Human allergies

Apologies if this has been brought up before...

I had a rabbit from the age of 7-18 isn and was fine. I got Humphrey in October 2013, and it's becoming ever apparent I do have a slight allergy to him. Can anyone recommend certain antihistamines? Most are marketed against hay fever. As I only have a slight reaction (runny nose and teary eyes) I want to try antihistamines first. I also want to get him a friend asap, but want to get the allergy under control first.

Thank you

PS - can anyone recommend rabbit rehoming places in Essex or Suffolk, for when I am able to get a friend?

Just read that swapping Timothy hay (which H has) for the cubes ( he also has) helps. Is that good for the bun though?

Am sorry to hear that you are reacting to Humphrey. My OH doesn't cope well with rabbits inside the house too well - it affects his breathing. I an not sure though if this is due to the rabbit fur or the hay or both. This is one of the reasons my five are outdoor buns.

I am not sure what anti-histamine would be best for you - whether tablets, eye drops or a nasal spray. I would maybe speak to a pharmacist and see what they suggest if you maybe need to use them on a long term basis.

You may wish too to consider this, I use this as OH may also be sensitive to Paddy the cat.

http://www.allersafe.co.uk/bio-life-air-cleanse/p11

and also this which can be used on rabbits

http://www.allersafe.co.uk/bio-life-petal-cleanse-cat-cleanser/p12

As far as the hay goes, I would say that the hay cubes are not as good as 'real hay' for wearing down teeth. I would certainly not completely replace hay with the cubes. The Dust Free Hay company sells hay that is very low in the dust you normally find with hay, but if you are reacting to hay I wouldn't like to say whether this is the dust factor or the hay itself.

Finally, a list of rescues can be found here

http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/centres.asp

The only rescue that I have been in contact with (almost) down your way is ARC at Twickenham. I can recommend ARC but it may be too far for you.

http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/rescue.asp?Rescue=178

Hopefully someone else can recommend a nearer one for you   

I'm allergic to the new hay we got for our buns (itchy eyes/nose/LOTS of sneezing), I've been taking tescos own allergy pills with cetirizine hydrochloride which are doing the trick. The ones with Loratadine didn't work at all.

It all depends on your own body, some work well for some people and than others. None of the tablets mentioned above worked for me at all and have not bothered since, that and they also interfere with my migraine meds which sucks, so I have to suffer, I tent to just take some in summer but have not yet found a good one, saying that though the nasal spray I tried and keep meaning to get more of did, it may have perizone or something, cannot remember and boots own eye drops do my eyes good, the rest I cannot stop. I am have hay fever reactions to dougals hay and it has gotten worse but do not want to risk migraine tablets not working.

I hope you find one that suits you, it is just a case of testing them , see which works best for you. I hope you find one that helps hun.

    

iiisecondcreep wrote:I'm allergic to the new hay we got for our buns (itchy eyes/nose/LOTS of sneezing), I've been taking tescos own allergy pills with cetirizine hydrochloride which are doing the trick. The ones with Loratadine didn't work at all.

See, loratadine works for Humum but cetirizine does not   

All you can do is try them and see what works. They are only marketed as 'for hayfever' because this is the commonest allergy. I think all allergies cause an over-production of histamine, which is what the anti-histamine prevents...

I've always suffered terribly with hay fever and allergies to various animals. I love my pets to bits, despite being allergic to dogs, cats, rabbits and horses. I have owned and worked with all species and haven't allowed my allergy to stop me. This is partly due to other health issues, which affect my quality of life, so I refused allergies to get in the way. Unless you have an underlying health issue, I would suggest pirtion or clarytin initially. These did not work for me. Failing that, speak to your doctor, and don't let them for you off by telling you to rehome humphrey. Stick to your guns. I now take one called fexofenadine every day and have not suffered with hayfever or allergies to dogs, rabbits or horses since. I react mildly to cats but I manage to work with them every day at the vets with minimal issues. GOOD LUCK! X

When Sasha and Barley lived indoors, my younger son was really badly affected by them. He gets hay fever so we reckoned it was their hay rather than the rabbits themselves.

I hope you can get something to help you as runny eyes and blocked nose is not a good look!

My Niece is terribly allergic to my rabbits and within seconds of her walking in my home her eyes run and she starts sneezing. I'm not sure what she takes to prevent it
I will have to ask her.

Sandie83 wrote:Just read that swapping Timothy hay (which H has) for the cubes ( he also has) helps.  Is that good for the bun though?

We also get Timothy blocks for the buns which they like but they get loose hay as well as I get worried that they wouldn't manage to eat enough of the block. These are the ones we get http://halleysfeeds.co.uk/ocart_halleysfeeds/index.php?route=product/product&path=78_79&product_id=76

I've been around horses and therefore hay my whole life and I've never been allergic to any until we got this new hay! Other hays still don't bother me.

