Pet rabbits ... anyone???

[bettyeanne]

Shhhhh ... don't tell Papa [Patrick]!! O.K., as some of you know, my sweet daughter and her two children live in our home in Alabama [it has been sitting there all these years and we don't get home very often but do keep it well-maintained. It's a win, win situation as she is divorced and "Daddy Dearest" doesn't help monitarily ... that's another story altogether .... grrrrrrrr!!! Anywho, I love my daughter [she is my heart] and so does Patrick ... we have made certain that she and the children are safe, happy and want for nothing. She has a Westie, and now has a rescue, Miley, who God only knows her breed ... she is big! We didn't tell Papa for quite awhile that she was permanent. We had no choice when Miley took a big bite out of my living room sofa!! We got through that and last time home we broke the news that Miley is now family!!! Yep, Papa likes her but not happy about her snacking on the sofa. It's a "thing" and can be replaced!!

My question [delima] is, a while back I flew home and my daughter had a "houseguest". She works for a vet and one of their clients had a pet rabbit that they boarded. He is housebroken [uses liter pan like a cat], is very well behaved and sooooo sweet. I believe [from looking him up online] that he is an "American Fuzzy Lop". He is beautiful and has long floppy ears, etc. My delima?? The clients wanted to rehome him ... yep! My tenderhearted baby brought him home! He is very clean, potty trained and stays in his big crate when they aren't home. My big delima?? Patrick is highly allergic to cats and I'm worried [because of the fur] .... could he also be allergic to the rabbit? It didn't even occur to me until about an hour ago that he could be allergic to this sweet little guy. If someone gets near Patrick who even has one cat hair and dander on them, his throat swells almost shut and his eyes do the same .... it's awful!!

Does anyone know about pet rabbits and allergic reactions? We are talking about a trip home in a few weeks and I have to find out so I can break the bad news to my daughter and she can rehome home him and I can get the Merry Maids over there to "de-rabbit" our house before we go home! I would really appreciate any information that anyone has about this. Geeezzzzz .... never a dull moment!!!!

[rebeccag]

testing....

[bettyeanne]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

testing....

?????

[rebeccag]

I breed lionhead bunnies. Actually, this will be my last litter so I guess you can say I bred lionhead bunnies. I actually have a lop (minus the fuzz) that's litter trained. I ended up keeping him out of the cage because I couldn't keep him in one. I'm not kidding! He used to bump his way out of the nesting box attached to our large breeding cage. He actually chewed his way out of a baby gate one time. I tried stuffing a towel in the hole and he pulled it out. Very funny to watch. We'd see a white flash go by and we knew "Houdini" was at it again...LOL! He's very smart. My friends say he's more like a dog than a bunny. Okay, enough about my wonderful rabbit...lol!

The vet's office that fixed Shrek said that rabbit fur is different than cat fur and rabbits generally don't get fleas because rabbit fur is very soft and silky and the fleas can't attach themself onto them because they slide off. My own experience has confirmed that. My rabbits haven't yet got any fleas and they do go outside on grass (weather permitting). Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he won't be allergic. Papa can get tested before you leave to see if he is ellergic specifically to rabbits. Even if he is he might still be okay. Your daughter may have to clean the cage and brush fuzzy outside everyday while you're there that's all. If papa does get uncomfortable she may even consider putting her friend in the garage until you leave. Who knows, she might actually have a safe area outside that the bunny can go in during the day. I'd just be very careful if the bunny never goes out. They can actually die from freight. For example: if a dog came near the cage barking the rabbit could take a fit and break it's own back. That would be horrible so just be aware that rabbits are highly sensitive and easy prey for other animals. I have a dog pen with a netting on top that I let my rabbits go in on nice days. They can also over heat easily so I wouldn't leave them in direct sunlight. Let me know if I can help with anything. I'd love a pic when you get back. If you want, check out my web-site: www.sophiaslionheads.synthasite.com

[mickey3696]

Most people are allergic to the saliva of the animal not the fur. My SD is highly allergic to rabbits. My mom got him one for his birthday one time and he got very sick and had to go to the hospital. If you think he might have a reaction then I would do the cleaning before he gets there. You could put him outside in a shady area for the time you are going to be there. I hope this helps.

Thought I would send a picture of one of our new babies.

[Abby08]

Oh those bunny pics, I love them so......as much as Yorkies

Yes, it is the saliva that folks are allergic to. Does he know if he is allergic to rabbits? Rabbits clean themselves like cats and distribute the saliva over their hair,fur,wool. I would suggest going to a craft store where you can still find a rabbit hide or two =:0 but I guess the saliva would be gone off of those or fur collars on coats..... OH, a pet store, if you have bunnies at the local pet store, ya'll could visit and proceed from there.....?

