OUCH! This hamster is slowly killing my insides!

[Judge Smails]

(Wow, what a set up for a thread of Richard Gere jokes.)

I am definitely not an animal person, but my seven year old daughter loves them. She's been bugging us for a pet for years. A cat was out of the question because I knew for a fact that I was alergic to them. I said no to a dog because I knew that I would be the one taking care of it. So, we got her a hamster for Christmas and I have been sick ever since.

I have asthma and I really don't think this hamster is good for it. I have had a raspy throat for nearly two months. I'm constantly coughing up some nasty phlegm. My chest and the muscles down my sides are killing me from the constant coughing. I've been to the doctor and gone through two cycles of different anti-biotics with no results.

It took me a while before I realized it was the hamster, but everyone said I was crazy. But this weekend I went to Atlantic City for my birthday and I was fine. As soon as I got home the symptoms started again. I broached the subject to my daughter that the hamster might have to go and she got all emotional on me. I'm a real softy when my daughter starts crying.

So what do I do? Do I suck it up and resign myself to a life of phlegm and congestion? Afterall, breathing is over-rated anyway. Do I put my foot down and give the thing away to someone? Or, does the hamster have a mysterious "accident" during the night, thereby keeping me from being the bad guy?

[Chip196]

Where does the Hamster live? We had a smililar issue in my house when I was growing up and we moved the rabbit cage to my sisters bedroom, thoroughly cleaned the rest of the house while my father was out, and it helped a lot. It's worth a shot I would say.

[Drunky McBetidont]

try some benadryl first. if that helps go to see an allergist specialist (you can get a referral from your primary MD)

[topless_mike]

suck it up.
im allergic to the shitty posts on here, but if i want interwebs funnies, then i have to deal with it.

[Chip196]

try some benadryl first. if that helps go to see an allergist specialist (you can get a referral from your primary MD)

Good point on the Benadryl ... my cousin was recently at my house, highly alergic to cats, and we had Benadryl instant strips (just like the listerine strips). Those made him feel normal almost immediately.

[Judge Smails]

Where does the Hamster live? We had a smililar issue in my house when I was growing up and we moved the rabbit cage to my sisters bedroom, thoroughly cleaned the rest of the house while my father was out, and it helped a lot. It's worth a shot I would say.

Yeah, I thought of that but we have a split-level home, so wherever I put it it's within nose-shot of me. I put it in my daughter's bedroom, but that was right across the hall from my bedroom. So I was breathing it in all night. It's currently downstairs in the den which is right off of the living room and kitchen. I considered putting it in the basement, but we only go down there to do the wash, and my daughter said there's really no point in having a pet that you never see.

I'll try the Benedryl. I guess I'll just have to constantly be drugged-up. Anyone know how long these little fuckers live?

[King Hippos Bandaid]

suck it up.
im allergic to the shitty posts on here, but if i want interwebs funnies, then i have to deal with it.

you must sneeze a lot when you see your own posts

Zinggg!!!!!!

[Snacks]

give it away. i have allergies to cats and I would never put myself through what you are going through. I definitely wouldn't take medications daily just to keep a pet you will destroy you liver for a pet? i would have told her it ran a way and then bought her some fish. i think your health is much more important then your kid having a pet.

[ScottFromGA]

phlegm?

why in the fuck does that need an g?

[mikeyboy]

I considered putting it in the basement, but we only go down there to do the wash, and my daughter said there's really no point in having a pet that you never see.

This might have to be the compromise that your daughter needs to make if she wants a pet. I think this is what I would do.

[topless_mike]

you must sneeze a lot when you see your own posts

Zinggg!!!!!!

you're not here enough to enjoy your posts

touche mah brotha

[angrymissy]

Zyrtec works and it's OTC now.

Believe it or not, I am allergic to cats

[Knowledged_one]

I would say introduce your daughter to the new family pet

http://www.snakesonstuff.com/images/hamster1.jpg

Say they are gonna be the best of friends, put them in the same cage then voila no hamster problem

[WhistlePig]

Sadly, but luckily for you hamsters have very short life spans. I'd medicate until it kicks off.

[FUNKMAN]

OUCH! This hamster is slowly killing my insides!

thank goodness you didn't say gerbil

[WhistlePig]

I considered putting it in the basement, but we only go down there to do the wash, and my daughter said there's really no point in having a pet that you never see.

DON'T banish the poor thing to a lonely, dark life in the basement! That's the worst thing you could do. Find it another home first.

[PapaBear]

Sadly, but luckily for you hamsters have very short life spans. I'd medicate until it kicks off.
Damn you! I was going to say, "Don't worry. It will be dead soon." Actually, my son's hamster lived almost three years.

[Bulldogcakes]

Keep the Hamster in a room that you don't need to go into. And tell your daughter to wash up after she plays with it. That, and the occasional Benydryl should make things manageable.

If that doesn't work, put the Hamster up for adoption and get a non-allergic breed of dog, like a Poodle or Bichon. The fact that she lost the Hamster should get her attention about being the one who takes care of the dog.

[Bellyfullasnot]

Go to Atlantic City more often.

[YonakaKaze]

You should explain to her that the hamster makes you very sick and that if she cares about you she should keep the hamster in the basement where she could see him every day or find a friend or family member that she thinks would be able to take the time to feed, water, and handle him EVERY day, and the occasional cage clean up. If she can not accept this she is probably not mature enough(or too selfish) to have any animal other than a fish

[nukinfuts]

Can you shave a hamster? I actually have similar problems with my daughters guinea pig and it helped to keep the cage really clean and make sure that you aren't actually allergic to the bedding in the cage. There is also some info out there that says you are more likely to be allergic to the urine instead of the animal with little things like hamsters and guinea pigs.

[keithy_19]

give it away. i have allergies to cats and I would never put myself through what you are going through. I definitely wouldn't take medications daily just to keep a pet you will destroy you liver for a pet? i would have told her it ran a way and then bought her some fish. i think your health is much more important then your kid having a pet.

I take benadryl nightly.

Am I going to die because of it?