Q: It can be a trigger for diseases such as toxemia, or can scare the sow so she doesn’t want to eat or drink. For these reasons stress should be minimized as much as possible.  Reduce exposure to loud noises or bright lights. Keep her away from direct sunlight. Establish a daily routine with set times and stick to it, to provide consistency Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. Reduce handling to minimal levels. During the last two weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box. It's very important to check on your guinea pig several times a day, ideally every three to four hours. Each time you check, make a mental note of how much water she has drunk and how much food she has eaten.  This allows you to gauge what is normal, so that if she becomes unwell and stops eating, or becomes very thirsty, you will pick up clues early on. If the sow becomes uninterested in food contact your veterinarian immediately. The vet will assess the guinea pig’s condition. They may prescribe treatment that includes injections of dextrose solutions, steroids and calcium, which may or may not be effective. Loss of appetite can also be a symptom of pregnancy toxemia. Check her for signs of illness (e.g. crusty eyes/nose/ears or a thinning/patchy coat) and weigh her. In the last two to three weeks of pregnancy, do not handle the sow. Instead, coax her onto a towel or into a box.  The sow should gradually put on weight. How much depends on the size of the litter, but her weight should never begin fall. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to get to a vet. Grooming usually requires a lot of handling, so reduce to minimal levels during pregnancy. If the sow is long haired, cut all of her hair short (especially around her rear end) towards the end of the pregnancy as the sow will find it harder to clean herself and the hair may become knotted or dirty. Do not bath the sow during pregnancy. It will be too stressful for her. Continue to allow her ‘floor time’ or to graze outside. Reduce handling by coaxing her into a box or onto a towel to move her. It is important to keep her active to prevent obesity and keep a healthy blood flow, but do not chase her or force her to exercise as pregnancy, particularly large litters, puts pressure on the circulation in guinea pigs and they are prone to heart attacks.
A: Pregnant guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable to illness as a result of stress during pregnancy. Monitor her eating and drinking habits. Give the sow a thorough check over twice a week. Limit grooming during pregnancy. Continue to exercise the sow.

Q: If you or your doctor suspects you have a peanut allergy, you should make an appointment with an allergist or immunologist right away. This professional will first obtain a thorough history and physical. The focus of this appointment will be the response you experience when you encounter peanuts or tree nuts.   Accommodating food allergies can have a profound effect on lifestyle, quality of life and mental health. It is important to be prepared for a possible allergic reaction, but to also not live in fear based only on tests which may have false positive results. Ask about possible desensitization treatments called Immunotherapy to reduce the risk of a severe reaction from a small accidental exposure. There are several different Immunotherapy protocols, some of which are still in clinical trials. There are several immunologic tests that can be administered to provoke the IgE response. This response will help assess the scope of the peanut allergy, but ultimately the only way to be absolutely certain is with an Oral Challenge test.  If the patient has had anaphylaxis previously the doctor may choose to start with blood testing to avoid the risk of triggering that reaction again. Typically skin prick testing is the first to be performed. This test involves exposing you to a potential allergen. The possibility exists that you may experience anaphylaxis. Therefore, this test is done under close supervision of a skilled allergist and immunologist who are also skilled at treating anaphylaxis.  The allergist will perform an initial diagnostic, exposing you to common allergens. A small amount of calibrated solution will be placed on the skin and a special tool will painlessly make a shallow scratch. The allergist will diagram the scratch sites, to keep track of which area is injected with which allergen. You will be monitored for any acute and dangerous response that requires immediate attention. Otherwise, the injection sites are checked for the presence of a “wheal,” or raised itchy area, which would indicate an allergy. The allergist will draw blood to be used for IgE response testing. This type of test has the benefit of causing no potential risk to the patient, as the patient is not exposed to the potential allergen. Blood testing tends to have some false positive results.  Ask if newer RAST or ImmunoCap blood testing for Peanut is available. The ImmunoCap test is a second generation RAST test that measures a person’s IgE levels to an allergen.  These tests may not yet be covered by your medical insurance. Ask if you can pay out of pocket if you are interested or if your health clinic will not perform the test ask where else you can go to get tested. The peanut protein is presented in the laboratory with the patient’s blood sample. Radio labeled human IgE human antibody is added and the antibodies will combine to the allergen. RAST testing is ranked on 0-6 scale. With zero indicating no sensitivity and six is highest sensitivity. A RAST of 3 or less requires more specific testing such as an oral challenge to confirm the allergy.   It is important to ask about the rate of false positive results during basic blood or skin prick testing. This is the only way to be absolutely certain an allergy does not exist. Since most Peanut allergies are severe with a high risk of anaphylaxis this testing should only be done in a supervised medical environment that can provide emergency treatment if required.  You will start with small doses of the allergen, starting with exposure to only the lips before swallowing. After each dose there is a waiting period, then the next dose is increased until a certain threshold is reached or until a reaction occurs. After the last dose you will need to wait four hours to ensure there is not reaction before you are released. This test, called DBPCFC for short, is used to confirm a specific allergy. This is also the testing used to determine eligibility to participate in clinical trials. This test is costly and time-consuming.  The patient will need to go through two oral food challenges that are at least one week apart. In one challenge the patient is given allergen and in the other a placebo. Neither the patient nor the allergist knows which capsule has the allergen, which helps to eliminate the potential for false reactions.   It can be useful for avoiding unnecessary elimination diets by pinpointing the exact allergen that affects a person.
A:
Visit an allergist or immunologist. Go through allergy testing. Take a skin prick test. Take a blood test. Take an oral challenge. Use the double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge as a last resort.