Our cat brought us a wild baby bunny once and I kept it in a bucket in the laundry room. It had ticks! So out he/she went! Fleas jump pretty high, they can reach a rabbit in an outside hutch and if they can hang on to the nose area or hiney area or the eyes, they can do what they need to do! Cats can have silky hair too!

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by mickey3696

Most people are allergic to the saliva of the animal not the fur. My SD is highly allergic to rabbits. My mom got him one for his birthday one time and he got very sick and had to go to the hospital. If you think he might have a reaction then I would do the cleaning before he gets there. You could put him outside in a shady area for the time you are going to be there. I hope this helps.

Thought I would send a picture of one of our new babies.

Love the bunny pics!!!!!!!! Soooooo cute!!!!! How many do you have? Oh, how I love bunnies too!!!! What does SD stand for?

[bettyeanne]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

I breed lionhead bunnies. Actually, this will be my last litter so I guess you can say I bred lionhead bunnies. I actually have a lop (minus the fuzz) that's litter trained. I ended up keeping him out of the cage because I couldn't keep him in one. I'm not kidding! He used to bump his way out of the nesting box attached to our large breeding cage. He actually chewed his way out of a baby gate one time. I tried stuffing a towel in the hole and he pulled it out. Very funny to watch. We'd see a white flash go by and we knew "Houdini" was at it again...LOL! He's very smart. My friends say he's more like a dog than a bunny. Okay, enough about my wonderful rabbit...lol!

The vet's office that fixed Shrek said that rabbit fur is different than cat fur and rabbits generally don't get fleas because rabbit fur is very soft and silky and the fleas can't attach themself onto them because they slide off. My own experience has confirmed that. My rabbits haven't yet got any fleas and they do go outside on grass (weather permitting). Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he won't be allergic. Papa can get tested before you leave to see if he is ellergic specifically to rabbits. Even if he is he might still be okay. Your daughter may have to clean the cage and brush fuzzy outside everyday while you're there that's all. If papa does get uncomfortable she may even consider putting her friend in the garage until you leave. Who knows, she might actually have a safe area outside that the bunny can go in during the day. I'd just be very careful if the bunny never goes out. They can actually die from freight. For example: if a dog came near the cage barking the rabbit could take a fit and break it's own back. That would be horrible so just be aware that rabbits are highly sensitive and easy prey for other animals. I have a dog pen with a netting on top that I let my rabbits go in on nice days. They can also over heat easily so I wouldn't leave them in direct sunlight. Let me know if I can help with anything. I'd love a pic when you get back. If you want, check out my web-site: www.sophiaslionheads.synthasite.com

Thank you so much for this information! I looked at your bunny babies, they are gorgeous. I think that my daughter's is an "American Fuzzy Lop" and he is beautiful. I think, to be on the safe side, that she will have to rehome him. Patrick has had lots of health problems since his heart attack in 2006 and I just can't risk it. I am certain that my daughter never thought that he might be allergic or she would never have agreed to take Grayson. She works for a vet and falls in love with every "critter" that comes through the door. She is way too busy with her life to have her two dogs and I think it will be best to find a good home for Grayson. She is a single Mom [two children] and football, baseball, cheerleading and other activities take all her time. She takes excellent care of her dogs too. On top of everything else, she is always first to volunteer to take round the clock care of orphan pups that they sometimes have at work.

[bettyeanne]

Originally Posted by mickey3696

Most people are allergic to the saliva of the animal not the fur. My SD is highly allergic to rabbits. My mom got him one for his birthday one time and he got very sick and had to go to the hospital. If you think he might have a reaction then I would do the cleaning before he gets there. You could put him outside in a shady area for the time you are going to be there. I hope this helps.

Thought I would send a picture of one of our new babies.

Ahhhh ... your baby is precious! I think the best thing after reading about rabbits, sadly, is to rehome Grayson. I cannot risk Patrick having an allergic reaction to him. His reaction to things he is allergic to seems to affect him 10 times worse than it does other people.

[rebeccag]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

Thank you so much for this information! I looked at your bunny babies, they are gorgeous. I think that my daughter's is an "American Fuzzy Lop" and he is beautiful. I think, to be on the safe side, that she will have to rehome him. Patrick has had lots of health problems since his heart attack in 2006 and I just can't risk it. I am certain that my daughter never thought that he might be allergic or she would never have agreed to take Grayson. She works for a vet and falls in love with every "critter" that comes through the door. She is way too busy with her life to have her two dogs and I think it will be best to find a good home for Grayson. She is a single Mom [two children] and football, baseball, cheerleading and other activities take all her time. She takes excellent care of her dogs too. On top of everything else, she is always first to volunteer to take round the clock care of orphan pups that they sometimes have at work.

