- Steam treatment helps a lot with clearing airways. Before going to bed (at least an hour or so) start a hot shower, as hot as you can. Then simply take deep breaths. The heat and moistness will help dislodge the mucous. Blow your nose as much as you can and whatever you can cough, cough. It's important that you don't go straight to bed after though as you will need to cough up whatever was dislodged and lying down will make you choke more.
- When wheezy and coughing a lot, sleeping in a more upright position will help.
- Avoid milk products when coughing and wheezing as it thickens the mucous.
- Wear a mask when cleaning the cage and handling the hay.
- Take an antihistamine and/or inhalers prior to cleaning the cage or even long play sessions.
- Singulair is an option but it is to be used daily and does not replace any other med. It is simply something that helps reduce asthma, not treat it. It is not an allergy med, you need to take antihistamines anyway.
- The trick with antihistamines is testing every kind out there basically and unfortunately. I always keep two on hand and alternate because once your body gets too used to one, it simply stops being effective.Oneis a prescription antihistamine because I have pushed myself too far and over-the-counter is simply too weak. The other, is the new fast-acting extra-strengthBenadryl gel caplets. Be warned: you may lose hours of your life and not remember anything
Seriously though, be very cautious when taking them because they can make you severely drowsy and basicallycan makeyou feel drunk. It's the best I have taken yet though.
- Don't bring yourself to a point where cortisone is needed to control your allergies and asthma symptoms. If you get to that point, step back and re-evaluate. You want to avoid high level doses of cortisone over an extended period of time.
- Air purifiers, opening doors and windows to let the air change, washing all linens, and even using a separate outfit to handle the bunny and then changing right away can help.
- Showering after washing the bunny's cage or at least washing your hands after handling the buns.
- Avoid or at least reduce bunny kisses
Kissing the bunnies sends the allergens right up your airway.
- If you have the time, financesand patience for the shots, go for it.
- Consider feeding hay cubes rather than loose hay.
- Do know that prolonged allergies can result in the secretions causing secondary infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia... Try not to get to that point.
- Do remember that while working with shelter buns is awesome, if you overexpose yourself, you may make your allergies worse and therefore, it could become harder to tolerate your own buns. It wouldn't be advantageous for anyone if you couldn't tolerate your own bunnies after. It really sucks. I know, I've been there.
- Last thing, one thing that greatly helped me was using cat litter (if you can tolerate it)in a litterbox that has a heavy wire thing on it so she could not stir it or eat it. Now, we know that cat litter is normally a no-no because it is dangerous if eaten and dusty etc. I had asked here and most seemed to think that it is not a problem if those two factors are taken care of. However, I don't know that it's proven either. My vet seemed to think it was fine, but we all know that vets don't always know everything about bunnies either. It's not something I quite suggest, but thought I would put it out there in case. Hoping other members here could give more input on it.
Good luck to you! Allergies suck!:rose: