Can rabbits develop hay allergies over time?

[Stickerbunny]

I’ve been watching Stickers to monitor her sneezing to see if it’s getting any better. And, for the last few days, her sneezing was a lot better. But, today I was watching her and she went to eat some hay and immediately went into a sneezing fit. She hopped a little away from the hay and she stopped sneezing. It’s the same hay they’ve had for a while, but could she maybe have developed an allergy to it ? Maybe this batch is dustier than the last ones? How do you get them hay that won’t cause sneezing if the hay is the issue?

[BlueMoods]

I doubt she is allergic to the hay. It may be a dustier batch of hay which winnowing would help correct. (take it outside, over a tarp or blanke on a lightly breezy day and toss the hay in the air a few times to allow the dust to blow away.)

It could also be the fertilizer or pesticide used on the hay while it was growing (assuming it is not an organic brand.) Then you would have to find a different brand or different farm to get hay from that did not use chemicals.

It could also be more mature hay that has seeds that are releasing and, she is inhaling the chafe or seeds themselves. Again new hay that is less mature and has fewer seeds would help.

If none of that works, you can switch to Timothy cubes for horses. Those won’t have dust or seeds but, you may have to break them up so she will eat them, at least until she learns how to eat those big cubes.

[jerseygirl]

Also wonder if pollen from neighbouring crops can would get on the hay. Causing more irritation.

Did her flare up occur similar time last year?

Gooseman sneezes a bit when he’s nosing around in the hay but he’s doing it at other times also. I think several things set him off.
I’m thinking of trying some echinacea and goldenseal products.

[Stickerbunny]

I don’t really remember when, it was during the warmer months so sometime within a few months of this time last year.

[LongEaredLions]

BlueMoods-While hay cubes are great for bunnies, most people don’t recommend them as a single source of hay because the long strands of grassy hay can reach the back molars of the bunny to wear down their teeth.

[BlueMoods]

No but it’s better than no hay until the next cutting, or a different source is found. Here sometimes there is a drought and hay is hard to get so, I use cubes to get through if the feed store I get hay from (the owners cut and bail off fields they own) is out. If it has to be the only hay for other health reasons, then the vet can take care of the teeth as needed. That’s better than a sick rabbit.

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