No problem and thank you. How long will you be there? I'm with your daughter, I'd have them everywhere....lol! My husband has to keep me in line sometimes....lol! I'm sure your daughter will agree that Papa's health comes first! I'm sure someone would love the bunny because he's litter trained and good looking....sounds like it will be easy!

[yorkiepuppie]

hello,

i also have an american fuzzy lop. she is so cute.

i really want cats, but my fiance is too allergic to them. with the bunnies, it does cause a problem for him, especially the fuzzy lop because of all the hair. the only way to deal with that is if you groom the rabbit everyday, which with a fuzzy lop you kind of have to anyways. and if you vacuum everyday. and we also use a air filter.

i have some pictures of my bunnies in my photo album and i also posted some pictures here:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/my-...-bloopers.html

enjoy!

i am going to read the other posts in this thread now, i see other bunny lovers here !

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

I breed lionhead bunnies. Actually, this will be my last litter so I guess you can say I bred lionhead bunnies. I actually have a lop (minus the fuzz) that's litter trained. I ended up keeping him out of the cage because I couldn't keep him in one. I'm not kidding! He used to bump his way out of the nesting box attached to our large breeding cage. He actually chewed his way out of a baby gate one time. I tried stuffing a towel in the hole and he pulled it out. Very funny to watch. We'd see a white flash go by and we knew "Houdini" was at it again...LOL! He's very smart. My friends say he's more like a dog than a bunny. Okay, enough about my wonderful rabbit...lol!

The vet's office that fixed Shrek said that rabbit fur is different than cat fur and rabbits generally don't get fleas because rabbit fur is very soft and silky and the fleas can't attach themself onto them because they slide off. My own experience has confirmed that. My rabbits haven't yet got any fleas and they do go outside on grass (weather permitting). Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he won't be allergic. Papa can get tested before you leave to see if he is ellergic specifically to rabbits. Even if he is he might still be okay. Your daughter may have to clean the cage and brush fuzzy outside everyday while you're there that's all. If papa does get uncomfortable she may even consider putting her friend in the garage until you leave. Who knows, she might actually have a safe area outside that the bunny can go in during the day. I'd just be very careful if the bunny never goes out. They can actually die from freight. For example: if a dog came near the cage barking the rabbit could take a fit and break it's own back. That would be horrible so just be aware that rabbits are highly sensitive and easy prey for other animals. I have a dog pen with a netting on top that I let my rabbits go in on nice days. They can also over heat easily so I wouldn't leave them in direct sunlight. Let me know if I can help with anything. I'd love a pic when you get back. If you want, check out my web-site: www.sophiaslionheads.synthasite.com

OMG!!!! i LOVE lionheads!!!! they are so cute!!!!

your lop bunny sounds like mine!!! abbey is a crazy bunny and she is a dog trapped inside the body of a bunny!!!!

[yorkiepuppie]

Originally Posted by mickey3696

Most people are allergic to the saliva of the animal not the fur. My SD is highly allergic to rabbits. My mom got him one for his birthday one time and he got very sick and had to go to the hospital. If you think he might have a reaction then I would do the cleaning before he gets there. You could put him outside in a shady area for the time you are going to be there. I hope this helps.

Thought I would send a picture of one of our new babies.

awww. your bunny is so cute!

[yorkiepuppie]

i just finished reading all the posts.
i am sorry that neither of you are able to keep the bunny.
but i agree with you that it is probably best.

bunnies are a lot of work. and especially if you have family member that is allergic to them. i feel bad when i dont vaccum for a day and my fiance comes home unable to breath in the house.(because i let the bunny run around the house) he gets sick if i don't clean the house everyday.

i hope the bunny finds a good home my 2 bunnies were also rescue bunnies, they are so cute. (oh yea, and they are also destructive!)

[bettyeanne]

Originally Posted by rebeccag

No problem and thank you. How long will you be there? I'm with your daughter, I'd have them everywhere....lol! My husband has to keep me in line sometimes....lol! I'm sure your daughter will agree that Papa's health comes first! I'm sure someone would love the bunny because he's litter trained and good looking....sounds like it will be easy!

We will probably only be home for a few days. Yep, she would have bunnies everywhere if she could! And dogs, cats, lizards, deer, etc., etc., she hasn't met an animal that she didn't love. I keep reminding Patrick, I created this tenderhearted, wonderful woman so I can't scold her too much!! She is my heart! You're right, Grayson is so sweet, it won't be hard to rehome him. Thanks again!