I tried googling and searching the boards, but I didn't see anyone else reporting this, so I"ll ask. Forgive me if I've missed something.

We have a rescue mutt, Mya, who does well with the rabbits. She is a very chill dog and the new rabbits seem to regard her as a stupid rabbit. The buns have no problems going right up to her, jumping on her, nosing her, etc. The dog just tries to sleep through it all, the most aggressive move the dog has made is to get up and sulk off to her bed. I thought things were going perfectly!

But now the dog, Mya, has developed very red puffy and irritated eyes and muzzle and paw pads. She has been licking and scratching like mad. Could she be allergic to bunnies? Maybe allergic to the hay we've brought in for them? We haven't changed the dog's diet or anything else for the dog since we acquired Lady and Poobah.

I checked both doggy and bunnies for fleas - haven't seen any, but I guess that doesn't mean they aren't there. The bunnies have nice, dense glossy fur. They don't scratch. The dog has never had a problem before this. Ideas?

I would have a vet check her out - it may just be coincidence that she is having these symptoms and you just got the rabbits.

PLEASE be careful with your dog around the rabbits and make sure they are never left out together too - very risky for your rabbits if she just ever snaps. Someone just posted about her rabbit and dog situation that ended in tragedy and I've heard many other stories with sad endings for rabbits and owners with dogs.

I agree that a vet is needed to diagnose this. It sounds like it could be a contact rash, like from poison ivy or something he may have gotten into outside, or even an illness. He comes into contact with many things, so I think a rabbit allergy may be low on the list of possibilities. You want to rule out pests, too. If he does need flea meds, use the brand that is safe for bunnies too. (It's Revolution, or Advantage.) You use a kitten dose for bunnies, not a puppy dose. Don't use it until your dog has seen the vet, however.

The soonest the vet could see the dog is tomorrow because we have to see the dermatologist. They don't think she has fleas. She seems to be getting itchier and redder, so maybe it's seasonal? When the dog is walked, we walk on the sidewalk and she is only allowed to potty in our yard. My husband is having allergy problems now too. I guess we'll see what they find tomorrow. She looks so miserable!

My parents' dog has this problem every single year in late August and early September. He has seasonal allergies. They are sometimes able to control it by giving him doses of Benadryl - but often when it gets to a more advance stage, he requires steroids - not fun. I'm sure your vet will have an answer - I'm guessing it is coincidence that it is timed about the time you got your buns...