Are Guinea Pigs Hypoallergenic? Tips for People with Allergies

In the picture above is our guinea pig, Ken. As you can see he is a hairy little ball of fluff, and he sheds like crazy. His hair literally gets everywhere. My partner suffers quite a bit with allergies and has been sneezing a lot lately. So I decided to research if guinea pigs are hypoallergenic, here’s what I found:

Guinea pigs are not hypoallergenic pets. Longhaired guinea pigs will cause the most problems for people with allergies, but both shorthaired and even hairless guinea pigs can cause allergic reactions.

Even though all breeds of guinea pigs are not hypoallergenic, it doesn’t necessarily mean that people with allergies can’t live with them. Depending on the severity of a persons allergies, there are certain measures you can take to reduce these reactions.

Why Are Guinea Pigs Not Hypoallergenic?

Pet allergies are actually caused by something known as dander, which is basically guinea pig dandruff. Dander is just loose flakes of skin that can rub off and be carried to humans by fur, saliva, urine, and in a guinea pigs case; loose bedding.

Are Shorthaired & Hairless guinea Pigs Hypoallergenic?

Some people consider shorthaired and especially hairless guinea pigs to be hypoallergenic because they shed far less fur or no fur at all. However, while longhaired guinea pigs may be more problematic for people with allergies, dander falls from the skin and is in saliva.

Allergy Symptoms

If you notice symptoms after handling or being close to guinea pigs such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, coughing or wheezing, hives or itchy skin, then it is likely you are allergic to them.

Even if you do discover you are allergic to guinea pigs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t have one. Taking certain preventative measures can ensure that you or a family member with allergies can live with guinea pigs relatively symptom-free.

Guinea Pigs and Shedding

The amount of fur a guinea pig sheds will depend largely on their breed, but can also be due to several other reasons. Guinea pigs generally shed at least a little bit all year, but they are seasonal shedders so you will notice they shed a lot more during spring and summer to keep themselves cool.

As you would expect, longhaired guinea pigs such as our silkie guinea pig tend to shed quite a bit more than shorthaired guinea pigs.

Our shorthaired guinea pig hardly sheds at all, although some owners report that their shorthaired guinea pigs shed a lot more.

Hairless guinea pigs obviously don’t shed at all as they are, well… hairless. But as I’ve already mentioned, dander falls from the skin so even hairless guinea pigs are not completely hypoallergenic.

What Causes Guinea Pigs To Shed?

As I mentioned earlier, guinea pigs are seasonal shedders, so they are going to shed more in Spring and Summer regardless. However, there are other factors that may cause a guinea pig to shed.

Certain skin conditions, parasites, and fleas can cause a guinea pig to shed excessively. Lack of vitamin C in their diet can also cause hair to fall out. Although rare, stress can also be a factor in how much a guinea pig sheds. But the underlying cause of stress is usually the actual cause of excessive shedding.

If you have any concerns that your guinea pig is shedding too much, put your mind at ease and take them to an exotic vet.

Tips For Allergy Sufferers Living with Guinea Pigs

It is possible to live with guinea pigs even if you are an allergy sufferer, although it does depend on how severe your allergies are. You should first find out whether it is safe for you to be around guinea pigs by speaking to a vet or doctor.

The good news is, people usually keep their guinea pigs in a cage in a specific location in the house, so they are likely to spread less dander around to every room as a dog or cat would.

Because of this, it is much easier to limit your exposure to dander and loose fur. But there are further steps you can take to further limit this exposure, and ultimately reduce the severity of allergic reactions.

Bathing

You might think that bathing your guinea pig regularly would be a good way of controlling dander and dry skin, but it is actually the complete opposite.

Bathing your guinea pig too frequently will wash away the natural skin oils they produce which actually help prevent dry skin. Guinea pigs are quite clean creatures and will wash themselves daily.

Guinea pigs do still need the occasional bathing though, as they can get quite smelly from being in a cage and bedding where they constantly pee and poop. The main purpose of bathing is to eliminate or prevent fleas and to kill off any bad bacteria that could make them ill.

Longhaired guinea pigs should be bathed once or twice a month as their fur gathers more dirt and urine. Shorthaired guinea pigs should be bathed roughly every 2-3 months. Hairless guinea pigs don’t need bathing at all, as they have no fur to gather dirt and urine. Bathing a hairless guinea pig is actually bad for them, as their skin is sensitive and can make their skin very dry.

Grooming

It is always important to groom any pet that regularly sheds, and this includes guinea pigs. Regular grooming will control the amount of fur a guinea pig sheds, which in turn reduces the amount of dander that falls from their skin.

It is also important to groom your guinea pigs as it helps to spread the protective skin oils that they naturally produce. Just as with humans, these oils help to keep the skin from drying out and becoming flaky.

As guinea pigs tend to shed a lot more in Spring and Summer, you will want to brush and comb them at least every two days.

If you are able to, have somebody without allergies groom your guinea pigs for you. If there is nobody to do this for you, you should wear gloves and brush them in a room where there is little fabric or upholstery for hair and dander to get onto.

Shorthaired guinea pigs won’t need quite as much combing in fall or winter. You could get away with grooming them once every week or two. On the other hand, longhaired guinea pigs will still need regular grooming. Two to three times a week should do it. Hairless guinea pigs won’t need brushing at all of course.

Separate Guinea Pig Clothing

Something you can do to reduce the amount of dander and fur you come into contact with is to have some pet-only clothing. This is an outfit that you wear whilst handling your guinea pig or cleaning their cage.

You should try to keep your regular clothes in a different location to where you guinea pigs are so they remain dander-free. It’s also a good idea to not mix your guinea pig clothes with your regular clothes, as this will just spread the dander to your entire wardrobe.

