Many owners tell us that they can no longer keep their rabbit because they or someone else in the household is allergic, or developed allergies, to the rabbit. Try to keep this, and the fact that rabbits need hay as part of their daily diet, in mind before you get a rabbit.

Here are some coping strategies that our members with allergies use to help them continue to live happily with their rabbits.
It's a typical morning: the bunnies chase me around, tripping me up while I make coffee. I pick up Theo, the most squeezable of my rabbits, and bury my face in that silky spot between his shoulder blades. A few seconds later my nose twitches, my eyes run and I start to feel wheezy. It's allergy season and, with all the pollen and grass allergens already bombarding my system, even a little snuffle of bunny fur is enough to set my allergies off. At least this reminds me to take my allergy medications: prescription antihistamine eye-drops, puffers, nasal spray, and an over-the-counter anti-histamine pill.

I've had multiple allergies as long as I can remember. Because I've lived with them for so long I pretty much accept the symptoms. As a child, I had a cat named Peppermint Molasses. Although I wasn't allergic to him at first, after a few months I became severely allergic to him. I'd roll out of bed in the morning, wheezing, itching and sneezing because I let the cat sleep with me. My mom often threatened to get rid of the cat. She never did, and I'll always be thankful for that. Not only did I get to keep Peppermint Molasses, but I learned a lot about living with allergies over the years that I had him.

I now have three cats, four bunnies and two birds. I'm allergic to all of them. But, I'm also allergic to dust, pollen, fragrances and a host of other things. If I got rid of my pets I'd still be surrounded by allergens. I've found that the more exposure I have to my pets, the less I react. A few years ago a new cat would cause a severe allergic reaction. Then I started volunteering at a shelter in the cat section. For the first few months I could barely breathe while I was there, but now I don't react at all. Normally my bunnies don't cause me problems because I've had them for a few years. I don't even know whether I'm actually allergic to the rabbits or to their hay. But I'm definitely allergic to pollen and grass, so my system is just overloaded; therefore, I react strongly to things (e.g., my pets) that normally would just cause a minor reaction.

I've developed a lot of coping mechanisms to deal with allergies. I minimize my exposure to allergens I can live without, such as fragrances and harsh cleaning supplies. This keeps my allergic response moderately under control and allows me to keep the allergens I can't live without - that is, my pets. I don't let the cats or the bunnies in my bedroom, and I try to resist the temptation to bury my face in my pets' fur.

My brother-in-law also has pet allergies, and his asthma is much worse than mine. But, he allows his dog and his ferrets to sleep with him, even though he wakes up several times a night with difficult breathing. Personally, I think that's a bit extreme, but the point is that, for him, the trade-off is worth it. One of his ferrets is elderly and sick, and he doesn't want her to sleep alone at night. Like me, he also finds that if he minimizes his exposure to other allergens his allergic response to his pets is lessened. He's recently put a HEPA filter in his room and that has also improved things.
I think it's often about compromises: my animals are important enough to me that I can live with the allergies. And I know from years of experience that a severe reaction usually improves with time and exposure.

Krista Hewitt, RN

A doctor says

Most people can live with allergies and pets. A lot of people who have never had previous allergies and suddenly become reactive to their animals are told by their doctors that they must get rid of their pets. Being a pet lover myself, I am biased against this approach, which all too many physicians prescribe off-hand, dogmatically and, dare I say, mindlessly. Perhaps parents of children with pets who do not want to keep that pet will use allergies as an excuse, especially when reinforced by a doctor's advice.
Peoples' allergic reactions (to pets) can vary from an occasional sneeze and runny nose - as is the case with most allergy sufferers - to itchy skin, rash, and flare-ups of asthma. In more severe cases, a person may even suffer from anaphylaxis, a life-threatening, sudden swelling of the face and body, with laboured breathing, choking, and ultimately the closing off of the airway due to swelling inside the throat. Fortunately the last scenario is very rare, and most cases of anaphylaxis are actually triggered by certain severe food allergies or bee stings.

Some people who have frequent asthma attacks, who may require high doses of inhaled medications, or regular mask treatments, or who occasionally need an oral steroid medication called prednisone, may reasonably be advised to give up a pet if that pet has been shown to trigger the attacks. However, most allergy sufferers can happily keep their pets by taking certain measures to avoid allergy symptoms.

