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Essentially the hypoallergenic isolation protocol I just described is very similar in a lot of ways to that of a quarantine protocol for new acquisitions to an at home collection only instead of protecting other animals against potential disease, we are essentially protecting hypersensitive humans from exposure to antigenic material.
The final aspect of hypoallergenic husbandry that one must consider would be habitat modification. Allergies to reptiles and amphibians may also be accompanied by additional allergies to related herp products such as substrates, cleaners, various plastics, supplements, food items, etc. The possibility that an individual may be allergic to these items must also be taken into consideration.
Individuals with hypersensitivities to reptiles should attempt to avoid exposure to animals that produce large quantities of feces and urine and those that shed with great regularity. This DOES NOT mean that one should limit the amount of food and water offered to the pet in an attempt to limit quantity of excrement. This would be a very poor decision on behalf of the pet owner. Instead, these animals should simply be avoided at all costs. For example a lizard might defecate & urinate daily and shed their skin in frequent amounts relative to a snake that might urinate, defecate, or shed their skin once or twice a month. For this reason we might expect lizards to shed a higher load of antigenic material into their environment than we would a snake, though this is not always the case.
In general, hypoallergenic husbandry should be maintained similar to that of hospital husbandry in order to limit the amount of antigenic material present within the animal’s environment and consequently your environment. For best results, each enclosure should be maintained daily using paper towels or newspaper as substrate (avoid cage carpet, repti-bark, sand, or other store bought substrates). Any cleaners used must be hypoallergenic to the owner and yet safe for use among herps (for example solutions containing vinegar and water may be used).
The more often each enclosure is cleaned, the harder it will be for allergy stimulating antigens to accumulate. Use items that are cheap and only those that can be easily disposed of during each cleaning. If you begin to experience husbandry problems with your pet, related to changes intended to accommodate your hypersensitivity, you need to consider finding another home for your pet to ensure its well being and quality of life.
Home owners living with herp hypersensitivities individuals should avoid specimens that require detailed/intensive husbandry requirements. In other words, avoid high maintenance herps. High maintenance specimens with touchy environmental requirements are definitely not for you!!! Additionally, each animal in the collection should be seen by an exotic veterinarian twice a year. This is of upmost importance when it concerns individuals with allergic hypersensitivities given that your immune system is already compromised and these individuals should not be exposed to sick reptiles, or amphibians.
In addition, individuals with animal related hypersensitivities should establish a working relationship between their primary medical physician and their veterinarian to determine the best course of action concerning the management of their symptoms. MD’s are not licensed to make medical recommendations concerning animals nor are they qualified to discuss options that may negate the necessity for animal abandonment. Veterinarians are! When dealing with animal related hypersensitivities your MD and your DVM should both be involved in the management of your case to ensure that you receive the quality of care that you deserve and that your animals receive the management and the quality of care that they deserve, which most often does not require the necessity for animal abandonment.
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