Allergy Concern

[Spree]

Okay, this isn't Degu health so much as my health. I just wanted to check something with you guys!

When you handle your Degu, do your arms end up peppered with little red dots, possibly from where their claws have ever so slightly pierced the skin? I'm just freaking out that I may be allergic to them, as my arms didn't have these dots when my old Beardie would catch me with his claws?

[Karma]

Yes yes yes and yes. I also get super marked up from mine - little red dots to small stratches depending on if they got scared and tried to run. I get the same thing from other rodents and bird nails as well.

[animalmadchloe]

My husband comes out in a blotchey rash when he handles our degus I normally have red marks that look like dots from.there claws, I do think my husband is allergic to them though lol

[klbishop]

I get lots of little lines but not dots

[Spree]

Oh thank goodness! I was seriously fretting they were like, the one animal I'm allergic to lol!

[deguconvert]

I spray use a spray on antibacterial after I have played with the degus, and it makes a big difference to how red they get.

[moletteuk]

My skin overreacts to any little scratch or break in the skin from degu claws too. Makes you wonder what bacteria they have going on! It's long sleeve tops for me.

[Spree]

Very strange! Maybe it's because they're generally light little pricks, whereas my beardie was more inclined to clamp all four feet onto my arm and slide down it, leaving somewhat larger marks! At least his claws could be clipped lol!

[Karma]

I have clipped my degus nails .... Very very carefully, wrapped in a towel with quick stop nearby. Lol. It was actually super easy - like doing bird nails . I find they are a lot worse now that they have the whole room to run around in .... I can't boogy trap something and force them on the rocks.