My brother is allergic to rabbits

[Stefan 'Geb']

As you can see for the title, my younger brother, may have an allergy to Ace, my 6-month old dwarf rabbit.
 He’s got a really bad cough and my parents took him to the doctor and said it was an allergy of some kind and the doctor said that we have to take any allergy-inducing factors, including pets.
 My father put Ace in his cage, which is about 2 times as long as his lenght and placed the cage outside. I really need some help, to know for sure if my brother is allergic to him or other factors, how to prevent the allergy-triggers and where to keep Ace if he truly is allergic to him.

[Bam]

Often it’s the hay, not the rabbit. I’m allergic to timothy hay, it makes me cough really bad. When I used timothy hay I coughed all night through. So I switched to oat hay.

Ace will need a bigger cage if he is to live outside. There are some requirements that must be met, he’ll need shelter from rain and wind and sunshine, he’ll need to be protected from mice and rats and predators etc. Do you have a garden?

[Stefan 'Geb']

Yes I do have a quite large garden, but it has trees from 2 to 2 meters. I tought of building a cage around an apricot tree. How do I test if it’s the hay that causes his alleegic reaction and will should I get a companion for Ace?

[Sr. Melangell]

Hi there, I was told years ago I was allergic to rabbits, what do I have at the side of me eating his breakfast? My Olly boy, a 3 year old rabbit, it was sawdust with me, Olly is allergic to sawdust too makes him sneeze, so that was it, Olly has blankets for bedding, as bam said she is allergic to Timothy hay, we are all allergic to something, usually my Doctor goes through what I’m not allergic to, there ere some hay cookies you can get, they are dust free, specially made for rabbits who sneeze because of hay and people, they are also easier to clean up after what does Ace use as a toilet? Does he have Carefresh Litter? Woodchips are good, they stop any tinkle smells and cleaned out everyday then it can stop smells going in the air making people sneeze, I’ve forgotten to change Olly’s litter and woken up sneezing because I can smell tinkle.

I’m just wondering, is he neutered? If not do you plan to get him neutered?

bam, just thought, do you think it could be bunny boy tinkle smell and might need his big boy operation? Ace is 6 months old, its just a thought, you know like male cats?

[Malia]

I had a rabbit as a kid and I was pretty allergic. I don’t know if it was to the fur or the urine. I was having difficulties with my asthma. The doctor told us to get rid of the rabbit. Well my parents took the rabbit out of my room and put him in a different room. But we kept him and I played with him every day while blowing my nose. It wasn’t that huge of a deal.

But everyone is different. But maybe moving the rabbit into a different room inside could help. If you don’t want to keep him outside. Removing the rabbit from his general environment should help determine if Ace is the source.

[sarahthegemini]

For a start your rabbit needs a bigger cage regardless of whether he is to live outside or not. Secondly he needs a hutch that will protect him from weather and predators. A cage simply won’t do. If he’s got to be outside, then a bonded friend would be best or he’s going to get very lonely.

[Stefan 'Geb']

Aces cage was used by him only as litter and feeding place while he was inside my room.
Parents keep insisting that he is the cause, although Ace has been kept outside for 2 days, my brother still has a naughty cough. I told them that its not him but something else and said that the allergic reaction takes even more time that 2 days, even though his allergic reaction to cats only lasts about 10 to 15 mins after the exposure.

[sarahthegemini]

Sounds like your parents have already decided that your rabbit is to blame regardless of there being evidence of the contrary :-/

I’m confused – if his cage was only used as a litter and food station inside, what is he in hutch wise now that he’s outside?

[Bam]

If your parents have decided your rabbit is the culprit, I think you’ll have to make him a good home outside. If your brother’s cough persists beyond a month or so, I’d say it’s pretty certain your bunny is not to blame. Do you know if he’s allergic to pollen? There’s lots of pollen about this time of year. 

An outdoors hutch needs to have a section that’s elevated off the ground. There needs to be shelter from wind, rain and direct sunshine. There must also be a place to hide in. The hide should have two door holes because buns don’t like feeling trapped.

Rabbits can dig (well, duh!) but predators can also dig, and many predators wants to eat a rabbit. It’s best if you can have netting on the ground, grass will grow through it.Predators can also come from the sky, so the run-part of the hutch must have a roof. Welded netting is the prefferred type of netting, chicken wire can come unwound if the rabbit or other animal breaks the wire in one place only. The dimension of netting should be small enough to keep rats out.

Heat is a big risk for bunnies, so the hutch should be placed in the shade. On hot days you’ll want to put frozen water bottles in the hutch so the bun can snuggle up to them and keep cool.

