Alternatives to Hay?

[BunnyOwner]

I recently got diagnosed with a life threatening allergy to the grass and wheat family.

I was hospitalized for it. I can’t even touch the hay without my skin swelling. 

What can I give my rabbit besides hay? 

[LBJ10]

Well, you could do legumes. But too much alfalfa can cause issues in some bunnies.

[LBJ10]

Rabbits can eat seagrass too, but it isn’t really sold as hay. More as woven rabbit toys.

[jerseygirl]

Tough situation! Were you given a list of specific grasses you are allergic too? Or is it absolutely all?

[BunnyOwner]

To be honest my allergist was not happy about me having an indoor rabbit with my allergy. I didn’t discus it further because I refuse to get rid of my bunny.
I can’t have any wheat/wheat grass or common grasses used for lawns. Lemon grass and anything grown near wheat it considered a risk. I could pull up a list of grass families but I’m not sure how that would help. I’m frustrated.

[Azerane]

I’m sorry to hear that, must be tough. I can’t really think of anything given that you’re allergic to all grasses.

You could feed alfalfa, or even increase pellet intake for the extra fibre and just be sure to feed lots of leafy greens. But I’d actually recommend discussing it with your vet. They might have some ideas as to what you can try. I’m assuming that even compressed hay cubes are out the question.

[jerseygirl]

BunnyOwner, are you in the US? UK? Or another region?

[BunnyOwner]

I Should update.
I finally got a hold of my Rabbits vet. She wasn’t too happy about my question. Unfortunately, my allergies are life threatening and I simply can’t have any wheat in my house.(Not even mixed pellets) According to my vet he wont be the healthiest rabbit…but In my mind it’s better than abandoning him.

I’m allergic to peanuts too, so I do have a chance that I might become allergic to alfalfa. For now I wear gloves when filling his “bowl”. He’s on a alfalfa diet and I’m to alternate a variety of fresh vegetables weekly. This is the advice his vet gave me.

I bought some alfalfa cubes but he threw a giant tantrum with them. He would dump them into his water and protest. He does eat just the plain dried alfalfa(thankfully).

@Jerseygirl I’m in the states. Thank you for all the comments everyone.

[Azerane]

I understand your vet not being happy (they’re concerned primarily with the animal’s health and well-being) but I’m glad that she is working with you. With pellets, I’d be inclined to find one with the highest crude fibre available so that he gets as much fibre as possible which he would otherwise get from hay. A wide variety of leafy greens should work well too. You’ll have to let us know how things go

I’m also sorry to hear about your allergies, that must make things tough.

[vanessa]

Wow that’s tough. Other than grass and pellets, you could research suitable forbes for bunnies. As in legumes, leafs, weeds, etc. For example, other than the typical salad veggies (soft veggies), bunnies can eat borage leafs, mint, dandelion, lamb quarters, etc. All those things have fiber. However – I woud recommend a vet visit starting every 3 months, then you can space it out, untill you get an idea of how long yoru bunnies teeth can go before needing to be filed, which will happen without tough fibrous back-molar chewing.
Do you have that list of grass families?

[Author]

Messages