Has this happened to anyone else?

[anyalyssa]

So, I’ve got a real head-scratcher here.

I seriously think I am allergic to rabbit dander, after owning bunnies since the age of 6, and I’m still completely fine around any of the other animals classified with the same type of dander.

Am I alone? has this happened to anyone else? I know for fact that this has happened to my father, whom I am not blood related to.

Like I said, bunnies since age 6, in addition to long and short fur cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, rats, birds, and a guinea pig. 16 years ago, with a male tuxedo cat (long fur) and female Labrador dog in the house, my father simply walked into the room where my last rabbit was being kept, and had an asthma attack so severe that he suffered a massive heart-attack. Tests later confirmed that it was indeed the rabbit dander. 

And he’s been telling me all my life that he is allergic to cats! That’s literally THE reason he got me my first bunny, because he didn’t think he could get me a cat! When we read studies about the differences from long hair to short fur, he opened up, did some research, and we got our first cat. Our second cat was from the same breeding line as the first (uncle and nephew), and he was with us when the heart-attack happened.

Presently, parents own a female short hair Sylvester cat, and a male Chihuahua/Mini-Pin mix. Both animals have skin allergies, and my father is the primary caregiver for the dog. The cat can only use one kind of litter, which dad is also allergic to, so I have since taken her with me when I moved out. 

I was finally able to adopt another bunny. And since he’s been here, every time I go into the room where his pen is, I get itchy watery eyes with discharge after about 10 minutes.

[jerseygirl]

Wow, that is scary what happened to your father! He sounds like a great guy though, looking into what types of animals and types of cats he could live with and giving it a go.

I have heard of people being allergic to most rabbits but being able to adopt one they didn’t react to. I cannot recall if it was certain fur types that weren’t a trigger. So I do believe there can be differences in dander and fur type that people may be more sensitive too.

How long has it been since you last had a rabbit? Could it be that hay you are reacting too or is it the same hay you have for other pets you have?
It does sound like airborne allegens causing you reaction whereas urine and saliva are more contact allergens. Although, I suppose urine can be both.

Did you have any type of reaction when you went to meet this bunny before you brought him home?  Did you switch over his food and/or hay type? 

ETA: I remember someone posting here in the last few months about being allergic to pellets. I think it was the bunny that was reacting to them… I’ll need to try find the thread…

[anyalyssa]

The hay! That never occurred to me! It’s been 16 years, but I’ve kept all my other bunnies outside and only gave them pellets and fresh veggies. I never knew that they needed hay. I’m leaning lots of new information with the internet so readily available to me now. I bought those compressed hay balls, and only handled it the one time to place it inside his pen. I also didn’t know back then that a hutch with a chicken wire floor wasn’t very good for them. I’m planning to litter train him, and even neuter him, things I never knew about buns.

[Mikey]

You could be allergic to the hay dust or pellets like Jersey suggested. But, it is possible youre allergic to your bunny as well. I had rabbits growing up and my mom was always fine. But now, if my mom is around rabbits for too long, she cannot breathe, goes into a coughing and sneezing fit, and her face begins to swell. You can develop allergies over time.

[jerseygirl]

It’s a pretty common thing people are allergic to, especially Timothy hay. Some people have better luck with Orchard or Oat hay.

Maybe you test the hay theory and order some small samples of different types and see which you react to. Keeping some antihistamines handy! 

@Mikey, in case you’re confused as to why anyalyssa’s reply wasn’t there before when you replied, their posts are still going through approval stage as they are a new member. So the post was submitted before yours but didn’t appear publicly until approval was given. ; )

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