Rabbit Allergies in Dogs

Rabbit Allergies in Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

What are Rabbit Allergies?

An allergy is the result of the body’s attempt to defend itself against an amino acid that it perceives as a threat. The body uses the immune system itself to try and fight the invaders and releases histamine, inducing swelling and itching where it makes contact. An allergic reaction doesn’t happen the first time an individual is exposed to the irritant, but rather after repeated exposures. Any substance can trigger an allergic reaction, but allergies to rabbits and their meat are relatively uncommon in canines. Rabbit meat is also sometimes associated with allergies because it can be employed as a novel protein suitable for an elimination or replacement diet.

Although allergies to rabbit meat can develop, they are somewhat uncommon. If your dog lives or is in close contact with a rabbit, they may also develop an allergy to rabbit dander.

Rabbit Allergies Average Cost

From 303 quotes ranging from $200 - $800

Average Cost

$400

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Symptoms of Rabbit Allergies in Dogs

Although most dogs acquire food allergies after the age of three, food allergies in canines can develop at any age. Contact and environmental allergies, like allergies to rabbit dander, will generally not include the gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea and diarrhea. Allergies that remain unaddressed in young dogs may lead to poor growth and development. Skin reactions are often clustered around the face and groin, as well as being found under the front legs and between the toes.

  • Bald patches
  • Chronic ear infections
  • Chronic gas
  • Chronically inflamed feet
  • Coughing 
  • Diarrhea
  • Face rubbing
  • Head shaking
  • Hives
  • Obsessive licking
  • Paw biting
  • Poor puppy or adolescent growth 
  • Skin infections
  • Skin rashes
  • Vomiting
  • Wheezing

Types

There is more than one type of allergy that a dog can develop to rabbits. The most common allergy that occurs is an allergy to the proteins in the rabbit meat itself. An estimated 60-70% of the cells of the immune system in canines actually reside within the digestive system. The process of digestion is designed to break down food particles into their smallest parts, known as amino acids. These minuscule particles are then absorbed by white blood cells called enterocytes. When proteins are not properly broken down during digestion, these enterocytes see them as intruders and attack. Dogs can also develop contact and environmental allergies to rabbit fur, dander, urine, or saliva. Dander and saliva are the most typical of the rabbit contact type allergies, so they tend to occur most often in multiple pet households that include both dogs and rabbits.

Causes of Rabbit Allergies in Dogs

Canine allergies are the hostile response of specialized immune cells in the dog’s body to a protein that it sees as an invader. The body uses both enterocytes and mast cells in the fight to protect the body, and these cells stimulate the release of histamine into the bloodstream. Histamine has an inflammatory effect on the tissues it comes into contact with, resulting in the itchy and inflamed skin conditions that are characteristic of allergic reactions in canines, as well as the digestive symptoms that usually accompany food allergies. 

When the cells in the eyes and sinus cavities are affected by the irritant, and the sign of a runny nose and sneezing are activated. These symptoms are more commonly seen in environmental allergies, like allergies to rabbit dander. Over time the response of these cells usually becomes more aggressive, and symptoms will intensify.

Diagnosis of Rabbit Allergies in Dogs

If your dog develops an allergy, the symptoms of itching and inflamed skin that are exhibited by your dog due will prompt the examiner to collect a skin sample from the areas affected by the allergy, for a microscopic evaluation of the skin cells known as cutaneous cytology. Cutaneous cytology is prepared to look for problems with similar dermal symptoms, such as yeast infections, mites, or other diseases. The results of these tests may lead your dog’s doctor to suspect an allergy. If a food allergy is alleged to be the cause of the symptoms, an elimination diet can be used to diagnose the existence of an allergy, and may be able to deduce which ingredient is causing the reaction. An elimination diet involves changing the dog's food to either a diet of unseasoned human grade food or reduced ingredient commercial food. 

Any foods or food groups you’re your pet has not yet been exposed to may be used as a novel ingredient that can be utilized for the elimination diet. Allergies to rabbit meat are not particularly common, and it is sometimes used as a protein source for an elimination diet if it was not a part of the original diet. Allergies to dander are more likely to be diagnosed by an intradermal skin test, also known as a patch test. Minute amounts of the antigens that are suspected to be causing the reaction are injected under the skin to induce a localized reaction, which will pinpoint the specific allergen.