Sparky wrote:

iiisecondcreep wrote:I'm allergic to the new hay we got for our buns (itchy eyes/nose/LOTS of sneezing), I've been taking tescos own allergy pills with cetirizine hydrochloride which are doing the trick. The ones with Loratadine didn't work at all.

See, loratadine works for Humum but cetirizine does not   

All you can do is try them and see what works. They are only marketed as 'for hayfever' because this is the commonest allergy. I think all allergies cause an over-production of histamine, which is what the anti-histamine prevents...

I looked them up and apparently they both work in different ways so generally people will find that one or the other works

Must note I got the own brand ones because they have the exact same ingredients as the 'known' brand ones but are about 1/3 the price! (same with cold and flu pills)   

Hello!
I'm in Essex, what part are you from? (Because Essex is a big old place haha! I'm Witham)
The rescue I would normally recommend has stopped, but I know of a few so I'm sure I can help.

I am also allergic to my rabbits, I find taking the cetirizine ones to help, but take them at night (to avoid making you sleepy) and take them every day to create a tolerance rather than take them when you are struggling. Loratadine doesnt work for me, but then with everyone it's different. I think its just try and test different ones and different methods until you find what works for you.

Sandie83 wrote:PS - can anyone recommend rabbit rehoming places in Essex or Suffolk, for when I am able to get a friend?

Ooh, I forgot about this bit. Are you far from Royston, Herts? I can thoroughly recommend the Rabbit Residence Rescue  

I hope you find something that works love. A small piece of info, I used to suffer from hayfever when I was younger but as I got into my thirties, it just went away. Not much help I know love but I thought you mght like to know.

Hugs

JO xx

jolovesbunnies wrote:I hope you find something that works love.  A small piece of info, I used to suffer from hayfever when I was younger but as I got into my thirties, it just went away.  Not much help I know love but I thought you mght like to know.

Hugs

JO xx

Out of interest, Jo, did anything else change around that time?

Humum suffered terribly in Kent because of the huge amount of rape that was planted there - when the fields were full of yellow flowers she would have an awful time. The tap water also set her off at times. Since moving north her allergic / hayfever reaction has been much lower. Although we do still get the odd bale of hay she has an extreme reaction to, with most bales she is fine.

No hun not really, I was in an unhappy marriage which could have added to it, but it went when I was still married to my first husband. I used to have an injection called Kenelog which suited me but apparently it can have dangerous sides effects (explains a lot LOL). Some other theory is that if you live near the coast you are less likely to suffer. I cannot say if this is true because my hayfever stopped before I moved to Cornwall.

Anyway hun, I really hope they find something that works for you.

Hugs

JO xx

Thanks all for your advice, I'm just going to keep trying everything until I find something that works, really don't want to lose Humphrey (and his potential new mate   )

I do seem to be developing the allergy, as I was fine when younger. My sister, conversely, sneezed and streamed for England when she came home from uni and we had the family rabbit, now, she is fine with Humphrey!

I'm in Colchester, so not far from Witham at all! Happy to travel to surrounding counties though to find the right friend for H. Royston could also work, as my brother lives in Herts - he could check the buns out first (he wants to kidnap H, but lives in a house share so can't have his own).

Thanks again!

Off to pick up some more hay from TimothyHay.co.uk later this morning, hopefully less allergic to this lot! Tried 3 tescos and they're all out of own brand allergy pills so I'm having to pay twice as much for half as many 'zirtec'! :o

Sandie83 wrote:Thanks all for your advice, I'm just going to keep trying everything until I find something that works, really don't want to lose Humphrey (and his potential new mate   )

I do seem to be developing the allergy, as I was fine when younger. My sister, conversely, sneezed and streamed for England when she came home from uni and we had the family rabbit, now, she is fine with Humphrey!

I'm in Colchester, so not far from Witham at all!  Happy to travel to surrounding counties though to find the right friend for H.  Royston could also work, as my brother lives in Herts - he could check the buns out first (he wants to kidnap H, but lives in a house share so can't have his own).

Thanks again!

Ahh you are "my side" of Essex!   
When I say I am from Essex most people are the basildon, romford end so Im always about an hour away

Hmmm okay lets think. Royston is a good one if you want to go down that route, I've met Caroline once and she's lovely, plus she has so many rabbits needing homes you would be sure to find one that suited you and Humphrey. Theres an RSPCA home called the Danaher Animal Home near Braintree/Halstead , they have lots of bunnies too. And im waiting to hear back from my friend on what rescue she fostered for.