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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A I am allergic to rabbits?

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    • DutchRabbitsFtw
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        Hi again guys! Thanks so much for answering all my other questions on my last post! I really appreciate it. But now I have some bad news, so I went to the allergist yesterday to check if i was allergic to rabbits (and other things, because i went to this pet store to visit this rescue rabbit and i started wheezing and my voice was hoarse, and it was bad… but i dont know if it was cause of the rabbit? or other animals, because it was similar to petland with the open top cages and stuff, but it wasnt petland) so it could have been the ferrets, birds, hedgehog, chinchilla? 

         

        but when i did the test on my back the “size” of it was 6mm. and if its over 3mm then im allergic, but i mean 3 compared to 6 isnt that big ._. my reaction towards guinea pigs and horses were also 6mm but ive ridden horses before and i HAD A GUINEA PIG TOO, and NO reaction whatsoever. so i dont really know? and i’ve visited other rabbits i was interested in the past 2 months; around 5-6 rabbits. and i never sneezed, coughed, wheezed, or anything. NOTHING. except the second to last time i visited this rabbit my throat felt irritated as if there was a hair stuck in my throat, which could be possible because he was shedding a LOT. but then after i visited him i went to this other pet store (like a week later) and i felt the throat irritations and then my voice changed and then i started to wheeze and sneeze (a litte), but i was petting and holding all of the animals so i dont really know what caused that reaction. but i really want a rabbit, i’ve wanted one for three years! i even got the nic grids set up in my room. but this week we are going to see if my moms allergic to rabbits, and if its over 6mm then i guess i’ll have to get another pet /: … what should i do? i mean the doctor said to take allergy pills EVERYDAY for 1-2 months, and after 1-2 months i’ll go back to the allergist and if the medicine worked then i’ll either keep taking the medicine or get allergy shots. but i dont mind -.-… any advice?? thanks! btw i am extremely allergic to cats and my “reaction size” was 23mm… 23mm vs 6mm is NOTHING… -.- advice would be helpful! thanks


      • Sarita
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          In my opinion, if you have this reaction and you don’t have the rabbit, I wouldn’t risk getting the rabbit. Because not only could it be the rabbit, it could be the hay, the bedding, etc…

          And if you discover that once you get the rabbit home and have these reactions, you will have to give the rabbit back and frankly that won’t be good for the rabbit and it will be hard for you.


        • Roberta
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            Bugger… Allergies, Now there’s something I can relate too. Gluten intolerance, gave up bread, gluten and wheat products and I have lost 18 of the nearly 30 kilo’s I gained. But here’s the thing. I thought it was eggplant but due to a really strange set of circumstances … It turns out it was gluten, Eat clean for a day and rub some hay on your skin. wait another day, rub some bunny on your skin. (tell the pet shop owners what you’re doing or the are going to think you’re a freak). It could also be a dander allergy if there were kittens and puppies there.


          • FrankieFlash
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              Well I had a similar scare AFTER I got my rabbit but there might be hope for you too! First I found out the main reaction was the timothy hay. I and everyone in my family are allergic to it. So my bun is on Orchard Hay which is one of the more recommended for allergies (so my mom says who researched it). And I always wash my hands after dealing with hay or my bun (I have to do it for all animals). Second, one more investment made live happier with my bun… an air filter. I’m a high allergy person too. Allergic to everything including dust and mold and every furry animal. So having an air filter in the room I share with the Bun has made my life better (and my boyfriend).

              If possible, I would try visiting a rabbit in a secluded environment. Away from their hay, their old bedding (most pet stores put rabbits on pine shavings which I am allergic to) and hold him and if your up for it, put him near your face or another sensitive area. This will give you a realistic idea if its the rabbit or something about it’s environment which you can change. I did it, no reaction except to a scratch which is normal for me anyway. IMO one allergy attack is better than always being miserable with allergies or giving up your dream to own a bun. Because it was something I dreamed of too.

              I live happily with my bun now and spend several hours a day petting him and I’m trying to train him to give kisses


            • DutchRabbitsFtw
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                Thanks for all the help! and yeah i dont want to risk getting a bunny and then realizing i have to go to the ER at 5am cause i cant breathe… BUT i mean if its just something ‘slight’ and if i would be okay with medication then i will definitely take medication everyday (i sort of have to, but for 2 months only, but i can continue if it works)

                and hmm maybe frankieflash! but i am not sure as the rabbit had no bedding (just a grass mat, which took up most of the space, a litter box anddd a little hidey house, the hay was on top of the grass mat), but i am not sure as the allergist tested for rabbits specifically; not hay /: but who knows! i was looking at air filters and i am interested in getting one! and yeah it would be so horrible to not get a rabbit /: but i also have to think of my dog who at the moment NEEDS to get an anal squeezing and ear cleaning and a dental. later on after shes done all those (maybe a month later) i have to get her spayed. but shes 7 years old so i need to hurry(i found her on the streets a few years ago and i always thought it was too late but someone told me that it wasnt too late at all!)… maybe i could get her spayed first and then ask if they could do the anal squeezing and ear cleaning while shes there… and then get the dental some other time cause i dont want to over whelm her! but that alone will be around 600$. and i cant get BOTH the rabbit and help my dog. unless my grandparents can help us out… but they absolutely HATE animals and even told my mom to get rid of my yorkie and border collie when i was around 7… -.-…


              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                  I completely ditto Sarita. It’s not fair to the rabbit to get one and have to give it up. It also creates demand (from where you get the rabbit from, they will get another) and stress on the rescue system (putting an animal into a shelter or rehoming to a person who will then not adopt from a shelter) -when you give up a pet you are creating TWO more that need homes in reality.

