To Get Rabbit PTS?

[CantBreathe90]

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.

I’ve just had my 12 year old house rabbit PTS as he could no longer use his back legs. Your rabbit might not even be half way through their natural life and you want to PTS… that’s awful.

If I were your rabbit I’d rather have a year in less than ideal conditions in a shelter and then potentially 5 more good years in someone’s home as a beloved pet than just be PTS because I’ve become an inconvenience…

There are some dreadful people in the world

He's probably about 9, give or take.

Will do, thank-you.

😂 Apparently people can develop allergies to animals (anything really) at any time, I read. Hadn't known about it before getting pets. I do like the idea of being pts myself though.

If your taking 3x the loratidine daily and its not helping what makes you think its an allergy? Bearing in mind you've had the rabbit 6 years without an allergy?

You would be massively unreasonable to PTS an animal based off the above. Rehome to a suitable home. There must be rabbit care facebook/rehoming pages where you can check he's going to a suitable home

Well it's quite heartening in a way that there are so many people passionate about rabbits. Not sure about the ones wishing death on me, but I suppose it takes all sorts.

Clearly I am BU. Will try the stronger antihistamines suggested, and failing that will look at a shelter as it sounds like what I've heard about them might not be right. I hadn't heard about rehoming older rabbits with ones who've had the other half of their pair die, so that was really helpful, thank-you.

Try beconase nose spray, anti allergy eye drops / optrex, try different anti histamines, rotate them . Also a saline nose spray helps. Dyson vacuum cleaner gets up animal fluff. Don’t let rabbit in bedrooms.

I completely agree but I think we need to face facts thst rescues are bursting with healthy animals that noone will adopt because they are "too expensive" or the rescue expect "too high standards" whereas shops sell then for fuck all and make no home checks.

Rescues cannot keep accepting animals at the rate they are coming in, the whole system is broken.

Rescues will need to pay to stay or neuter before rehoming. So without funding or legislative changes, the every rescue is having to make tough choices, many with waiting lists with rabbits on it for whom they have welfare concerns about but they know they will never make it to them because they don't have the resource.

People only need to search local rescues to see how much they are struggling and whilst I don't think OP should pts, I don't know what the solution is when you can't trust private rehoming and rescues are full.

OP, no judgement, but do you really think after 6 years you've just developed an allergy? Can you get an allergy test? They exist.

And for future reference for anyone reading this, a rescue will always take your rabbit back, top of the list, no matter what, nommatter if youve had them a day or 10 years, if you adopt from them. It's a safety net you can't get from a petshop.

GP: It's the tail end of that virus

OP: I'll get the bunny killed, then, I must be allergic to it

MN: Rehome the bunny if you're determined not to listen to the GP

OP: I'll just get the bunny killed, it won't be as nice as here

MN: Why aren't you listening to the GP saying it's the virus?

OP: I'll carry on assuming the GP knows nothing and I must be allergic to it, so I'll take allergy meds that have zero effect upon viruses and maybe rehome the bunny instead of getting it killed if I can find something better than death for it

Try Petalcleanse room.spray and also the fur wipe, it's the cat version you need.

Also might it be the hay rather than the rabbit? Maybe put the hay in a tissue box so there is less floating in the air, or try to (gradually) try a different form eg the dried grass rather than meadow hay.

Disgraceful I I swear people come on here to wind people up for fun

Nails it

I'd recommend trying Fexofenadine for the allergies if you want to try a bit more to keep the rabbit.

Get at least one powerful air purifier and keep it next to the rabbit to catch the allergens. Maybe change his bedding to only fleece material to reduce potential allergens.

I do understand where you're coming from. Rabbits are well known for being ill treated and ending up in awful homes. Death isn't the worst thing that can happen. Living in a 2ft cage, ignored and barely cared for until he dies would be worse.

I don't think you're a bad person for considering this. Struggling to breath is terrifying and no way for you to live. Maybe doing something to absolutely be certain that its an allergy to your pet first (board him out for a couple of weeks?) would help you work out your next moves.

Yes, my house rabbit was 13 when she was PTS under similar circumstances.

She hadn't lost total use of her back legs but she had become very frail overall as well. The vet said there was now the potential that she could break her back if she had to struggle too much to get up, plus her legs could go completely at any time. It wasn't a decision we took lightly and even now I sometimes think she could have had another couple of days/weeks of sunshine.

So 6 for a house rabbit is young.

True but if this is a new allergy then you do develop a bit of immunity over time with exposure. If it’s triggering asthma you need inhalers. If it’s virus after effects which can last 6 months maybe more then inhalers help with that too.
Your situation is manageable without getting rid of rabbit. Give it more time.

A quick google in my area (London) shows three rabbit specific rescues and other rescues that take rabbits. Why you thought it would be ‘kinder’ to put an animal to sleep without any knowledge of how rescues work?
I hope you find a good place that will re home your pet.

I don't know anything about rabbits but if you have a garden can't it live outside in a hutch with a run? Then the dander won't be in your house.

Of course you can’t have him PTS just because you don’t want him anymore, I not even sure you would find a reputable vet to put a healthy rabbit to sleep. Plus if this is following a viral illness it may not even be a permanent response, it would be awful to put him down for something that is resolvable. Do you have any friends or family who might take him for a few weeks just whilst your chest clears up? If not then are you really doing everything you can to reduce the aggravation? Do you have air purifiers in the house? Does have complete free roam? If so restrict his access somewhat so that you have a room or two he doesn’t go in that you know will be allergen free. Increase the frequency that you’re hoovering and cleaning his litter so that there isn’t as much fluff etc to deal with at a time, or if you have another adult in the house delegate the tasks.

Please don’t get him PTS. So so many people will love this rabbit, old or not. I adopted a 7 year old rabbit myself.
if you don’t want him/can’t keep him please contact rescues. Plenty of rescues specifically for rabbits and small animals exist. He will still have a loving life with one of those whether he finds a home or not. His life matters.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Please contact a rabbit rescue. And don’t get any more pets. Ridiculous and insulting to shelters and the people working there.

Came here to say this.⬆

I have been trying to rehome a 5 year old, very cute Netherland dwarf, as I am not rescuing rabbits anymore. 20 years plus has taken its toll now and I want a more peaceful life now. He is my last one, I lost a 12 year old last week and earlier in the year and 11 year old. On that basis you would be murdering a rabbit who potentially has many years left because your fed up with it!
I am struggling to rehome my last one, but I want what’s best for him and he needs other rabbits for company. I shall keep him until I find the right person/place for him. Because i love him and because he is my responsibility. I will do what’s best for him.

Whether it’s real or fake, OP is a terrible human being.