When it comes to washing your guinea pig only outfits, you should again keep them separate from your regular clothes and only wash them with other clothing that comes into contact with your guinea pigs.

Doing this should stop your allergies flaring up quite as often, as you won’t be leaving the house in dander covered clothing.

Cage Cleaning

With guinea pigs, the main area where dander will build up is going to be in their cage, and on or in their bedding. Fleece bedding, in particular, is going to be a hotspot for dander and fur, so if you or a family member have allergies it might be best to avoid using fleece.

When it comes to cleaning out your guinea pigs cage, it would be best to have a none-allergy sufferer to do it for you if possible. If this isn’t an option then you should wear pet-only clothing and gloves. You may also want to wear a dust mask and eye protection if your allergies are very sensitive.

You could even take the cage outside for cleaning if at all possible. This will prevent dander and fur from getting into the air in your house.

This is why I would recommend getting a C&C cage with a coroplast base. A coroplast base can be removed and is very lightweight, so it can be easily removed from the cage and taken outside for cleaning.

Wash Your Hands After Handling

You should obviously be washing your hands often anyway, but it can be easy to forget that this will also help with allergies.

The most common way for allergens to get into your body is via the mouth, eyes, and nose. So touching your guinea pig and then touching your face without washing your hands is certain to cause an allergic reaction.

You should wash your hands after handling and petting your guinea pig, and also after cleaning their cage. It is also a good idea to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to your guinea pigs cage.

Keep Them Out of Your Bedroom

I know that some people like to be close to their guinea pigs and keep them in their bedroom. But if you suffer from allergies, this is the worst place to keep them.

Pet dander can get into the air quite easily, so over time, your guinea pigs will spread their allergy-inducing dander all over your bedroom. Sleeping in this environment with allergies is going to make you wake up feeling horrendous, assuming you even can sleep.

The simplest fix for this is to simply not allow guinea pigs into the bedroom.

Couches Off Limits

Having cuddles with your guinea pigs is fine and is actually a great way to bond with them. However, if you have an allergy sufferer in the house it would be a good idea to keep them off the couch.

Fabric couches will easily collect dander and fur if you allow your guinea pigs to go on them. Leather furniture won’t pose as much as an issue as they can be easily wiped down, but I still wouldn’t recommend it.

If you absolutely have to have your guinea pigs on the couch, make sure to thoroughly vacuum it after before people with allergies sit down.

There’s also a good chance they will pee whilst on your couch. Nobody wants this of course as it’s unsanitary and stinky, but urine can also trigger allergic reactions in people.

Not on the Carpet

Anything made of fabric material is going to collect and store dander and fur. Carpets are particularly bad for this and you will probably find that this is where most pet dander is. Guinea pigs are normally kept in a cage or run, but some people do allow them to run free in their house and over carpets.

If you or a family member has allergies, you should never allow guinea pigs to walk over carpets. Even with the best vacuum cleaner, you will never be able to fully pick up everything.

One solution to this is to only let them run around on hard floors such as wood, lino or tiles. Hard floors make vacuuming any loose dander and hair much easier. If this isn’t an option, you can put down a mat or tarp and set up an indoor run. The sheet can then be cleaned off, ideally outside.

A more extreme option is to replace your carpets with hard flooring completely. This isn’t entirely necessary if you only keep guinea pigs in the house. However, if you have other pets such as cats or dogs then it would actually be a good idea.

We have hard floors throughout all of the downstairs in our house for precisely this reason.

Hay Could Be the Problem

You might find that allergic reactions are actually being caused primarily by the hay guinea pigs eat. Now you can’t stop giving them hay as it is a vital part of their diet, but you should at least try to minimize your exposure.

Wearing gloves and a mask whenever you handle the hay will help prevent dust transference to your eyes. You can also fill their hay rack outside to stop excess dust and hay getting into the air and on furniture.

Only ever give your guinea pigs enough hay that they are likely to eat. Overflowing hay is going to get everywhere and be disturbed, allowing more dust particles to escape. As always, thoroughly wash your hands and arms straight away after touching hay.

Use HEPA Air Cleaners & Vacuum Cleaners

A really good way to keep the air in your home clear of dander and other allergy-inducing particles is to use a HEPA air purifier. Set one of these up as close to your guinea pigs cage as possible for maximum effect.

Air purifiers won’t completely rid the air of dander and dust, but they will make a massive difference to any allergy sufferers. Cleaner air will have a big impact on reducing allergy symptoms, and allow you to be more comfortable in your home.

You can even get vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters that purify the air whilst also picking up fallen dander and dust.

Medications

You could go through all the steps I’ve listed here and still find that you are reacting badly to your guinea pigs. Thankfully, they are medications available that specifically fight the symptoms of allergies.

Antihistamines are the most common allergy medicine and can be picked up in any pharmacy and most big shops. For stronger treatments, you should see a doctor to find out what they recommend.

One option that may be offered to you is immunotherapy. This is a treatment where you are given a shot of a small dose of an allergen.

Taking medication of whatever is best for you can help a lot, but it shouldn’t make you neglect the other things you can do yourself.

Vitamin C Supplements

Guinea pigs are one of the few animals that cannot naturally produce vitamin C. They need to get enough vitamin C in their diet or through supplements, just like humans do, or they may develop scurvy.

There are a lot of nasty complications that vitamin C deficiency can cause. One of these possible symptoms is poor skin and fur condition, why can lead to excessive shedding.

A guinea pig will need about 10-30mg of vitamin C daily. You can make sure they are getting this by feeding them vitamin C pellets, and vegetables that are high in vitamin C, such as:

• Red, yellow and green bell peppers
• Spinach
• Pak Choi
• Parsley
• Broccoli
• Kale

Vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs can be deadly, so make sure they are getting enough of it. If in doubt, seek veterinary advice.