Hay…I have asthma attacks around cats and dogs but not bunnies. BUT…Hay always tries to give me an asthma attack. So I wear a thin little mask over my nose and mouth everytime I change potty boxes.

I know some people on here use the enclosed cat litter boxes to keep hay enclosed, keep hay somewhere where your son will not be exposed to it. Is there any other area in the house you can put all the bunny stuff that your son isn’t in most of the time?

i’m sure you’re probably tired of doctors by this point (poor lil guy!) but could you do an allergy test? that would tell you if it was in fact the buns or the hay, or something else entirely… air purifiers can work wonders, you can set one up in his room. move the bunnies to a place where he does not spend time. but first you’ve gotta figure out what is causing it. i’ve never heard of allergies triggering a cough, but i suppose it’s possible?

Oh no! Poor Ethan! I would do the awful littany of allergy testing before you get too worried…there are so many things he could be reacting to, you can’t possibly know it’s the buns at this point. Beka’s suggestion of an air-purifier sounds like a great first step to take, until you know what else to do…

My suggestion would be allergy testing, the only way to definitely know.

It could be hay. I don’t have allergies ( I guess, except to perfume!) but my brother does and many close friends…I’ve NEVER heard of that barking cough being caused by allergies.

When I had that kind of cough as a child, it was really really helpful to have a humidifier on. I bet if you have one it could really help him. If you don’t have one, sit him in the bathroom and run the shower on very hot and get the bathroom steamy. See if that helps at all?? {{VIBES}}

I used to be a frequent sufferer of the barky cough. Most often for me it was bronchitis – but I’m more susceptible because I have asthma. I used to get sick with bronchitis without fail every year at Christmas – but once they diagnosed my asthma and got that properly treated the bronchitis stopped recurring so often. Even now if I get a cold I’m much more likely to get bronchitis as a result. I wake up with this watery feeling in my lungs, and then the barky cough, and then straight to the doctor. For me, I don’t like the humidifier because I already have that weird watery feeling in my lungs – a steamy shower works wonders for chest congestion though (there is a difference to me, but hard to explain I guess…). It is kinda weird that it’s only happening in the house though. But as others have said, it could be lots of things, not just bunnies. Also dust, mold, hay, all that fun stuff that could be house specific. Definitely consider the allergy test, and think about the possibility of asthma if that hasn’t already been diagnosed/ruled out – especially since allergies are more often sneezing/water eyes/rash type reactions, and this is a cough.

Living in Alaska, our winter is just killer for anything respiratory. We HAVE to have all the windows shut and the air in here just gets bad. I agree that the allergy testing, however arduous, is essential. It might not be the bunnies at all and it would be a shame to think of not having them and then your boy still has trouble with something.

I will keep you in my prayers. Poor Ethan, I know how lousy it is to have a cough that the source is not readily identifiable.

Oh yes, maybe humidity is bad too, I guess trial and error?

My mom (much to my horror) was diagnosed with COPD a few years ago, and has an extremely hard time breathing on good days (very scary for me). She and my dad recently retired and travel frequently to the US-they love it love it…anyways they were in the desert, Arizona I think or OK I’m bad with my geography but near the Grand Canyon I think; Anyways it was soo dry she was actually not only able to hike but go up hills and she said she felt the best she had in many many years. I guess it depends on the lung afflication what wil help it?

Oh no! Hope you get this sorted! (((Ethan)))

Don’t you live in an apartment complex? Just thinking maybe they’ve changed the air system or something. Obviously I don’t know how these complexes operate, but it’s another area to possibly investigate.

I read on a website that there are more people allergic to the rabbit hay than the actual rabbit. Hope everything turns out okay.

Oh dear!! Well I’m not sure if it is allergies, but if it is you could vacuum more often and wipe down the areas that they play/hang out in. You could also get an air purifier. It has worked wonders at my house! Hope this helps a bit….Keep us updated!!!

I was worried right after Fiver came home that I suddenly developed allergies to bunnies. I was miserable and having lots of breathing problems. But then I realized it was the hay that was the problem. It had never bothered me before, but this year’s crop for some reason is very potent and tends to set me off the minute I get near it.
I cna put my face in the bunny’s fur and breathe deep and no sneezing. I open the hay and suddenly I’m running for the Benadryl.

What kinds of hay (and brands) are you feeding them, Ashley?

Could be pollen etc, something that only blossoms this time of year? Maybe give the aair purifier a try. You could try hiring one to see if it’s effective first. Good luck!

I’m going to add my bit of personal experience – we were just in Florida (Orlando and then Tampa) and my allergies were MUCH worse in Florida than they are at home. I was shocked. The 2nd morning we were there I looked in the mirror and thought holy crap it looks like I’m wearing red eyeliner. And that’s with taking claritin every morning. That definitely did not happen the last time I was in Orlando. So I’d say there’s a very good chance that his reaction could be to something other than the bunnies.
– Annette

I had allergy testing when I was about 5yo. I tested positive for pretty much everything. We had a Bishon Frishe (supposed to be a hypoallergenic dog) that I did fine with. I had to get allergy shots weekly for years. Little Subq shots so no big deal.

Im now almost 30 and I dont really have problems with much of anything anymore. I have asthma that is only allergy induced. I’m not allergic to the bunnies but I have problems w/ the hay so that is why I wear a mask anytime I change potty boxes. My doctor put me on Advair and now I have no problems at all breathing around the buns hay but I still wear a cheap little mask so I don’t inhale the hay.

Chances are your child will grow out of the allergies and it is better to know now what he is allergic to and get it under control. It may surprise you what he is allergic to.

hmmm… didn’t realize that about the allergies… definitely look into at least a small air purifier for his room. even if it turns out to be something else, purified air won’t hurt…

The first thing I recommend when you get hit with sneezing and think it might be the bun is to change the hay from Timothy to Oat. To my knowledge, oat hay has less allergens than timothy hay.

I’ve been sneezing and had gross chest congestion worse than usual lately. I always get this way before winter and before spring. Maybe there are more allergens in the air this year than last?? It might be something in your house. Have you had it inspected for mold recently? It does get humid in Florida….