HELP! :/

[bunnyfever]

I’ve had my two lops for about 9 months now. After a few months, the allergens really started to bother me. I wake up in the morning barely being able to breath.  Unfortunately, I still live with my parents.  My father is REALLY allergic to them. He has taken every allegry medication under the sun. He has bought numerous air filters, we have them all over the house now, but, nothing has helped.  It has come to the point now where he is just making me get rid of them. I love my buns so much.  The allergens do bother me too but i can handle it a little easier.  I live in Buffalo, NY, so it is pretty cold out during this time of the year. Is it safe to keep them outdoors if i give them plenty of blankets, and keep them out of the wind/snow.  I would still visit them everyday and play with them as much as possible. I couldn’t do this if they bunnies will suffer but I read somewhere that they can adapt easily to being outside. I’m just trying to come up with some solution FAST. I have even considered getting rid of one of the bunnies, and keeping the one I am most attached to. This causes another problem,  I don’t know where to take the bunnies. I’m afraid the SPCA would just try putting them to sleep because they have not been “fixed” yet.  This problem has been driving me crazy for a long time.  My time is running out, my father wants them gone like today or tomorrow.  I need help. Anyone have any ideas?

[Beka27]

i think it would be more responsible and kind to your bunnies to find them a new home where they could be house rabbits. rabbits can be kept outside, but there’s a whole list of reasons why it’s just not a good idea. Buffalo, NY is known for their awful winters right? literally several feet of snow at time? i definitely don’t feel that would be a good situation for them.

are there any rabbit rescues near you, or within reasonable driving distance that you could contact? i feel you’re going to need more than a day to get this figured out.

[bunnyfever]

I would never let them sit in snow. They would be on my porch, close to the house, out of the snow and wind.  I would keep tons of blankets and everything else they would need.  I LOVE my bunnies, I let them roam around in my room and keep them well fed and loved.  I am just having an extremely hard time attempting to part with them. I don’t even know where to find them a good home. I can’t trust just anybody with them. I need help, not someone trying to tell me I’m not responsible! What can I do? Worse case scenario, where do you go about finding a good home? Someone that will hold them, cuddle them, feed them, let them play in the house, clip their nails, pet them.  I just don’t know anyone that would take good care of them as I have.  I fear taking them to a shelter or SPCA where they will sit in a small cage.

[Sarita]

Is it possible that it is the hay that you and your father are allergic too? Are you feeding them timothy hay…that is supposed to be the hay that many people are allergic too but there are other grass hays as well.

[bunnyfever]

Thanks for your reply. yes, I am feeding them timothy hay… but… I don’t think thats what’s causing the allergies, because we had a guinea pig for years who ate that too and we didn’t have allergy problems with him or the hay then. I know – weird – since bunnies and guinea pigs are “cousins” its strange we werent allergic to him, but we are really allergic to the bunnies.

 

This is a problem that has been ongoing for months – weve tried various solutions – vacuuming constantly, expensive air filtration units, medication,…but it keeps getting worse. The reason Im at my wits end today and know its time to take action is because its at the point where my parents are fighting really bad over it now, because my dad is so sick from the allergies its all he ever talks about and hes almost getting paranoid from it, and my mom cant deal with how hes acting anymore. They said a few months ago I needed to get rid of them but Im having a really hard time going through with it, mostly because I dont want my bunnies to end up with the wrong people. When I took them as my pets I made a pact to look out for them for life and make sure they get everything they need, and now that Im attached to them on top of that moral responsibility I find it so hard to just give them to the SPCA or to someone off of craigslist, because I dont think most people understand how much attention bunnies need and the amount of responsibility that goes into them. And yes Ive asked just about everyone I know if they would be willing to take care of one or both, and no one can.. so its at the point where Im forced to either keep them outside (or on the enclosed porch – but only one could fit there), or surrender them…but Im not sure my SPCA even accepts bunnies.

 

There is a rabbit rescue program in my area, but they do not accept surrenders because they coudlnt handle the overload. Only abused bunnies or those in great danger/unfit living conditions are accepted. its so sad, I know a lot of people give up their bunnies because they take too much time or work, but I actually have to look into this for a serious reason and there are no good options because of all the people who give up bunnies because they are too lazy or busy to take care of them.

