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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Get Rabbit PTS?

69 replies

CantBreathe90 · 30/08/2025 21:37

I hate even thinking about it, but we have a house rabbit that is giving me terrible asthma / allergies and I'm considering having him pts as my throat hurts, my chest is tight and I can't stop coughing / clearing my throat.

We've had him six years, but he's older than that as he was from someone who couldn't look after him any more (we had two rabbits initially but the other died of old age about six months ago). It hasn't been a problem until two months ago, when I got a coughing viral thing, and ever since I've been really aggravated by his fluff / cleaning out his litter tray / hoovering. To the point sometimes I'm having trouble breathing and have to go sit in the garden.

I'm fairly certain it's the poor rabbit causing it, because of when the coughing worsens. Have gone to the GP who said he thinks I'm just taking a while to shake the virus, and things which normally wouldn't aggravate me are doing. Spent a week at my parents recently and cough totally stopped for the duration I was there. I do have a chest xray booked for Monday to rule out anything serious, but GP says he isn't worried, he's almost certain it's this virus / aggravation.

I'm already taking two or three times the loretadine a day you're supposed to and have dipped into my kids inhalers too. It has helped slightly, but hasn't solved the issue. Am dreading the winter, as windows / patio doors will be shut all the time, and rabbit doesn't like going out either when it's cold (fair enough), so will be all stuck in together for months.

Wouldn't put him through another rehoming at his age.

OP posts:
wonderpetsrus · 30/08/2025 21:42

Call carrot cottage rescue and get advice

FunnyOrca · 30/08/2025 21:46

Ask local rescues to help. You will be surprised, but older bunnies are often in demand to provide “end of life fostering” to bunnies whose partners have died and the owners don’t want to commit to another full 10-15 years.

please don’t put a heathy rabbit to sleep! Someone will take him.

Rollingdown · 30/08/2025 21:47

Can I put my husband to sleep, I’m fed up of him lol

IGaveSoManySigns · 30/08/2025 21:47

Why on earth is your first thought to kill an animal over attempting to rehome him?!

MidnightPatrol · 30/08/2025 21:47

Can someone else provide the day-to-day care?

Killing him seems a bit extreme.

SummerDaysAreTheBest · 30/08/2025 21:48

Give your rabbit away! Why would you kill him because of your allergies?! What the actual FUCK?!

XenoBitch · 30/08/2025 21:49

By all means have him PTS and deny him the chance to have a loving home with someone else.
But please never ever get another pet again.

YABVVU

SummerDaysAreTheBest · 30/08/2025 21:49

Rollingdown · 30/08/2025 21:47

Can I put my husband to sleep, I’m fed up of him lol

I mean, mine does snore very loud 🤣🤣🤣

Irisilume · 30/08/2025 21:49

You are being ridiculous, give him to a rehoming centre for god's sake

PurpleSky300 · 30/08/2025 21:50

Had to read this a few times because I was just stunned. You want to a kill a healthy animal because you have allergies?

God almighty.

I seriously hope that no vet in their right mind would entertain that. Get a better antihistamine if the one you're using isn't working, give the rabbit to a rescue organisation, and have a word with yourself. Unbelievable.

Testerical · 30/08/2025 21:51

Yeah, I don’t think PTS is the first choice. Regime your bunny. There are always bunnies in need of new mates, as they are social and they don’t tend to die at the same time as their bonded mate.

HangryLikeTheHulk · 30/08/2025 21:51

Just get a hopper-popper off ebay

PurpleSky300 · 30/08/2025 21:52

Oh, and don't ever get any more pets.

Lovemybunnies · 30/08/2025 21:52

He will be fine being rehomed. People are quite often looking for older rabbits as companions to another older rabbit in the hope that they die around the same time! In the meantime ask your GP to put you on montelukast. I am on it as I am allergic to my dog and it makes a huge difference to me.

Calling · 30/08/2025 21:53

Rollingdown · 30/08/2025 21:47

Can I put my husband to sleep, I’m fed up of him lol

Seems reasonable!

