Allergic to rabbits but want one? Are hypoallergenic breeds an option?

Allergies definitely stink. I know a lot of veterinarians out there that end up developing allergies to dogs or cats throughout their careers and it makes their lives very difficult. In terms of things that you can do, the first thing I would recommend is speaking with your allergist or dermatologist about possibly getting allergy shots. Some people have a lot of luck with these. It makes owning a cat not only possible, but enjoyable. Secondly, just like there are hypoallergenic dogs, there are hypoallergenic cats. I am providing you with a link to a page that goes over many of them. It will also tell you what makes people allergic to cats. I hope you find a kitty that makes your home whole. Good luck!

Rabbits are not known to get asthma; it is possible I suppose but that would very rare. It is more common for them to have pneumonia or other types of respiratory disease. It could even be a sinus issue from a bad tooth which happens a lot in rabbits. Did you use a vet that is well versed in treating rabbits? Did your vet do any blood testing or other diagnostics? Did they take x-rays of just her chest or also her skull/head? I strongly suggest you get a second opinion before starting any treatment. The treatment for asthma is usually steroids which are contraindicated for use in rabbits. Antihistamines can be used though.

Hi, I've never heard of a cat being allergic to a rabbit but it is possible she got some dust in her eyes. I suggest monitoring her eyes for redness, greenish discharge or cloudiness. If you don't see any of that, she should be okay. If you do see those signs, I suggest taking her to a vet to have her eyes checked. You can try rinsing her eyes our with eye wash or saline for eyes and seeing if that help in case she got some dust or something irritable in her eyes. Good luck, I hope this helps!

This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

If your bunny has nasal discharge and sounds congested, he may have an upper respiratory infection that may improve with an antibiotic that is safe for rabbits such as baytril. If there is no nasal discharge/congestion, he may have an environmental allergy, possibly to the bedding/hay in his cage. A trial of a non shaving bedding such as Care fresh (a cotton bedding) may help. Good luck!

It's much more likely to be an upper respiratory infection also known as snuffles, it's very common in rabbits and will require antibiotic treatment. i recommend taking Hestia to the vet ASAP in order to get it treated.

Thanks for your question about Lola! If the nasal discharge is clear and runny (similar to tears), and does not have any color or thickening to it, it is likely a non-concerning change. It is common for rabbits to have an intermittently wet/runny nose when they are nervous, so it may be corresponding to something stressful in the environment. If there is ever any color or thickening to the fluid, that would be more suggestive of an infection. I would recommend having Lola evaluated once per year for a wellness examination with your veterinarian. Gathering systemic blood work to establish a baseline for Lola would also be advisable, as this will allow your veterinarian to have something to compare to if she ever gets sick. I also noticed that you stated that Lola was not spayed - I would strongly recommend that you have her spayed if she truly is intact, as there is a high prevalence of uterine cancers in rabbits (around 80%). I hope that this helps to answer your question, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!