I desperately want a rabbit – allergy info?

[Samantha]

Hello, I am new to the forum because I am doing some research before deciding on getting a rabbit.  #1 I am looking into adopting ONLY, #2, I really want my bunny to be a house bunny, and #3 – My partner doesn’t think we should get one!!

Obviously #3 is the problem.  When she was young she had a bunny and was allergic to SOMETHING.  She does not know if it was the bedding or the bunny.  I guess I am looking into all the information I can get about bunny allergies.  How often are they so horrible that you cannot live with the bunny? Are there things that can be done to help?

My plan is to visit a rabbit shelter in the area and have her hold a rabbit or 2. or 7 (depending on how many i want to bring home!! – ) and see if she has a reaction.

Any other information would be LARGELY appreciated!!

[Miyuki]

Hello there! I don’t really have any information on allergies but I think it is a good idea to have her hold a rabbit for a little while. I don’t know much about bedding but I am highly allergic to some rabbit hays. I got around this most of the time by not being the one touching the hay. I’m sure little particles were still stuck to my bunny but not enough to trigger my allergies when I was petting her. Just my 2 cents. Welcome!

[mrmac]

Like Miyuki said, she be allergic to the hay, instead of the bunny itself. I agree, go and hold some and if see if she has any kind of reaction.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Claritin and Claritin D!

Completely worth it ; )

[Deb'sBuns]

You don’t want my 2 cents. I constantly hear no more animals. Do I listen ? No!  Unfortunately it is because I do not care for his opinion.

But, even when I did care I still did not listen. So…..

 

It probably is the hay. I hear alot of people are allergic to the timothy, me I’m allergic to the animals. 

[Adalaide]

I have hay allergies, which I never considered until after I had Freya home… oops. That’s probably the most common “rabbit” allergy. My best friend’s brother though is actually allergic to rabbits. He breaks out in hives all over if he comes in contact with one. If your partner is allergic you should definately be able to tell from a shelter visit. Hay allergies are easily alleviated with otc medications. As someone else suggested, I just take Claritin.

[PEPPA GEORGIE]

Hello i have allergies too and as far as hay is concerned i used to get hay fever with it but once i had it in the house all the time i seemed to get used to it.
I also have a sort of allergy to rats when they walk over me i get little itchy bumps from their feet. I really like rats so just ignore this but when i took Zirtec antihistamine this stopped happening so you could always try this.
Also again i am not sure on this and someone with a rex rabbit would be better to say, but is there fur less loose so to speak, might be worth looking into xx
Dont know if any of that helps but hope you get round it and get your rabbit. xx

[jerseygirl]

It would be difficult to isolate the allergy trigger at a shelter. Some are allergic to the hay, some the dander, fur or rabbits saliva. I saw a program on telly here where the vet treated a rabbit for mites. He ended up with nose running and eyes swelling as he was allergic to rabbits – but he did say just some rabbits, not all. I’m guessing this may be something to do with their fur?
Do you know anyone with a pet rabbit that you could pet sit so you can get more of an idea of how allergic your partner is?

[Elrohwen]

I would definitely go to an allergist and have them test your partner. I am allergic to almost everything, including many animals, but turned out to not be allergic to bunnies. I know for sure that I’m allergic to timothy when I’m tested for it, but I haven’t really had an issue when giving it to Otto. I just make sure to wash my hands after I touch the hay so that I don’t accidentally touch my face and start a reaction. I’ve never been one to get hives, so I haven’t had an issue with the timothy just touching my skin, though I know some people react that way.

Other than getting tested, the best thing to do is just go to a rescue and see how it goes! It’s not fun living with a pet when you have severe allergies, but I find it completely tolerable to live with a variety of pets with mild to moderate allergy issues.

[RabbitPam]

I agree that it would be worth it to go to an allergist and get specifically tested for rabbits as well as different kinds of hay and grasses. At least she’ll know for sure and can decide if she can live with an allergy. Many allergies are mild, but if several types are involved at once they can build up to a bad reaction.

[Beka27]

Welcome here, Like the others said, I’d seek advice from the doctor. They can do tests to determine what she may be allergic to specifically. If the culprit is hay, you can sometimes use a different type of grass hay, or keep it contained and away from her. An air purifier in the bunny room may help. It would be important to have a “No Bunnies in the Bedroom” policy. You would have to be solely responsible for any hay handling/cleaning up. Another option, assuming she does not have very, very bad allergies, would be to purchase a small bag of hay and see if she has any reactions to it. We’ve had members go to shelters to handle multiple bunnies to check for possible reactions.

As far as her not wanting a bunny, I would suggest you maybe talk to her and figure out if it’s *really* an allergy thing, or if she just does not want one for whatever reason. Bunnies are wonderful pets (that’s why we’re all here ;o) but for the RIGHT PERSON… and if you are both not 100% committed to keeping the bunny thru thick and thin, it’s really not fair to make this decision only based on what you want. Rabbits are costly to care for, they require a lot of time and space, they can be destructive, and even well-littertrained bunnies can and do have accidents in the house. I think it’s great that you’re here and seeking out more information. Take your time and be sure that whatever decision you make, it’s the best one for you and your partner.

