jessiebuns
Warren Scout
:wave: I have a question. Are rabbits allergic to hay?? Because my mothers neighbours bunnies are! APPARENTLY:evil:
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Are rabbits allergic to hay?
- Thread starter jessiebuns
- Start date
Bavarian Bunny
Wise Old Thumper
They can be, but it is rare. When we went to Bobtails rescue two years ago, they had a pair of bunnies that just had shredded paper in their enclosure. I was told that they were over sensitive to hay.
jessiebuns
Warren Scout
OK, thanks. But if a rabbits diet should be 90% hay, whats the alternative?
jessiebuns
Warren Scout
Thanks for that So grass is ok? Do you mean dried grass like Supa-forage or Redigrass?? Sorry, but I am concerned for their welfare.
So grass is ok? Do you mean dried grass like Supa-forage or Redigrass?? Sorry, but I am concerned for their welfare.ZakuraRabbit
Mama Doe
I once heard of some people with dust-allergies spraying a bit of water onto the hay before giving it to the rabbit/guinea pig/whatever.. Never tried this myself though, despite my hay-allergies I am determined to get through it! (Also, the doctors confirmed I am allergic to grass so wetting it probably wouldn't do me any difference:roll
Hay is pretty much dried grass, but the grass-types may vary.
Hay is pretty much dried grass, but the grass-types may vary.
abbymarysmokey
Wise Old Thumper
It seems VERY unlikely that more than one rabbit in the same household has an allergy. :shock:
It could be down to using poor quality hay with lots of dust or mould spores, or storing the hay incorrectly (i.e. in plastic bags).
It's probably more likely that they have another illness which is easier to label an allergy :roll:
My pony had a dust allergy, and had to have her hay soaked in water.
Amy
It could be down to using poor quality hay with lots of dust or mould spores, or storing the hay incorrectly (i.e. in plastic bags).
It's probably more likely that they have another illness which is easier to label an allergy :roll:
My pony had a dust allergy, and had to have her hay soaked in water.
Amy
****!
Thanks for mentioning that, explains rambo's irritation, he's pulled fur out and has sores ... ive taken it away.
abbymarysmokey
Wise Old Thumper
****!
Thanks for mentioning that, explains rambo's irritation, he's pulled fur out and has sores ... ive taken it away.
Are you sure its not rabbit fur mites?...they're very common. They cause itching and fur loss, especially along the rabbit's back.
Treatment is with Ivermectin, which is available from your vet, or on-line here:
http://www.vetscriptions.co.uk/XENO450SO.html
Amy
I rang the emergency vet, they said that it's not fleas unless I could see them (i.e. black littler things), i checked his straw, and cage before I cleaned it for any clues but nothing, and the infected areas he'll let me touch now, before they were VERY sensitive.
He's going to the vet on the weekend...
You won't be able to see mites, they are tiny and burrow under the skin (yuck) the most you might see are little red dots or trails of dots, mostly the skin just looks sore though.
A simple drop on the back of the neck sorts it out though, although you sometimes need 2 treatments to break the breeding cycle.
Also I buy hay with dust extracted, and if you are outside, a good shake of each handful will remove a bit more.
A simple drop on the back of the neck sorts it out though, although you sometimes need 2 treatments to break the breeding cycle.
Also I buy hay with dust extracted, and if you are outside, a good shake of each handful will remove a bit more.
