Allergies to certain birds need help please

[ElisaDove81]

Hi everyone, I have a question about bird allergies. I have owned cockatiels and finches before in the past and have never had problems with allergies. Long story short I got a ringeck dove about 2 months ago and suddenly developed asthma like symptoms from her. I went to the doctor and they told me I don't have asthma but it sounded like an allergic reaction to the dove's dust. The dove was the only bird I owned at the time and I had to re-home her because my lungs would close up around her and become tight feeling. That was about 2 months ago. I currently don't own any birds right now because I have been afraid it might bother my lungs again. Anyway, I have been feeling sad because I miss having pet birds and was worried if I bought another society finch or canary that I would have an allergic reaction to them just like I did with my ringneck dove. Do you think I should stay away from owning any birds as pets because of what happened with my lungs or should I try to get another finch(es)? I read up that finches don't produce dust like a pigeon or ringneck dove does. I don't know what to do but I am very sad about not being able to have any more pet birds. Does anyone have any suggestions about this?

 

[CrazyBirdChick]

I'm so sorry you had to rehome your dove.



Are there any bird rescues near you? I would go in and hang out with some and see how you react

 

[Zara]

Hi Elisa,

It is not unheard of for people to develop allergies that they never had before. Maybe that is what happened.

If you are set on getting a finch or canary, then be sure to clean your home daily, especially hoover and wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth very frequently.
Provide a bath for your birds often, and maybe even invest in an air purifier.

It may also be wise to have a backup plan. Maybe a friend or family member who agrees to take the bird should you fall ill and have to rehome him.

@finchly @Clairecanary15

 

[finchly]

Thanks @Zara !

Elisa, what you might want to do is go hang out with a friend who owns birds, to see how your body reacts. That would keep you from having your heart broken again.

Finches and canaries, if you only have one or two, shouldn't be such an irritant. You could also cut down on "other" allergens, which helps you to tolerate the birds more. By that I mean if you're allergic to dust or mold for example, make sure you aren't exposed to those things.

And whichever way you go, an air filter helps a lot. I have 2.

 

[ElisaDove81]

Thanks @Zara !

Elisa, what you might want to do is go hang out with a friend who owns birds, to see how your body reacts. That would keep you from having your heart broken again.

Finches and canaries, if you only have one or two, shouldn't be such an irritant. You could also cut down on "other" allergens, which helps you to tolerate the birds more. By that I mean if you're allergic to dust or mold for example, make sure you aren't exposed to those things.

And whichever way you go, an air filter helps a lot. I have 2.

Thank you everyone who responded. Yes I have been very sad today thinking about never being able to own a pet bird again, I have had birds practically my whole life. My favorite are actually finches. When I used to own a society finch he never bothered me at all. It wasn't until I bought a ringneck dove, and I was actually researching this and they said it is not a good idea to keep pigeons or ringneck doves inside the home because they are extremely dusty birds and a lot of people can become allergic to them. I was worried I developed bird fanciers lung or something because of owning this dove, but I know you only get that if you have a lot of pigeons and a loft and dirty bird poop everywhere, which of course I only had 1 dove and her cage was always kept very clean. You don't think I developed bird fanciers lung do you? Just from owning 1 ringneck dove? If i ever bought another bird I would definitely by a small species like a finch and only have one. Also, can you keep a single society finch or do they need to be in pairs? When I used to own a finch I had him in a cage together with diamond doves (very small species of dove) and he was happy there and did very well.

 

[finchly]

They're happier in pairs.

I don't think you got BFL just from the one dove. Maybe you had an underlying allergy or something? Can you have the doc check you for allergies?

And just FYI - anytime wheeze/cough/sniffle and you say you have birds, the doctors tell you you're allergic.

 

[SandraK]

@ElisaDove81 @finchly If you can afford it (healthwise) have yourself tested for allergies. Long story short(ened) in 2017 went in f/knee replacement; was found to have low oxigen and low grade temp; operation denied; 3 days in hosp f/upper respiratory infection (COPD). As of the moment I said I had birds the first words out of 2-4 attending docs was "you'll have to get rid of the birds". I was in tears as I have a mixed flock a little under 40. I was on oxygen f/2 days, prednisone (steroid) for 3-4 months. Test results came back and there was absolutely NOTHING bird related - it was dust and mold. We had been cleaning the bird room in prep f/me to be in hospital. We invested in small table top air purifiers, the bird room already had an Austin in it and we got a RabbitAir for our bedroom.

