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Post by teemu on Apr 21, 2021 19:45:42 GMT
I've recently started suspecting that the hay I give my degus is pretty dusty, and it seems really hard to find hay that isn't to some degree. I've been looking for some, but there doesn't seem to be any available here at least. It seems to cause some sneezing issues with my degus and I suffer a bit from hay dust myself as well due to mild allergies. Does anyone know of any way to help this? Would it help if I slightly misted the hay with a spray bottle first (provided I change it often enough that it won't go moldy or anything) to get rid of floating dust particles?
(To be clear, it's not dusty like moldy hay, there's just a lot of crushed hay and particles and stuff like that in the bag. I've spent a good bit of my life around stables so I'm familiar with moldy hay, and this fortunately isn't that.)
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Post by savvy on Apr 21, 2021 22:07:07 GMT
My vet advised me to mist Dixie's hay as he has a dust sensitivity. She said that as long as it isn't the hay he slept on it would be fine.
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Post by bouncy on Apr 21, 2021 23:14:18 GMT
When I put hay into my cage, I pull it out a handful at a time, shaking my hand before it leaves the bag. For me, it means there aren't going to be any stray bits dropping from my hand onto the floor, but it certainly leaves most of the dust behind. When you get to the bottom of the bag, it's usually a pile of bits and dust that you can just chuck in the bin.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2021 10:48:10 GMT
I don't know if they are available where you live, but you may be able to find hay pressed into solid lumps and/or meadow plant 'cobs', Pre Alpin is a popular brand of the cobs that you may find (there are different lines, you want a meadow mix with no added sugar, you can sometimes find them on tortoise or horse sites). These won't completely replace hay but could be useful if your degus like them. Other forage supplies might be an option or picking your own is also less dusty.
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Post by teemu on Apr 23, 2021 14:27:45 GMT
I live in an area where much of the hay is locally produced (or at least pretty close by), so much of what comes into the pet stores is nearby producers. I don't think I've really seen any brand products like that around here in the context of hay. I haven't really seen hay cubes or similar being sold either, sadly...
However, it looks like slightly misting the hay helped! I also just tried airing out the house a bit now that it's warmer. Pulla hasn't sneezed at all, and I think I feel a bit better myself as well.
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