[Furface]

I think I may be mildly allergic to them. Unaltered buns really make me sneeze. Other than that I only sneeze a bit cleaning cages or brushing the dwarf lops. Those 2 are incredible shedders. I have recently adopted a rex & a reg sized lop. The reg sized lop, so far, doesn’t shed near as much as the dwarfs. The rex doesn’t seem to shed much at all, damp hands are enough to get the few loose hairs off him.

My father & brother are very rabbit allergic. I shower, change clothes & don’t pet anybody before getting in their cars.

[Samantha]

Thank you all for all the information! Sheesh I didnt expect such an outpouring. How wonderful! She definitely would be just as committed to having a bunny as me, it is just a matter of allergies. As a kid she had two bunnies and only remembers getting hives with one of them. If it is a matter or some sneezes, she will deal with it and would probably be happy to because she is just as much as a rodet lover as me (we have four chinchillas ). With that said, we know she isn;t allergic to timothy or alfalfa and most other “snack” hays. We are mostly decided as long as all goes well at the rescue. We are prepared to care for a bunny for the long hall

I am just a bit sad because the woman from our local rabbit rescue hasn’t gotten back to me : / (listen to me it has only been 1 day) but I am excited!!

I am located in NortherN New Jersey btw in case anyone knows of some bunnies that may need homes!

[ScooterandAnnette]

If she just got hives from one of them then it might be a case of being allergic to a particular kind of bunny. I’ve got a ton of allergies, and get hives from mohair and angora so I know there’s no way I’d be able to own an angora bunny (adorable though they are). But I’m fine with the 6 bunnies we’ve got.
– Annette

[jerseygirl]

*Gasp*  Sunflower!  Sunflower is in Rutherford NJ.  That’s northern isn’t it?  Lol    I spotted her during the week and posted her pic in the Lounge.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi

[Deb'sBuns]

I love Sunflower. I wish I could have her.

[BinkyBunny]

Welcome! My brother was allergic to bunnies when he was a kid, but he’s not as an adult (well not as much!). The other thing to think about though if you bring your partner to a shelter is to just see if you can be in one room with one bunny. My husband is not allergic to a couple of bunnies and a few racks of hay, but if he goes to a rabbit rescue with tons of rabbits and hay boxes, he does have an allergic reaction – itchy runny eyes, stuffed up nose, the whole nine yards.

Some shelters have a little room separated off where you can interact with an animal, but many rabbit rescues don’t have that luxury, so you may have to let them know ahead of time, so they can plan a place for the one on one interaction to happen.

Also, some people who are allergic to rabbits have less of a reaction to Rex rabbits. Their short velvet fur seems to be kinder for some allergies.

If your partner only shows a mild reaction, then maybe meds can help her, and the only thing you’d really have to watch is during molting. Rabbits molt several times per year, so you will want to brush and groom regularly during that time to keep the fur out of the air!

Good luck and keep us updated with what happens!

[MooBunnay]

I’m the same as BB’s husband – I’m OK at home (with my 8 bunnies) – but when I go the shelter I have a pretty bad allergy attack. I have a big problem with the hay. To keep the hay and fur from flying all around at home we have a couple air purifiers that we put near our bed and in the living room. I also usually recommend that people with hay allergies use covered cat litterboxes so that when the buns jump in and out of the hay it doesn’t go flying around the room.

[Samantha]

Sunflower is from the same rescue we are looking into! She is about 10 minutes away!

I am really getting excited but she hasnt gotten back to me : /

[BinkyBunny]

Bummer! I hope the rescue responds soon. I know it can get crazy sometimes on the weekends for shelters and rescues, so hopefully someone will get back to tomorrow.

[Deb'sBuns]

I hope you can get her. She is a beautiful bun.

[Samantha]

AHHH haha i am going nuts waiting for the woman to contact me. I have everything planned out perfectly (as with most things in my life) and now I only need the bunny. Otherwise, I will have the habitat and food and goods for no reason haha

[jerseygirl]

Are you just visiting to test your partners allergies or do you plan to take somebunny home? Certainly sounds like your ready for one. Keep an open mind and heart. The right bunny might pick you and it might not be one you thought you’d end up with. They have a way…..

[Samantha]

We are basically going there with the decision to get a bun as long as my partner doesnt die while we are there haha. If the allergies are mild to moderate, we will come home with one. We have 4 chinchillas and are both moderately allergic to their dust bath and we dont mind because we love them so much so it will be the same mentality. but the woman is not getting back to me I am starting to think she hates me without even meeting me haha it has been a week

[princessangrypeppers]

Maybe try fostering the rabbit before adopting? You’d be able to see if one rabbit will trigger her allergies, and also confirm that a rabbit is the right pet for you, without the commitment of adopting.

[Beka27]

Fostering is a great idea too!

[jerseygirl]

Any news?

[Samantha]

no they got back to us to fill out an application but since than (two weeks) we haven’t heard any news. I am anxious to have a bun bun after doing so much research and shopping!

[jerseygirl]

Many of these places are run by volunteers & I’m sure there is lots to do. I would go visit again just to see the rabbits, let them know your application is already submitted. How did your partner go with the allergies?

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