I wear a paper mask if I'm bird puttering and we actually bought a heavy duty mask for deep cleaning. My flock consists of a sun conure, 14 green cheeks, 5 Quakers and more tiels than I can count on 3 hands. The tiels are probably the dustiest.

So don't give up hope completely, a bird or two may still be in your future. Since you don't have a bird presently, I'd suggest using a damp cloth when dusting around your place right now. If you do get more birds, dampen any areas you are dusting or scrubbing as it will reduce the amount of airborn dust.

And do not listen to your doctor(s) unless they can prove in writing from blood testing that the allergies ARE ONLY FROM BIRDS. If I had listened to them I would be birdless and heartbroken.

 

[Zara]

I have a mixed flock a little under 40

My flock consists of a sun conure, 14 green cheeks, 5 Quakers and more tiels than I can count on 3 hands.

Wow. I knew you have birds... but I didn´t realise, you have birds. What does your house sound like? I´d love to see how you house so many birds! Although... then I may end up expanding my own flock hehe

 

[SandraK]

Wow. I knew you have birds... but I didn´t realise, you have birds. What does your house sound like? I´d love to see how you house so many birds! Although... then I may end up expanding my own flock hehe

Es un zoologico de loros pequenos - el mayor es Tikki, mi sun.

It's a small bird zoo - the largest is Tikki my sun.

 

[Zara]

Si ese lo veo!! jaja Usais tapones de oidos o que? Cuando las mias empiezan todo a la vez , quiero saltar de mi balcon!
Me encantaria tener mas, tu sabes, a los agapornis estoy enamorado

 

[ElisaDove81]

@ElisaDove81 @finchly If you can afford it (healthwise) have yourself tested for allergies. Long story short(ened) in 2017 went in f/knee replacement; was found to have low oxigen and low grade temp; operation denied; 3 days in hosp f/upper respiratory infection (COPD). As of the moment I said I had birds the first words out of 2-4 attending docs was "you'll have to get rid of the birds". I was in tears as I have a mixed flock a little under 40. I was on oxygen f/2 days, prednisone (steroid) for 3-4 months. Test results came back and there was absolutely NOTHING bird related - it was dust and mold. We had been cleaning the bird room in prep f/me to be in hospital. We invested in small table top air purifiers, the bird room already had an Austin in it and we got a RabbitAir for our bedroom.

I wear a paper mask if I'm bird puttering and we actually bought a heavy duty mask for deep cleaning. My flock consists of a sun conure, 14 green cheeks, 5 Quakers and more tiels than I can count on 3 hands. The tiels are probably the dustiest.

So don't give up hope completely, a bird or two may still be in your future. Since you don't have a bird presently, I'd suggest using a damp cloth when dusting around your place right now. If you do get more birds, dampen any areas you are dusting or scrubbing as it will reduce the amount of airborn dust.

And do not listen to your doctor(s) unless they can prove in writing from blood testing that the allergies ARE ONLY FROM BIRDS. If I had listened to them I would be birdless and heartbroken.

Okay thank you that makes me feel better! yes I think I will go and have allergy testing done I am curious maybe it wasn't the bird after all or maybe I was only allergic to the dove but not all birds? I live in florida and pollen has been off the charts this year so that may have been part of my problem. I sure hope I am not allergic to all birds, that is very heartbreaking to me because I have owned birds for at least 20 years and have never had a problem before I got the dove. Maybe I am allergic to something in the dove species but not other birds. That has been my worry that I am allergic to all birds now. I would love to own a finch again or a canary. I miss hearing the singing in my house Thank you for your help

 

[SandraK]

Okay thank you that makes me feel better! yes I think I will go and have allergy testing done I am curious maybe it wasn't the bird after all or maybe I was only allergic to the dove but not all birds? I live in florida and pollen has been off the charts this year so that may have been part of my problem. I sure hope I am not allergic to all birds, that is very heartbreaking to me because I have owned birds for at least 20 years and have never had a problem before I got the dove. Maybe I am allergic to something in the dove species but not other birds. That has been my worry that I am allergic to all birds now. I would love to own a finch again or a canary. I miss hearing the singing in my house Thank you for your help

Si ese lo veo!! jaja Usais tapones de oidos o que? Cuando las mias empiezan todo a la vez , quiero saltar de mi balcon!
Me encantaria tener mas, tu sabes, a los agapornis estoy enamorado

Me estoy quedando sorda debido a una condicion llamada Menieres. Hay un huecito en el oido interior que, en algunas personas, se va gastando. No saben por que, pero los medicos saben que tiene algo que ver con personas que se marean en viajes de coche, avion o navio. Deberias visitar a YouTube para oir un agapornis - si no te satisface, dime y te grabo algo de Tikki.