Here are lots of info and tips about outdoors housing: 

http://www.therabbithouse.com/outdoor/index.asp

[LittlePuffyTail]

Like Bam mentioned, a lot of people are more allergic to the hay than the rabbit. Try switching to Orchard Grass. A lot of allergic bunny peeps have had success with Oxbow Orchard Grass.

[Stefan 'Geb']

Let me tell you the story: My brother was coughing and my parents took him to the doctor. Doctor said that they should get rid of LITERALLY ANYTHING that my borther could be allergic to and thus, Ace was to be brought outside or even given away.
After we moved him out, they said that he’ll stay in his cage until after we come from our summer trip to the sea (~1 month), after my brother did his “treatment” from the salty air. After that, they will take him to the doctor to take the allergy tests and if it comes out negative regarding his allergy to Ace, he can move back in. But if it comes negative, they will give him away and my dad even said that even if there’s a 1% chance of him being allergic to Ace, he will give him away. Thats the long story short.
After 2 days, after seeing that my parents do NOT even want to find the cause of his allergies only in about a month, I kinda took matters in my own hands and concucted tests on my brother and what I found out that yes, he is allergic to hay, but they still dont believe me, although they SAW it.
Yesterday we went to the zoo (aswesome choice for someone who might be allergic to animals, right?) and there were some camels in their den and we crossed trough their den on a brodge which is was at about the camels neck height. One camel was getting closer to us and I noticed that he had hay on his back. As soon as it came close, my brother started coughing. MY PARENTS WERE THERE THIS TIME ASWELL…
On our way home, I talked to my dad about the incident and that its not Ace that he is alergic to, but hay. He said, he doesnt want to talk about this anymore. Im getting the feeling that they want to get rid of Ace, sadly
What arguments should I use? since none of mine worked aparently. I really dont want to give Ace up, since I really built a relationship between us and in addition, I have no other friend in my vicinity.

[sarahthegemini]

Tbh if your parents really have no care for this rabbit then I doubt anything you say could convince them. They clearly want rid which brings me to my question – why did they allow/agree to him in the first place if they are so keen to kick him out??

[vanessa]

Is there anyway you coudl ask the doctor to recommend a hay test – if there is such a thing?

[Bam]

There are tests for timothy and other types of grass, timothy is always included in an allergy test because it’s very well known to provoke allergic reactions. But it might be that your brother is allergic to both rabbits and timothy. I’m allergic to cats and when I was young they said I shouldn’t be around any furry animals – but that’s not the modern day approach.

Do you think you can find Ace a good new home? Are there no kill shelters near you that could take him in? If you explain about your brother and that’s it’s your parents’ decision, they’d understand that you have to give Ace up through no fault of your own.

[Hazel]

Sounds like your parents are eager to get rid of him, I’m sorry. Hopefully the allergy test will confirm that it’s the hay he’s allergic to, not your bun. But I think even then your parents might make you get rid of him anyway rather than trying to find a different hay. You shouldn’t give up of course, but I think it’s important to think about what you will do if you aren’t allowed to keep him. Do you know anyone that might be willing to give him a good home? Or start getting in contact with your local no kill shelters as bam said. I would hate for your parents to go over your head, post an ad on Craigslist and give him to whoever. Sadly this happens often, the child comes home and the pet has been given away while they were gone.

[Sr. Melangell]

Got an Idea, can a relative have him nearby so you can visit and take care of him? I’d hate to hear that Ace has gone because of this, does your brother like Ace? If he does he could say he doesn’t want him to leave, they might listen then, it does sound a little one sided and sadly it does happen in families sometimes, I’ve seen it and been through it many times (Being the middle one of an older sister and younger brother) I’m sure your mum and dad love you, my story is different, but is not time to talk about that, so if a relative or family friend nearby can give him a room or space to play so you can visit him that would be good for you and Ace so you can see Ace and keep the bond going..

[Stefan 'Geb']

Thanks to everyone for taking time to type your answers.
Yes, my little brother does really like Ace. He keeps asking my dad if he’s allowed to pet him or play with him, and the answer is always “No! Dont you know that you are alergic to him!?”
Sadly, I’ve no relative that would be willing to take him in… Sadly, in Romania, so many people have absolutely no mercy for animals. Everyone I know that keep animals are only kept for food or sadly, dogs that are kept in 1m square cages or a bit larger, and even sadder, they always say that “They are just animals” and that “They should get used to be kept in cages”.
On the good side though, I’ve managed to convince my parents to let Ace the whole on our terrace, which is 4 square meters large.

[vanessa]

That’s at least good news. I’m sorry you are in this situation. It doesn’t sound easy.

[Sr. Melangell]

I’m so glad he can go on the Terrace, does that mean he’s there for good? I hope so.

[Author]

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