Treatment of Rabbit Allergies in Dogs

Allergies to rabbit meat are more common than reactions to their dander, and it can take many weeks for an elimination diet to reveal which allergen is responsible. The novel protein that is chosen will be the only protein source allowed to the patient until the skin conditions clear up. If your dog is showing allergy symptoms but has never had rabbit, it may be chosen as a novel protein in its own right. Antihistamines to calm the itching may be recommended by your veterinarian as well as corticosteroids to reduce swelling. Use of these treatments may make it difficult to establish if the symptoms are eliminated due to the change in diet or because of the application of the medications, so many veterinarians prefer to get the results from the elimination diet before treating the symptoms. 

Any new exposure to the protein that caused the initial reaction is also capable of causing a relapse. If the primary protein you have chosen is rabbit meat, treats should also be rabbit based, and it is best to use unflavored toys during this process. If the allergy is to the rabbit's dander or saliva rather than the meat, avoiding the source of the allergen is the best course of action, however, in multiple pet households, this may prove to be difficult. 

Immunotherapy can sometimes be applicable for animals affected by allergens that they are unable to avoid, especially in reactions that occur for at least four to six months of the year and are resistant to antihistamines. After an intradermal test to confirm the actual allergen, an injection is prepared with the correct altered rabbit based antigens. The patient is injected with this personalized formula either weekly or monthly, which desensitizes them to the allergen. This method of treatment can be expensive and  time-consuming, however, it has a very high success rate, especially in younger dogs.

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Recovery of Rabbit Allergies in Dogs

Once the allergen has been identified, the best course of action is to avoid it. In some cases, the allergen may not be avoidable, necessitating more advanced treatments. Secondary skin infections frequently occur in allergic canines, and oral or topical antibiotics may be prescribed if this occurs. Certain supplements to support the proper functioning of the immune system, such as probiotics and Omega-3 oils, may be recommended as well. These supplements are often added to the patient’s regimen even after the treatment has occurred. These enhancements to your pet’s diet may assist your canine’s body in handling any accidental exposure to allergens and to prevent the cultivation of new allergies.

Rabbit Allergies Average Cost

From 303 quotes ranging from $200 - $800

Average Cost

$400

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Rabbit Allergies Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals

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Chihuahua terrier

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Daisy

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5 Years

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1 found this helpful

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1 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Puffy Red Eyes And Nose,Flaky Skin
We got a new couch and my dog was obsessively licking this couch, leaving giant wet spots when we would sit down. She inadvertently developed puffy redness around the eyes and puffy red nose with flaky skin/open skin on the top of the nose. The couch was previously owned by a woman who has a rabbit who used to sit on the couch and also lick the couch at times. Is her allergic reaction due to the contact from the rabbit? How do I help her?

July 26, 2018

1 Recommendations

It is possible that Daisy is having an allergic reaction to the rabbit, you should try to keep her away from the sofa for a few days to see if the symptoms improve; if there is an improvement let her back on the sofa to see if the reaction occurs again. If this is found to be the cause you should ensure that the sofa is professionally cleaned to remove as much as possible, also bathe Daisy and give her Benadryl at 1mg/lb two to three times per day (if not on any other medication); if the sofa isn’t the cause visit your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM

July 27, 2018

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Chiweenie

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Max

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1 Year

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2 found this helpful

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2 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Hair Loss
Itching
Rash
Chewing
Mucus Stool
My dog developed a rash on his stomach about 2 weeks before thanksgiving. Everyone that seen it thought it was ringworm. I bought athletes foot cream and used a tube and a half. The rash moved from the big clusters to small clusters. So I got Antifungal shampoo from walmart and started using it. That worked better. Now the rash is moving up towards his under arms. And five days ago he started having mucusy stool. I think it might be a allergic reaction to my four rabbits. Please help me.

Dec. 25, 2017

2 Recommendations

If you are seeing improvement from antifungal treatment, it would suggest that the cause is due to a fungal infection; however it may be coincidental and allergies may be at play. It is difficult to say what the specific cause is, but to diagnose a cause like rabbit allergies you would need to do allergy testing or remove Max from the environment looking for signs of improvement. The mucus in the stool may be due to a variety of causes, again without checking a stool sample and performing an examination I cannot say for sure; however ensure that Max is up to date with worm treatments (anthelmintics). Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM

Dec. 25, 2017

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Rabbit Allergies Average Cost

From 303 quotes ranging from $200 - $800

Average Cost

$400

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