 

 

 

 

[Beka27]

i understand you’re distraught so that may be why you misread my reply, or i may have been unclear. ;o)

i did not say YOU were irresponsible. in fact, you are VERY responsible b/c you are trying hard to come up with a solution for a difficult problem.

what i said in my post, or what i meant to say is this: i feel personally, if i were in your situation (serious allergies and no possiblility of keeping bunnies in the house) i would choose to rehome to a loving home where they’d be cared for indoors, safe from predators big and small and dangerous temperature fluctuations… i cannot recommend you keep your bunnies outside. i know others on this site do for various reasons, or some have in the past and not had bad experiences, but my personal position is that i would not do that.

you are correct tho that it is not easy to rehome. you do not know what kind of home they will be going to. not many people are out there looking for house rabbits, or if they do, they purchase from petstores or breeders. since they are not altered, that will not help you either. anyone who decides to provide them a home, would need to pay to have them fixed. rehoming to good people can take months. i do believe you’re in betw/ a rock and a hard place at this point. are there any friends or other family that would be willing to keep them temporarily until you could rehome?

[Sarita]

I don’t think there are any easy or right answers to your situation. I think if you do have to rehome them then you can only due your due diligence by screening the applicants, asking for an adoption fee and doing a home check to see where your rabbits are going.

I personally could not put my rabbits outside but I’m also not in your situation where you may be forced to because it is your parents home. Are they a bonded pair? You mention that you only have room for one is that because they are separate because they are not altered and the same sex?

SPCA’s are different all over the country – ours is a limited intake shelter which basically means they do not euthanize an animal to make room for another animal…is your SPCA not like that? I understand too about your concern that they will be in a cage but that may even be the case at a rabbit rescue as well. I think at this point you should at least call and talk to the SPCA about their policies and see if they take rabbits and if not if they can recommend a group that can help you if they cannot take because they usually have alot of rescources.

I know you are having a tough time with this.

[BinkyBunny]

Oye, this is a tough spot to be in. I know around here that the humane societies and spca are considered a no kill shelter. Meaning they will not euthanize healthy adoptable animals. I also know though that you want the best for your bunnies and you want to make sure that they get the best care. i agree with Beka not to put them outside and that you are being responsible trying to find what is best for them.

i also agree with Sarita if you do decide to rehome them then just to go through screening questions. Just start asking around, and ask your parents to ask around and maybe you will find a friend, a co-worker of one of your parents that might end up being a good match.

Another options is: is there any room in the house – a guest bedroom or where they can stay? And to keep the allergins down, have a filter in that room so that when you are walking in and out of it, less particles will come out with you. (and of course keep the door closed). You can also have your “bunny’ clothes…meaning, have a t-shirt and pair of sweats that you use to hang out with them, and then change out of those clothes when you leave the room. Also, be sure to wash your hands after your done feeding, cleaning and hanging out with them.

Just a thought!

[JK]

Hay! I urge you to give orchard grass hay a try. My bunny sitter is extremely allergic to timothy hay and she asked me to switch to orchard grass.  She has no trouble with the orchard hay at all.  It’s worth a try because many many people are allergic to timothy hay. I agree with the others - try and find a good home for the buns.  The oudoors in New York is no place for indoor bunnies. Is there a local chapter of the House Rabbit Society that you could contact?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hi and Welcome-sorry it’s a sad topic that got you here!

My advice would be to get rid of the timothy hay and try another kind. Give it a couple days if you can. Then if not, try finding them a new home. I’m definitely strongly of the opinion that rabbit’s shouldn’t be kept outside, not only temp and predators but they can get ‘fly strike’ ‘vhd’ or ‘myxi’ and you cannot prevent bugs from getting to them-(bugs carry those/cause those);
Try to rehome with someone you know, if that doesn’t work put some ads up online or in the paper. Asking an adoption fee, whether you decide to accept money or not will weed out some. You might try contacting the rabbit rescue even though they don’t take surrenders, they may be able to help you anyways (may have a foster home, know someone looking for lops, or just have room to help out!)

Good luck and keep us posted!

[bunnyfever]

Thank you all so much for your replies. Right now I have the timothy hay in the back hallway which is separate from the rest of the house and closed off. I also like the bunny clothes idea and am going to try that too.

Another thing we noticed was that…the first few months I had them no one had ANY problems with them.. I think this is because I had the air conditioner running those months, which blew a lot of the air from the room they are in outside. It was right around when we stopped turning it on in september that the allergies started up!!!

[jerseygirl]

I would still give the hay switch a go too. Even though you had no probs with Tim hay before, you and the family may have had a mild reaction that wasn’t that noticable then. Sometimes reintroducing the allergen can triggger a worse response. Also, the hay can vary thru the seasons. So fresher, just cured hay Tim hay may cause allergies, or even drier and dustier hay.Try one that is know to be allergy friendly (Orchard, Oat?)

Also, if you do suspect the fur may be the culprit, maybe try an daily outdoors grooming session. Wear specific clothing just for this and maybe a face mask. There’s been some discussions on good grooming brushes in another thread. This one looks promising http://www.hairbuster.com     If you do attempt these measures be sure to throughly clean thru house to remove possible allergens first.

