A new pet?

[phantasy]

My husband wants to buy a russian dwarf hamster. We live in an apartment where the landlady doesn't have a problem with small pets i.e. a bird or hamster, but we're both a little nervous, and are deciding on whether or not to go through with it.

Hamsters are cute, and sleep all day which is when I'm working. They don't make messes around your house the way a cat or dog would do. They teach responsibility.

But they tend to smell a bit. And I have strong allergies to them. I can take an allergy pill, but still. And they bite if you don't handle them well. I used to have a hamster when I was 6, and the allergies were under control with non-drowsy allergy pills.

We have plenty of money to take care of him, even if that includes vet visits. We also have time, since we'll be home at night, when it will be more active. In the daytime, he'll be sleeping and probably prefer to be left alone.

I'm not sure if we should go through with it or not. What does everyone else think?

[shankyknitter]

since you have allergies I'd see if you could go and handle one BEFORE you bring one home. Just in case your allergies have gotten worse, or you've outgrown them. If you've already done this than ignore me.

But on the whole I think pets of any kind are a wonderful and rewarding experience, and while I advocate thinking it though before bringing one home, if you can afford it and you can take care of it then do it!

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'm generally disinclined to own a pet that requires me to take drugs every day just to live comfortably in my own home. Luckily I'm not allergic to
cats or dogs (parents have 2 cats).

My brother had hamsters as a kid...the flip side of them sleeping all day is that they are up at night. Which may or may not be an issue, depending on where the cage is.

[Andara Bledin]

What BsE said.

I wouldn't want to have to be drugged to live comfortably in my own house.

^-.-^

[BookstoreEscapee]

What BsE said.

I wouldn't want to have to be drugged to live comfortably in my own house.

^-.-^

My cousin is quite allergic to cats. His ex-wife had one, but it came with her when they got married. He wouldn't get another one (which is part of the reason we ended up with 2; he found them but they couldn't keep them because of his allergies).

[Cazzi]

We never had much luck with the dwarf hamsters, certainly didn't have one that lasted more than 6 months They were also pretty nippy.. both in speed and with teeth!

We did much better with the larger siberians, with the exception of one, aptly named Psycho, they were sweet & friendly. Even psycho calmed down after a couple of months

These days we have a group of Guinea Pigs, big squeaky furballs with masses of personality

But, seriously, I'm another one to add to the list of if you have to take drugs to be comfortable around them, its best not to have one

[Mr. Rager!]

Maybe consider a leopard gecko. I have one and she's really easy to take care of. Some of them can live to be over 10 years old. They're really mild mannered. I absolutely adore mine.

[BlaqueKatt]

hmm are you allergic to the hamsters themselves or the bedding?

-I used either aspen or corncob with hamsters/rats and wheat kitty litter for my mice...never ever use cedar or pine-the oils both hurt their feet and cause lung issues.

Most hamsters usually only use one corner of their cage to do their "business" just put a small jelly jar in that corner to clean daily(cage weekly), or get all fancy and buy a hamster litterbox(they do make them)-less smelly.

[phantasy]

hmm are you allergic to the hamsters themselves or the bedding?

Most hamsters usually only use one corner of their cage to do their "business" just put a small jelly jar in that corner to clean daily(cage weekly), or get all fancy and buy a hamster litterbox(they do make them)-less smelly.

When my mother bought my hamster, she passed away while the hamster was still alive. When I went to my aunt's house, she noticed my allergies and took me to get allergy testing.

Basically they take a long white plastic thing with spikes lined two-by two. Theres about 8-12 spikes on each plastic thing. The doctor will put a solution on each spike with the dna or a small sample of common allergens on each spike, and drive the plastic thing onto your arm so the spikes break skin. The areas that swell up and get red are the things you're allergic to. It makes you want to gnaw your armskin off. My top 3 allergens were hamsters, cats and dogs.

It looks like this: http://d.yimg.com/origin1.lifestyles...e/nr551856.jpg

Cool, hamster litter boxes. I'll think about that.

I handled one of the hamsters in the store when we were inquiring about prices, and I was pretty much OK. Then again, I always have allergies (I'm allergic to practically everything) so you'll never see me without allergies.

[Cat]

I am very allergic to guinea pigs...which is a shame...they are so cute. I am allergic to my cats, but I just deal with it....pop a generic zyrtec if it gets bad.



Get hermit crabs!! After the initial set up, they are fairly easy to care for, and they are so cute. And they do have personalities.....

[Amina516]

My husband is allergic to cats and cats only. When we first got our puppy, the first 3 days or so, his allergies FLARED the hell up and I was really sad that puppy was going to go away. We had found her an alternate home and everything. But once we noticed they had tapered and finally stopped altogether (the allergies), we kept her. We've had her for almost 2.5 yrs now and his allergies dont react to her at all anymore. i dont really know what it was.

/threadjack

I also wouldnt get a pet that would require you to unnecessarily medicate every day. Maybe find someone with a hamster and see how you really do tolerate it? Or a guinea pig? Or a rat?

[Fire_on_High]

Rats and hamsters aren't very much alike...rats are a lot more laid back, and there are some minor differences in bodily waste and hygiene which could be quite important.

Considered a hairless rat, if it's the fur you're allergic to?

[phantasy]

I don't know if it's the fur, or rather to the saliva. They lick themselves and get the saliva, and maybe that's my allergy. That's my case with cats, anyway.

I used to wake up to my 25 pound cat on my chest. If I didn't get up and feed her fast enough, she would lick my face and create HORRIBLE rashes. She totally did this on purpose, I know it.

I have totally thought about getting a Peruvian hairless dog. (yea, the "worlds ugliest dog"? Thats a peruvian hairless) Here's a pic of a NOT ugly one. http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/..._470x375,0.jpg

They usually grow this hilarious white or bright orange mohawk on their heads. Sometimes they'll have fur on their paws and the tips of the tail, but they're still naked

That might come up a few years from now though. My landlord won't allow it, and we simply don't have the time for a puppy or anything else but something small.

[dalesys]

One item about hamsters: They're nocturnal! The wheel will be rollin' all night every night. Which is why we switched to gerbils, after the hamsters wore out.

[Fire_on_High]

So are mice and rats, but they're usually more willing and able to split time somewhat.

The hammie I had hated being woke up in the day for anything, the rats would untangle themselves, look around muzzily, and then waddle at top speed over to see why they were woke up. Mice were actually somewhat in the middle...they ran all night on the wheel, but didn't get too grumpy about being up and about some during the day, either.

I've never owned gerbils so I can't say much there...sorry.