MysticalPombear · 30/08/2025 21:55

6 years and 1st option is pts... do you feel no love for the bunny?

Original poster
CantBreathe90 · 30/08/2025 21:56

My thinking is that it would be kinder to have him pts than sending him to an animal shelter, which is what it likely would be. My understanding was that most of them, don't have the time or resources to give animals (particularly rabbits) what they need. Ours is used to having the run of downstairs, including the garden when weather permits, and people in with him most of the day. Maybe I'm wrong though and a shelter would be able to provide something comparable? Unless an animal has a fair chance of being rehomed properly, I thought shelters were mainly to make the person dropping them off feel better, rather than what's best for the animal. I've never been to a shelter though, either to adopt or drop an animal off, so am more than happy to hear if I'm wrong about that.

OP posts:
SpaghettiHettie · 30/08/2025 21:56

Go to the GP and sort your allergies out first. Jeeze.

My DS was small with bad allergies and was told he could take 3 antihistamines a day constantly. Plus a nose spray.

Then if it doesn't work consider rehoming

Original poster
CantBreathe90 · 30/08/2025 21:57

Testerical · 30/08/2025 21:51

Yeah, I don’t think PTS is the first choice. Regime your bunny. There are always bunnies in need of new mates, as they are social and they don’t tend to die at the same time as their bonded mate.

This is interesting thank-you, I hadn't considered that.

OP posts:
lostmywayrightnow · 30/08/2025 21:57

Wow, I have four bunnies (one six also) and would never consider this. Their fur also upsets me allergy wise but that's my choice. Please contact a rescue, all of mine are rescues. They do re-home older bunnies.

XenoBitch · 30/08/2025 21:58

CantBreathe90 · 30/08/2025 21:56

My thinking is that it would be kinder to have him pts than sending him to an animal shelter, which is what it likely would be. My understanding was that most of them, don't have the time or resources to give animals (particularly rabbits) what they need. Ours is used to having the run of downstairs, including the garden when weather permits, and people in with him most of the day. Maybe I'm wrong though and a shelter would be able to provide something comparable? Unless an animal has a fair chance of being rehomed properly, I thought shelters were mainly to make the person dropping them off feel better, rather than what's best for the animal. I've never been to a shelter though, either to adopt or drop an animal off, so am more than happy to hear if I'm wrong about that.

A lot of shelters have pool of foster homes so bunny could well end up in a home environment.

A shelter does not mean an animal trapped in a cage with no interaction.

WhatTheFuk · 30/08/2025 22:01

You most likely had covid. If you won’t wear a mask to protect yourself, perhaps at least consider one when cleaning your rabbit out, etc. Antihistamines, too. Or, you could just kill it to avoid the hassle.

didgeridid · 30/08/2025 22:02

This can not be a real post surely?

PurpleSky300 · 30/08/2025 22:05

CantBreathe90 · 30/08/2025 21:56

My thinking is that it would be kinder to have him pts than sending him to an animal shelter, which is what it likely would be. My understanding was that most of them, don't have the time or resources to give animals (particularly rabbits) what they need. Ours is used to having the run of downstairs, including the garden when weather permits, and people in with him most of the day. Maybe I'm wrong though and a shelter would be able to provide something comparable? Unless an animal has a fair chance of being rehomed properly, I thought shelters were mainly to make the person dropping them off feel better, rather than what's best for the animal. I've never been to a shelter though, either to adopt or drop an animal off, so am more than happy to hear if I'm wrong about that.

I have just had to have my lovely cat PTS due to cancer, it broke my heart. And you want to PTS because you have the sneezes and can't do five minutes of online research. I hope this is just silly ragebait because I can't comprehend a grown adult acting like this.

HoskinsChoice · 30/08/2025 22:10

You have had the rabbit for 6 years and never been allergic but you suddenly are? Hmmm! Rehome and, as others have said, never ever get another pet again. It is cruel to have a pet that you think so little about that you would PTS on a theory (despite a medical professional going against this theory). It's a shame we can't PTS people like you.

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