I really do hope you can resolve this and can keep your beloved buns. If however, you do need to rehome them, maybe people would be more open to temporarily boarding or fostering the pair. Perhaps you could offer to provide food & housing in exchange for a temporary home until you can find them a suitable permanent home.

[skunklionshow]

I agree w/ Binky…is there an extra room in the house or can you set up a bunny habitat in the basement w/ a safe heater?  I also agree w/ the trying orchard grass instead of Timothy.

Often allergies, for some, get worse in the winter since we close up our houses.  Therefore, dust, mites, and pet hair tend to be less tolerable as everything is confined into an enclosed/ unventilated area.  Another issue, most allergy meds do not provide similar relief b/t indoor & outdoor allergens.  Many times indoor allergy people suffer more than outdoor b/c most meds are primarily for the something-tines that are found in outdoor allergens.

Another allergy option could be allergy shots.  These tend to be very effective for indoor allergy & pet hair or dander allergies.  If dad has insurance this could be an option, especially if he’s willing to try just a few more things.

Also, I’ve taken in numerous strays over the years.  I’ve often been able to find placements in no-kill shelters by agreeing to pay for the pet’s care/supplies for the time they are there.  I did this in situations where I could NOT accommodate an additional animal in the home.  The fees varied and some shelters were content w/ me providing monthly kitty litter and food.  Just a thought, they also loved when I would volunteer as well.  Please keep us all posted on your predicament.

[Pancake]

How’s it going?

[bitterepiphany]

M and I both have allergies. When we went through the process of getting the bunny, we went to the pet store and snuggled their bunnies before we went to the shelter and got Meco. Of course, the minute we got her and her supplies home our allergies went NUTS.

Two things are at play with our allergies, the hay – which we’re both so allergic to – and the overall amount of dander and dust that a rabbit brings in with her fur and her carefresh.

The first thing we did was dispose of the notion of keeping her on bedding. We threw out the bedding she had in her cage and I made her two polar fleece blankets that we put on the cage floor to absorb anything she might “leave behind.” We made two sets so we can have one in the wash and one in the cage at all times.

The second thing we did was buy some stupid masks from walmart to wear when we’re doing any massive hay handling. The third thing we did was put the hay in a rubbermaid tub so that it’s air sealed and hid it in a closet far far from our clothes. Instead, she gets her hay in a fry basket (like they give you at diners, I picked one up at a thrift store) and when it’s near empty, we refill it….on the patio…then bring it back inside. It keeps the dust from settling indoors.

Then, in my experience with my hamsters, bought some of the all white, bleached carefresh. I know the grey natural is less expensive and also better for the environment, but it’s higher in dust particles than the bleached, so I won’t buy it. I figure it’s better for both of us.

We also make sure to brush the rabbit on a regular basis and then clean the brush out. She’s not allowed on furniture we sleep on of course, because that helps to ease things for us a bit.

In my experience with pets in the past, filters are great, but ionizing filters can actually be worse for people who have asthma and allergies because they mess with the actual nature of the air. I know an ionizing filter makes it harder for me to breathe. We do all of the above for the rabbits cage, we vacuum the carpet twice a week with a hepa vacuum, we wash our sheets weekly and make sure that any blanket that comes downstairs in the vicinity of the bunny gets washed on a weekly basis.

Of course, I still need allergy medication occasionally – certainly more than I would if I didn’t have the bunny – but it’s no where near as bad as it could be – maybe once a week if I snorgle the bunny or if M does the hay in the house instead of outside.

Also, you may want to try an allergen reducing spray.

You may already be doing all of these things, but I just thought I would offer the suggestion

[skunklionshow]

Bitter:  That’s some excellent suggestions/advice!!!!  I just wonder, what made you decide to get rabbits w/ all your allergies?  Did you just figure that you wanted a pet and damn the allergies?  I’m just curious.  It sounds like a lot of work, but I’m sure you get a lot from your bunny bond.

[bitterepiphany]

I’m a pet girl. In fact, when I left my parents house, I left behind the sweetest morkie the world has ever known because no complex around here with reasonable rent would allow us to have a dog. She lives with them, and her sister Lucy, and since I’ve left I think my father has bonded to her so much that he wouldn’t let her go if we moved tomorrow.