Three Approaches:

1. Do nothing.
   
2. Take nasal inhalers.
   
3. Use antihistamines.
   

One measure I tell my allergy patients to take is 1) do nothing. There are no side effects, and many do opt simply "to put up with it". Simply not getting so close to the pet as often may help, too. Vacuuming often and using furnace filters, if applicable, to capture the dander (dead skin cells from humans and pets) as well as the "dust mites" that live on them, may also help.

Another option for those with a runny nose and sneezing as their main complaint would be 2) to ask their doctor about the use of a mild nasally inhaled antiinflammatory medication, a steroid such as 'Flonase(TM)", or 'Nasonex (TM)". By steroids, I do not mean Olympic athlete-type steroids, but a nasal spray form of the drug which, for the most part, stays in the nasal passages, giving less chance of the systemic side effects and risks of steroids taken orally in large doses for long periods. Still, not to overrate the side effects, I never say "never", and possible side effects may be osteoporosis, high blood pressure, skin break-down, cataracts, stomach ulcers, weight gain, mood changes, and loss of blood supply to bones like the hip, for example.

I also recommend for people with more generalized (all over) symptoms like watery eyes, itchy skin, in addition to runny nose, 3) the daily use of an antihistamine, where "histamine" is a chemical released by certain immune cells in the blood in response to an allergen (the thing causing the allergy response) which leads to the symtoms I described. Older ones like "Benedryl (TM), Chlortripolon (TM), and Atarax (TM), work well, but the main side effect is drowsiness. Newer ones, like Allegra (TM), Reactine(TM), Claritin (TM), and Aerius(TM), are designed for once-daily dosing, and reduce the side effect of drowsiness.

Being a family doctor has taught me much about people's physical, as well as emotional, needs. Every treatment or test we recommend has some risk, and telling someone simply to "give up your pet" without considering the companionship value of animals, risks an emotional insult - the very real loss of a loved one. Studies have shown that pet owners live longer and have lower average blood pressures than people without pets. This puts a physically beneficial face - as well as an emotional one - on the qualities of pet companionship.

Jon Archibald, MD, CCFP

Other coping strategies

Amidou gives our four bunnies fresh hay and empties their litterboxes daily. However, he has a very bad sinus condition. He is also allergic to hay and dust - and, possibly, rabbit fur.
He wears a mask while cleaning litterboxes and taking care of the bunnies, and sweeps the carpet every two days in the bedroom where two bunnies live. The living room is not carpeted, so he sweeps up the loose hay in the living room daily and I mop the floor several times per week. I dust all other surfaces regularly with a Swiffer rag. A Swiffer "catches" all of the dust, whereas a regular cloth seems to disperse some of it into the air.
To clear his sinuses and build his immune system, Amidou exercises regularly, takes various herbs and vitamins, and tries to get adequate sleep.

Sudarshan Deshmukh

HEPA filters may help

After getting my first rabbit in December, I was worried about allergies. I'm allergic to many things, including other animals, but seemed fine with bunnies. I wanted to make sure that this continued and took a few precautions.
The bunnies have access to the main part of the apartment but not to the bedrooms, so there is always an animal-free zone in the house. I also got a HEPA filter. My dust allergies make it difficult for me to dust my apartment. It actually feels better to let it sit rather than stir it up, but I know that isn't an effective solution. When I noticed Rusty sneezing a lot near the bookcases, I figured it wasn't just me. I purchased a small HEPA unit and leave it running in the main room all the time. When I notice I'm having to dust the television often, it's time to change the filter. Also, Rusty starts sneezing more when it's full, so I know when it's working. Leave it to me to get a bunny with allergies! She's no dust bunny.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arresting. Basically, it's meant to capture more air-borne pollutants (dust, pet dander, etc.) than a regular air filter. It filters 99.97% of all particles. Prices can start as low as $60 and up into the $100s. My model cost $100. The HEPA filter must be changed several times a year and my replacement filter was $30. There are also often carbon filters available that filter any odour. They should be changed every few weeks. My 4-pack costs $15.
I've taken very little allergy medication this summer, giving in only during ragweed season in the fall. I'm sure it had something to do with my HEPA filter.

Kyla Hart

Tips for living with hay

Hay is important for bunnies, but it may pose problems for owners with allergies.
Tips for allergic owners:

1. Use a container with a lid to store hay and store it in a cool dark place away from living areas (closet, basement or garage).
   
2. To keep hay contained, use a hay rack in the rabbit's cage.
   
3. Wear a mask when handling hay and vacuuming.
   
4. Wash your hands and avoid touching your face after handling hay.