I do volunteering at a shelter that has rats, and they are my favorite kinda of pet. Unfortunately i am allergic to them =[
It seems that I am more allergic to male rats then female rats, and I was wondering if there was a reason for this? Something that is different in male rats then female? I know that before a male rat is neutered they produce more oils on their fur, but what about after?
It seems that I am more allergic to male rats then female rats, and I was wondering if there was a reason for this? Something that is different in male rats then female? I know that before a male rat is neutered they produce more oils on their fur, but what about after?
For those of us who love rats, I think one of the most dreaded situations we might have to face is developing an allergy to rats. Studies have shown that 20% of households include someone who is allergic to animals. Allergies to dogs and cats are most common, because exposure to these animals is greater, but allergies to rats can occur. For statistics, we must turn to a laboratory setting. One study found that 23% of those who work with lab animals were allergic to their charges. Rabbits caused the majority of the respiratory symptoms, while rats caused most of the skin reactions. Guinea pigs and mice also caused allergies. Another study found that allergies to mice and rats developed in 10-30% of laboratory animal handlers.
Of course, lab workers are exposed to larger numbers of animals than the typical rat owner, so I don’t think allergies to rats are that common among rat owners. But it is common for a person to get a skin rash after handling rats. Their toenails are so sharp, they actually penetrate the skin without the handler knowing it. This opens the skin to allergens the rat may be carrying on its feet. When I first starting working with rats in the lab, my skin reacted to the rats all the time. Anytime I held them, my skin developed an itchy rash. As the years went on, my reaction gradually diminished. Currently, I only react if a rat actually scratches me, and then the scratch welts ups and itches.
Rats produce three types of allergens: dander (dead skin cells), saliva and urine. (Contrary to popular belief, animal fur does not cause allergies.) When rats groom themselves, their saliva is spread on their skin and fur. They can also pick up urine on their feet or other parts of their body. As these allergens dry and flake off, they can become airborne. They can then land on furnishings where they can stay for years.
One study found that the major allergen in rat urine increases as the animal ages, and is more prevalent in males, so if you are allergic to rats, it would be better to have females. Another study found that black cats seemed to cause more allergies than light colored cats. It’s not known if this applies to small animals, but perhaps it would be better to choose light colored rats. Individual animals differ greatly in the amount of allergens they produce. For example, a few years ago a Rat Fan Club member reported that her daughter, Karyn, had an allergy to her first rat, a female black hooded named Sophie. When Sophie was kept in Karyn’s bedroom, Karyn had a stuffy nose and watery eyes. When Sophie was moved out of the room, the symptoms went way. When Karyn handled Sophie, the insides of her arms turned pink and her shoulder, where Sophie sat, turned red. A year later, this family got another rat, Gwenny, who was a rex, and this rat caused no symptoms at all.
However, you shouldn’t conclude that all rex rats are less allergenic. It could be that Gwenny just happened to produce less allergens. However, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that a hairless rat would probably cause less problems, simply because they have no fur on which allergens can stick. If there are any of you out there who have reacted differently to different rats, please let me know so I can build my knowledge base.
Of course, lab workers are exposed to larger numbers of animals than the typical rat owner, so I don’t think allergies to rats are that common among rat owners. But it is common for a person to get a skin rash after handling rats. Their toenails are so sharp, they actually penetrate the skin without the handler knowing it. This opens the skin to allergens the rat may be carrying on its feet. When I first starting working with rats in the lab, my skin reacted to the rats all the time. Anytime I held them, my skin developed an itchy rash. As the years went on, my reaction gradually diminished. Currently, I only react if a rat actually scratches me, and then the scratch welts ups and itches.
Rats produce three types of allergens: dander (dead skin cells), saliva and urine. (Contrary to popular belief, animal fur does not cause allergies.) When rats groom themselves, their saliva is spread on their skin and fur. They can also pick up urine on their feet or other parts of their body. As these allergens dry and flake off, they can become airborne. They can then land on furnishings where they can stay for years.
One study found that the major allergen in rat urine increases as the animal ages, and is more prevalent in males, so if you are allergic to rats, it would be better to have females. Another study found that black cats seemed to cause more allergies than light colored cats. It’s not known if this applies to small animals, but perhaps it would be better to choose light colored rats. Individual animals differ greatly in the amount of allergens they produce. For example, a few years ago a Rat Fan Club member reported that her daughter, Karyn, had an allergy to her first rat, a female black hooded named Sophie. When Sophie was kept in Karyn’s bedroom, Karyn had a stuffy nose and watery eyes. When Sophie was moved out of the room, the symptoms went way. When Karyn handled Sophie, the insides of her arms turned pink and her shoulder, where Sophie sat, turned red. A year later, this family got another rat, Gwenny, who was a rex, and this rat caused no symptoms at all.
However, you shouldn’t conclude that all rex rats are less allergenic. It could be that Gwenny just happened to produce less allergens. However, I think it’s pretty safe to assume that a hairless rat would probably cause less problems, simply because they have no fur on which allergens can stick. If there are any of you out there who have reacted differently to different rats, please let me know so I can build my knowledge base.
Male rats naturally have longer and thicker fur than females do. Because of this, they tend to shed a bit. This could be why. And after a male rat is neutered he may still produce "buck grease", but not nearly as much as an intact male would.