I am going deaf due to a condition called Meniers. It's caused by the slow erosion of a very small bone in your inner ear though there is no reason or explanation for it. As far as doctors know it is connected in some way to people who get car sick, airsick or seasick.

My grandmother had terrible car/air/sea sickness problems. Her older sister, my great aunt Mitzi slowly lost her hearing (and did not have any pet birds in the house). But that was in the 60's in Brazil so it is possible we all had/have the same thing.

 

[Zara]

Vaya que curioso. Lo siento
Aunque mis pájaros hacen mucho ruido, me daría mucho pena no estar capaz de escucharlos.
Y si! Me encantaría ver a todos los suyos

 

[finchly]

I am going deaf due to a condition called Meniers. It's caused by the slow erosion of a very small bone in your inner ear though there is no reason or explanation for it. As far as doctors know it is connected in some way to people who get car sick, airsick or seasick.

Ohhh.

So sorry to hear that.
I am losing my hearing too, I'm less than 50% now. How is yours?

I'm training my dog to be a hearing dog (she can alert me to alarms, traffic, etc) but she's a cocker with chronic ear infections so I'm pretty worried about who will help whom!

 

[SandraK]

Ohhh.

So sorry to hear that.
I am losing my hearing too, I'm less than 50% now. How is yours?

I'm training my dog to be a hearing dog (she can alert me to alarms, traffic, etc) but she's a cocker with chronic ear infections so I'm pretty worried about who will help whom!

WHAT? I don't have a hog and I believe Joe Cocker kicked the bucket .....

 

[finchly]

WHAT? I don't have a hog and I believe Joe Cocker kicked the bucket .....

 

[Clairecanary15]

Hi

Thank you @Zara

Im sorry to read about you having to rehome your dove..very sad indeed.

I too have terrible allergies. I have an air filter and as Zara suggested, i always wipe down surfaces to trap the dust .I have 7 canaries who are messy and i could dust daily but im ok. I do provide them a bath daily which they love.

 

[ElisaDove81]

@ElisaDove81 @finchly If you can afford it (healthwise) have yourself tested for allergies. Long story short(ened) in 2017 went in f/knee replacement; was found to have low oxigen and low grade temp; operation denied; 3 days in hosp f/upper respiratory infection (COPD). As of the moment I said I had birds the first words out of 2-4 attending docs was "you'll have to get rid of the birds". I was in tears as I have a mixed flock a little under 40. I was on oxygen f/2 days, prednisone (steroid) for 3-4 months. Test results came back and there was absolutely NOTHING bird related - it was dust and mold. We had been cleaning the bird room in prep f/me to be in hospital. We invested in small table top air purifiers, the bird room already had an Austin in it and we got a RabbitAir for our bedroom.

I wear a paper mask if I'm bird puttering and we actually bought a heavy duty mask for deep cleaning. My flock consists of a sun conure, 14 green cheeks, 5 Quakers and more tiels than I can count on 3 hands. The tiels are probably the dustiest.

So don't give up hope completely, a bird or two may still be in your future. Since you don't have a bird presently, I'd suggest using a damp cloth when dusting around your place right now. If you do get more birds, dampen any areas you are dusting or scrubbing as it will reduce the amount of airborn dust.

And do not listen to your doctor(s) unless they can prove in writing from blood testing that the allergies ARE ONLY FROM BIRDS. If I had listened to them I would be birdless and heartbroken.

I am actually going this wednesday for an allergy test. I don't think its a blood test though, they said it was the kind where they prick your skin to test. I am getting tested for feather allergy - is that the same allergy you got tested for, feathers?

 

[ElisaDove81]

I am actually going this wednesday for an allergy test. I don't think its a blood test though, they said it was the kind where they prick your skin to test. I am getting tested for feather allergy - is that the same allergy you got tested for, feathers?

lol I know this may be a dumb question but does anyone know if the feather allergy they test you for will show if you are allergic to all birds?