of controlling your allergies.
Also, you could very well be fine with the animals and birds you've had for a long time.
I would definitely talk to the allergist, see if he or she can recommend a treatment program that can give you a happy medium.

 

[cateyes221981]

i never tried benadryl only reaction? and clarity? I wil buy some today asap till i can get the shots.

 

[DustytheDusky]

From personal experience many Techs develop allergies. I work with aveterinarian who never had an allergy to cats until she started working ad a DVM. I myself, owned rabbits growing up and never had a problem. i've been a Licensed Technician for three years now. I can't touch or be near them now without extremely itchy skin and eyes.

Allergy test are usually super sensitive. You may have an underlining allergy that just doesn't present itself yet. it may or may not.

 

[DustytheDusky]

Allergy shots do work for dogs. Allergy shots is just a small dose of the allergen to help sensitize the dogs body to the allergen. Sometimes the shots dont work dependent on what they are allergic to or how bad their allergies are. It works good for contact or seasonal allergies. They dont work so good for food allergies.

 

[TessieB]

Oh, there are lots of us LVTs who are allergic to dander and so forth. Go to your doctor, work out a plan, and stick to it. You'll be fine!

 

[RavensGryf]

Oh, there are lots of us LVTs who are allergic to dander and so forth. Go to your doctor, work out a plan, and stick to it. You'll be fine!

Is an LVT same as an RVT registered veterinary technician?
I used to work at a private vet tech school out here in CA. We had courses for attendants, assistant techs, and an RVT program for those eligible for state testing and license.

 

[DustytheDusky]

A RVT is a Registered Veterinary Technician and an LVT is a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Some states such as New York where I live require you to be licensed to work as a Veterinary Technician. Other states only require Regristration. As far as I understand it

 

[RavensGryf]

In CA the vet hospitals mainly use unlicensed and unregistered vet techs which are really "vet assistants" by the proper name. Some small animal practices use one RVT while the rest of the staff are "assistants".

 

[DustytheDusky]

New York also has Veterinary assistants. They are limited in what they are legally allowed to do. For example a LVT can draw blood, run anesthesia, etc. A Veterinary assistant is restricted in what they can do.

"An unlicensed person may provide supportive services to a veterinarian, including but not limited to administering oral or topical medications, incidental to and/or concurrent with such veterinarian personally performing a service or procedure, provided such supportive services do not require a knowledge of veterinary science."- from the NYS department of professions website.

 

[DustytheDusky]

The practice I work for currently has four LVTS (one is the hospital manager) and two assistants. We did have three assistants, but one recently passed her boards and became an LVT at the practice. For a while while our practice manager was out on maternity leave we had two LVTS (including myself) and four Assistants. So it varies on the ratio of Vet Techs to Assistants. There was always one LVT scheduled during a working business day

 

[cateyes221981]

yeah i am half way done my program so to stop now would be crazy lol

Okay do some birds trigger it more than others? Like african greys?

 

[RavensGryf]

I was also curious about HOW powdery the Greys are. Not sure if they're anywhere near the powder level of white Toos or Tiels.

Good luck on your education : ) I've also heard of many vets and techs with allergies. They just manage it.

 

[DustytheDusky]

I'm not sure of different allergenic levels different bird produce.

I hope your enjoying school as much as I did!

RavensGryf, the majority of Vets and Vet Techs have an allergy to some type of animal. it comes with working with animals all the time!

 

[goalerjones]

I was under the impression the allergies were to the pet dander, and not the animal itself. So keeping your pet bathed regularly greatly lessens the effects.