So, me, I’ve wanted a pet since we moved, and then a few months ago M said that I could have a pet, as long as he could name it Meco. So I did some research on the kinds of pets that would be conducive to our lifestyle. Ferrets and Sugar Gliders have that whole skunk gland thing going for them, hamsters are too small and squeaky, as are guinea pigs. Dogs are out of the question. If you bring a cat within 15 feet of either of us we can no longer see or breathe. Lizards lack the “cuddle” factor and I am an asthma sufferer with weird levels of compassion, so fish were out of the question. Hedgehogs stab you…. The long and short of it is I went through pages and pages of reasearch on the internet to find a pet that would work best for us before we went to the pet store to meet bunnies and see if they were something that I might be able to live with.

Living alone, well, living with M was the first time I’d ever lived without a tremendous amount of dust, dander and mold (my parents had an OLD house with OLD insulation…the work still goes on to gut the walls and replace them appropriately) so it was the first time in my life I didn’t need a daily allergy regimine for my indoor allergies. With the rabbit, I can get by taking something only once a week or so as long as we follow the above precautions and I make sure to wash my hands after we put her away for the evening and not touch my eyes in between.

She’s a peach, and I really can’t imagine the two of us lasting all that long without having a pet.

[bunnytowne]

Hmm are u sure it isn’t an outdoor allergy bothering y’all?   Since you opened the windows it started up.  Can you and your Dad get tested for allergies to see what it is you are allergic too?

that is such rough situation to be in.

[Pancake]

How’s everything bunnyfever?

[skunklionshow]

I completely understand the want of some mammal love despite allergies.  Though I have 2 geckos and they do like a little bit of a cuddle every now & then.

Have you had a whole allergy battery test?  You might be surprised at some of the things that cause you allergies, besides the usually suspects (i.e. bunnies).  My bro had allergy shots for years and now lives w/ cats & dogs.  He needs a pills every now & then but that’s it.  My other thought is to adjust your home where/when you can…..we have sea grass rugs & wood floors instead of carpet, leather couch instead of cloth, and shades instead of curtains.  All those things are allergen/ dust collectors so they tend to be worse for allergy sufferers.

Good luck w/ the allergies…..Long Live Mammal Lovers!!!!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

WOW Bitter those are some FANTASTIC tips!!! You are a really dedicated animal lover to go through all that for your bunny And your M must be very kind too to help out like that with allergies as well!

[Nicci607]

how is everything going???

you should get tested for allergies to find out the exact cause.

once you guys know you can get immunotherapy which will make you immune to the allergens for good!!

btw: I have allergies to hay and used timothy hay before. since I have switched to orchard grass hay the allergies are not gone but better.

 

[BinkyBunny]

I agree with KK, bitterpiphany, those are excellent tips – i have added your post the FAQ section under Allergies for quick future reference.

[bitterepiphany]

Thanks Binky! I’m happy to have helped. I suffer from about every kind of allergy their is. (Really, I can’t go anywhere without my eyedrops, inhaler, topical cream and pills. It’s pathetic.) To be honest, doing this to have Meco didn’t seem like that much of a production. Possibly because EVERYTHING new in my life is this much of a production.

The trick is in knowing what you’re actually allergic to. Which is why we played with a rabbit at the store before we brought it home. My allergies to the rabbit itself are non-existent from what I can tell. I still wash my hands after touching her but if I hold her and her fur and whoseywhatsits get on my sweater, I can wear the sweater for days without a reaction (except from my boss who wants to know why I’m so furry.) If you can go to a place where you’re allergies are non existent and expose yourself to the allergens. (In my case place = “home” and allergens = “hay/carefresh/food”) one at a time, giving each an opportunity to clear from your environment and your system before you expose to the next, you can learn what needs to be handled with extreme caution and, in some cases, not at all. For us, it’s the hay. But we also learned that in small quantities in her cage, already shaken out – OUTSIDE – the hay isn’t really all that severe a problem for me. Though, I’ve noticed, if she rolls around or romps in it and I pet her shortly after…and then I touch my face in anyway – I’m paying the price.

I’ve never been one for expensive allergy testing.

<—really just hates needles. but pretends it's the principle.

In my case, I found out I was allergic to pears because I ate one and was miserable for the next 45 minutes until my allergy pills kicked in. Allergies let you know they’re there Which is why when I buy soap (hand, shower, shampoo, dish, laundry) I have to open it, at the store, put a few drops on the back of my hand, let them dry…and then wander around the store for 20 more minutes to see if anything goes awry…because we never did figure out exactly which chemicals trigger the reactions. I do the same with fruits. I buy one. Try it and see what happens. You see, my father was actually designated Medic-Alert child of 1970-something or other because he had so many annoying but completely non-lethal allergies. The only lethal allergy we’ve discovered to share is Vodka, and I can live without that, thank you kindly I certianly wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who has a kid wiht allergies and wants to test out peanuts by any means

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