Night before last, driving down the road, I found a rabbit hopping down it as well. I put on the brakes and went back and scooped up the bunny, and drove home with him or her on my arm. I am debating keeping the rabbit. The only person with a rabbit in that area to come forward so far has said it's not theirs. So, I've got the bunny in an unused dog kennel for the time being. It seems a pretty nice rabbit -- I picked it up with minimum fuss, it rode home in the car on my arm without a twitch, it likes to be petted and comes over for attention quite readily, and is litter box trained!

I am questioning whether I will get into trouble with allergies however. I have had hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the past from birds (which is why I can't keep ANY birds anymore), and I have a mild cat allergy, and I am wondering if it is likely (that is, if anyone has information on this) that I will be allergic to the rabbit's fur.

I have been told that if you are allergic to cats, you will likely be allergic to rabbits as well, and if you are not allergic to dogs, you will not be allergic to guinea pigs, since cats/rabbits have fur, and dogs/guinea pigs have hair.

Any info, or even opinions?

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2001

Answers

If it is this tame, and, boy, it sounds real tame, you can bathe it once a week and this helps tremendously to keep the dander down and your "nose" happier! Use hypoallergenic baby shampoo and rinse well, and you will do no harm to the little fellow. I had a pair of rabbits for 12 years until they died of old age a year ago, I miss the precious bunnies, they always ate the tops of celery and carrots for me from the kitchen scraps, basically, they ate anything that the dogs and cats wouldn't. And they love red clover! They're nice, clean pets that love attention too!

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2001

From THE ENCYLCLOPEDIA OF NATURAL PET CARE by CJ Puotinen: (an excellent book, you can buy it from my website, btw...plug plug......www.wisespirit.com)

"Because animal dander triggers so many adverse reactions, allergists often recommend that if anyone in the family has trouble breathing, the pets be given away. In twenty years of doctor appts for the treatment of hay fever and asthma, I was usually told by the second office visit to get rid of my cats. Like many pet lovers who recieve this prescription, I refused. None of my dozen doctors in five states offered alternative solutions; all announced in authoritative voices that there was no way to remove the problem without removing the pets, and all but one expressed annoyance at patients who refuse to cooperate.

But for every study that links pet dander to respiratory problems, others show that pet owners live longer,have happier lives,have lower sress levels and enjoy more meaningful relationships than those who don't share their lives with pets. For many Americans, pets are members of the family. Getting rid of them, even on a doctor's order, is as traumatic as losing a relative.

Pet dander is more of a problem in carpeted homes than in homes with bare floors, although any rug or fabric can harbor dander. The source of the problem isnt hair that the animals shed but proteins in their saliva and flakes of skin. Young puppies and kittens dont usually trigger allergic reactions; they have no old skin to shed and therefore no dander. This explains how someone can develop a sudden allergy to a pet that was for weeks a comfortable roommate.

Years ago my husband and I lived in a carpeted house and, a few days after washing the carpets with steam-cleaning equipment, we had a houseguest who ordinarily was violently allergic to cats. He kept looking at Kanja and Hang 12 and wondered why he wasnt sneezing. We had only wanted to remove old stains but, as a bonus, we had a dander free house.

Removing dander from rugs, carpets and furniture is only part of the solution. Washing the pets themselves is just as important. Research has shown airborne allergens are reduced dramatically if a cat is washed once a weeek;the same is no doubt true for other animals. Full baths were traumatic for our elderly cats,but we found they would tolerate sponge baths. Pet stores and pet magazines sell equipment to make cat bathing easier and there are products just for allergy grooming, solutions you can apply with a damp cloth or spray onto dogs, cats and birds. They contain enzymes that digest the proteins in dander, rendering them harmless. Some effective nonchemical shampoos that don't require rinsing are sold for rabbit and other small pets; they are safe for cats and kittens too. Or simply use plain water or chamomile tea to rinse the dander away. Don't use soap for weekly cleanings; its too harsh, strips away protective oils and is difficult to rinse out. The secret to success in using any of these methods is reaching the skin. Look for dander removal products in pet supply catalogs or check with your vet, groomer or pet store. If you start when a kitten is tiny, you can even convince a cat to enjoy baths.

Pet owners who give their animals a well-balanced natural diet of raw food and nutritional supplements usually notice a rapid improvement in their animal's coat: glossy fur, healthy skin and a substantial reduction in flaking and dandruff. This is as true for birds and rabbits as it is for cats and dogs. It makes sense to reduce dander at the source, and the source is always affected by the diet.

Air filters make a big differenc in bird rooms and living areas occupied by pets. Human hair can vary between 75 and 100 microns in thickness; animal dander is about 15 microns thick. High efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters, which were developed for use in labs and manufacturing plants, remove 99.97% of the particles .3 microns in size and larger. Position air filters above, not directly on, carpets.

Brush pets outdoors or wear a pollen mask while brushing inside near an air filter and follow with immediate vacuuming to reduce the accumulation of new dander. Remember that pet dander is so light that most vacuum cleaners merely redistribute it; if you're serious about controlling dander and dust mites, you need a vacuum equipped with special high filtration bags and carpet steam-cleaning equipment.

Many people who are allergic to pet dander become less so when they change their own diet. This is how I finally solved my allergy problems. As long as I stay away from wheat and dairy, I'm fine around dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and even ragweed. When I don't, I'm sneezing within the hour. Some of the herbs recommended in chapter 4 for dogs and cats are also useful for their allergic owners, such as stinging nettle and mullein. Drinking these teas or taking the herbs in caps has helped many people with hay fever, pet allergies and asthma. For more natural methods of allergy control, see my book,HERBS TO HELP YOU BREATHE FREELY."

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2001

I have heard that a saturating the animal once a week with distilled water is effective for controlling the dander. I hope you can keep him, Julie...sounds like he was sent to you!

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2001

I'm allergic to just about everything you can think of, but really don't have any problems with my rabbits. My biggest problem is swelling from getting fur in my eyes if I pet them too much. I used to have the same problem with allergic pneumonia... Haven't had a recurrance since I quit taking OTC vitamins - even though I have a ton of pets they say I am 'allergic' to (4 dogs, cats, bunnies, etc).

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Thanks for all the help. I am (predictably) getting kind of attatched to Bun -- he/she is a real affection monger, and has started to put his/her head into my hands, rubbing chin on my hand (and on an apple slice...I'm wondering if that is like the way a cat rubs its head on a person to scent mark), sitting up with forefeet on my hand, things like that. So far, I don't notice any allergy signs, but he/she spends days outside and comes into the garage at night where it is safer.

I'm supposed to stay away from wheat and dairy as well, well, cow's milk products, goat and sheep are supposed to be okay. All good advice! Thanks so much.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001

Hi! I have terrible environmental and food allergies that have almost taken my life several times....I also raise English Angora rabbits and also have several pet rabbits who are "rescues."

I try to change my clothes after I've been doing anything major with the bunnies. I take a dye-free Benedryl about 30 minutes before I cut their wool or anything like that. I just try to be as careful as I can.

I also have three indoor cats that I'm not supposed to have. I used to bathe them regularly but when they got older they HATED that. So I only bathe them if they really start affecting my allergies.

We have a Shop Vac inside the house and that helps with the stray hair and all that.

-- Anonymous, June 08, 2001