                  I know you desperately want a rabbit, and thus want to downplay, even to yourself, your allergies. But I don’t think trial and error is the way to go. If you think you could ‘tough through it’ and want to have a rabbit-sign on at a shelter to be a foster home. That way if you do have serious complications you can just give the rabbit back-no harm no foul. AND if it works out-you have just trialed a rabbit and may decide to keep him or her


                • DutchRabbitsFtw
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                     Oh yeah I guess that makes sense; and i am not really sure if i want to foster rabbits. i mean sure they are great and all but i don’t think fostering would be right. i dont have any experience with them BUT i am very knowledgable on rabbits, but there has to be a first for everything right? lol. oh well i guess i’ll just think some more on this


                  • Sam and Lady's Human
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                      I have to agree with Sarita and Kokanee, you’re fortunate that you know about your allergy now and not have to find out after the fact like others. Allergies can be really serious, if you’re already at the point where you’re wheezing after a short visit, owning one isn’t really a responsible option.


                    • DutchRabbitsFtw
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                        Well like i said, i dont know if it was the rabbit. there were lots of animals there (but no cats or dogs) and they all had open top cages so you can pet them, so im guessing that pet dander was everywhere so i really dont know. they also said i was allergic to horses and guinea pigs (same reaction size as rabbits) and ive ridden horses and i even had a guinea pig; no reaction whatsoever… i also have used carefresh, timothy hay, and aspen bedding before, and i wasnt allergic to those. so ugh ._.


                      • FrankieFlash
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                          I think K&K had a good suggestion. I wouldn’t give up completely. Even if you find you are mildly allergic where you can’t live with them but you can comfortably spend a couple hours with them you could always volunteer at a rabbit shelter and spend time with them that way. Don’t give up on allergies yet. I’ve had the back test done when I was a kid and I reacted to all of our pets but at different severity. I’m first hand experience that you can live with animals you allergic too but it really comes down to how you react with the animal in question. And it would be really hard on you, on top of the bun and the shelter to get one and have to give it up. So I think you’ve made the right choice on waiting. But don’t give up. Research is always good


                        • RabbitPam
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                            An allergist’s tests are the best way to know if you have one, and you’ve done that. Unfortunately, it is showing up for you. I think it would be helpful, since you’re seeing him anyway, to get tested for other things like grasses, hay, dust etc. I know that I have slight allergies to molds and some grasses, but don’t have hay fever or animal allergies. But I did develop allergies to perfumes.

                            The reason it is worse some times is that allergies have a threshold. That means that you can be allergic to say, 3 things: bunnies, mold and eggs just for example. So, you hold a bunny, maybe cough a bit, but no problem really. Then it rains outside and the mold gets active and growing, the windows open and your sinuses fill up. Then your mother hands you an egg salad sandwich for lunch and whammo – you’re off to the emergency room with hives.
                            It’s dramatic, but that’s how allergies work, they build up and combine. So I would recommend that you avoid the animals as pets that you already know you can’t have. You can get allergy shots but it’s an expensive treatment and sometimes needs to be repeated.
                            Have you tested for birds? They are social. Also fish are fascinating, and iguanas or chameleons are reptiles so won’t have fur. I didn’t see if you tested for dogs and cats yet.
                            (Baby brothers make good pets, too. Tell your mom. )


                          • FrankieFlash
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                              lmao pam your last comment got me. That was a good one!


                            • Elrohwen
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                                Did you get tested for grasses? I find that more people are allergic to the hay than to the actual rabbits. My husband can’t handle the hay, but he’s fine with the rabbits. I’m the one with bad allergies and have been on shots for more years than I can count, though I don’t have problems with the hay (I do test positive for a timothy grass allergy). I guess what I’m saying is that it’s really hard to tell. I would definitely spend time with a rabbit in someone’s home where there aren’t a million other pets around, that would be helpful. Your allergic reaction at the pet store could’ve been to anything or any type of animal, so I think you need to get more experience being around rabbits to see if that’s really your issue. A temporary foster could also be a great solution because you can learn about whether you’re allergic or not while also giving the rabbit a temporary home out of the shelter (and if things work out, it could be a permanent home).

                                I live with allergies to pretty much all plants and animals and I still have pets and spend time outdoors, so having allergies isn’t the end of the world – you just need to learn how to manage them and avoid the things that cause very bad reactions. I can definitely recommend shots as well, since I’m far better with cats now than I was before I started them.

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                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A I am allergic to rabbits?