can rabbits be allergic to themselves?

[Beka27]

this is a rediculous question i’m sure… but i’ve noticed an increase in the number of bunny sneezes since she’s been shedding.  there’s no discharge from her nose or eyes.  i notice it more when she’s out of her cage running around.  she’ll even sneeze quickly a few times in a row.  but i haven’t taken her to the vet for this b/c there’s no discharge.  what does everyone think?

[Sarita]

I’m not certain they can actually be allergic to themselves but perhaps the shedding is causing her to sneeze because of more irritants in the air. My vet says sneezing in rabbits is normal just like with humans (as long as there’s no discharge or an unusual amount of discharge) when there are changes in the environment.

[Beka27]

i figured with no discharge there was no illness… but then i was second guessing myself.  thanks.  i am only brushing her once a day while she sheds… should i do it more often?

[Sarita]

I think once a day should be fine and that may be all that you and she can tolerate too :~)

[Ash]

after you brush her try a damp wash cloth to get the excess loose hair, I read it from one bunny site but I’ve looked at so many I can’t remember the name. lol. that might help also with the extra hair

[Beka27]

^^^great idea… thanks!  hadn’t thought of doing that.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Sometimes the dust from the hay can also collect in their fur and cause allergies (sort of making them allergic to themselves), another thing I have to be careful with on Daffodil. I use a damp cloth after a thorough brushing, like was already suggested. But also the fur from moulting with shed and get in their little noses and cause a tickle and sneeze too.

[babybunsmum]

that would make sense… as i get to the end of a bag of hay there’s usually a lot more dust. 

question… what type of brush do you all use?  i’ve tried a couple diff kinds without much satisfaction.  either they’re too hard so i can’t push down hard enough to get much hair (for fear of scraping her skin with the bristles) or they’re too soft & don’t grab any hair

[Beka27]

i use a soft bristled brush (it looks like one of those baby brushes.)  it may not be doing a good enough job tho because even after i brush her i’m still getting quite a bit of fur.  i have been doing the wet towel thing and i think it helps a great deal.  also, i am brushing the "wrong way" to get up more of the loose fur.  it doesn’t bother her which way i brush, so i figure it’s okay.  i’m gonna go to the store either today or tomorrow and see what other kinds of brushes or combs are available.

[MooBunnay]

I use those brushes that are made of rubber – the ones where the “bristles” are kind of large rubber bristles. I use that, and brush the wrong way first, then the right way to get the fur off. I feel best about that kind of brush because its pretty unlikely to damage their thin skin, and its also fairly easy to clean off.

Also, Beka, I have a sneezy bunny that is quite allergic to changes in his environment as well. When Brian first got him the lady we got him from was like “he’s SNEEZING? o woe he is going to die” and all dramatic, so my poor fiance spent the night extremely upset because he thought he was going to lose his bunny. Well, the bunny is still around and still sneezes a couple times a day, and is perfectly healthy and enjoys harassing me daily with love nips I think the real sign is the discharge. I fostered two babies that had sneezes with discharge, and that was extremely hard on them. I had to wake up 2-3 times per night when I heard them having a sneezing fit so that I could wipe their noses and help them breathe easier.

[Scarlet_Rose]

I use a baby brush too! You can also find some really soft ones in the dog grooming section that are larger.

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