Bun Ownership and Allergies...

[Jenk]

If you have, or someone whom you know has, both bunnies and allergies, please share your/their methods used to control symptoms. (By methods, I mean anything: medications/supplements, air purifiers, cleaning tips, feeding methods that reduce hay dust, etc.).

Jenk

 

[degrassi]

I'm allergic to my rabbit but this is what I do to help some me from getting a runny nose and all ichy.

-Keep food and hay in rubbermaid containers.

-Vacuum daily with avacuum that has a hepa filter.

-I try to groom my rabbit as much as possible to help reduce the hair floating around.

 

[Becca]

I don't know if you saw my thread earlier about me trying to persuade my parents to let Dippy come in the house - but my mum's allergic to rabbits and the things I said were:

Air Purifier

Vacuum Often

Brush Your Bunny Often

You could also get shorter hair rabbits

 

[Phinnsmommy]

My mom is severely allergic to my rabbits, but after developing a regimen that works for us, they barely bother her.

We do a DEEP cleaning every week of their room (vaccuming everything and then wiping it down).
I also have an air filter in their room which works really great.
Their in my closet, but it's very big, so it's kinda of like a sideroom, so I always keep my door closed.

 

[Evey]

My boyfriend and I have 6 rabbits; 5 of which live in our bedroom, and he is really allergic to them.

We have air purifiers, he takes Claritin D 24 hr. everyday, we vacuum often, and he doesn't handle the hay or usually clean the cages. When he has cleaned the cages, he has worn a mask. I've heard of people only using Timothy hay cubes instead of loose hay, as people have said it's better for allergies. We also try to keep the litter boxes clean because we think he's actually more allergic to their waste (don't know if that's possible).

It's a lot of work, but we loves them so much so we make it work

-Kathy

 

[slavetoabunny]

Evey - does your boyfriend wear latex gloves if he has to handle hay or clean? It seems that would be a great help also.

 

[Jenk]

degrassi wrote:

-Keep food and hay in rubbermaid containers.

-Vacuum daily with avacuum that has a hepa filter.

-I try to groom my rabbit as much as possible to help reduce the hair floating around.

Did you find aRubbermaidcontainer with air holes (for hay)? Or did you punch holes through a container yourself?

When you say "vacuum daily," are you referring to the bunnies' room daily and the house weekly? Or do you vacuum the entire house daily? (If it's the latter, what's your secret? )

I've begun grooming my bunnies daily (every other day at the least) to help prevent stasis issues. Sadly, their fur flies around during thegrooming process and can easily stick to my hands and reach my face. Still, I know that my husband won't think (much less want) to groom them so often. :?

 

[tonyshuman]

I have 2 hepa filters and i'm on year-round allergy meds (have been since i was very young). i try to put out new hay before i leave the house so the dust has time to settle before i get back.

 

[Evey]

slavetoabunny wrote:

Evey - does your boyfriend wear latex gloves if he has to handle hay or clean? It seems that would be a great help also.

I don't think he's tried the gloves with the hay, but we both use latex gloves when we clean the cages, and it does help!

-Kathy

 

[Jenk]

Evey wrote:

slavetoabunny wrote:

Evey - does your boyfriend wear latex gloves if he has to handle hay or clean? It seems that would be a great help also.

I don't think he's tried the gloves with the hay, but we both use latex gloves when we clean the cages, and it does help!

Does hewear gloves to prevent dust from getting on his hands and, in turn,his face?Or does he wear them because his skin actually reacts to the hay/hay dust in some way?

 

[Becca]

Thats wat I was wondering

 

[degrassi]

Did you find aRubbermaidcontainer with air holes (for hay)? Or did you punch holes through a container yourself?

When you say "vacuum daily," are you referring to the bunnies' room daily and the house weekly? Or do you vacuum the entire house daily? (If it's the latter, what's your secret? )

The rubbermaid I use doens't have any holes. But I live in a very DRY climate and I've never had a problem with the hay and it not staying dry and fresh. IF you needed to, I guess you could drill a few air holes. But since I've nver had to I dont' know about it.

I vacuum the rabbits area daily. God, I'd never be able to vacuum the whole house every day,lol. Thankfully i have linoleum in the room my rabbit is in so its easy to give it a quick vacuum or wipe down.

 

[Evey]

Jenk wrote:

Evey wrote:

slavetoabunny wrote:

Evey - does your boyfriend wear latex gloves if he has to handle hay or clean? It seems that would be a great help also.

I don't think he's tried the gloves with the hay, but we both use latex gloves when we clean the cages, and it does help!

Does hewear gloves to prevent dust from getting on his hands and, in turn,his face?Or does he wear them because his skin actually reacts to the hay/hay dust in some way?

His skin actually gets red and itchy if he comes in contact with hay in addition to his eyes watering, etc.

 

[Jenk]

Evey wrote:

His skin actually gets red and itchy if he comes in contact with hay in addition to his eyes watering, etc.

Hmmm...I think that's my problem. My hands (especially around the knuckle region) get really red, dry and even cracked, if I don't moisturize them regularly. I didn't associate it with the hay until recently; you're info. has pretty much clinched it.