Table of Content
Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum anti-parasitic medication that is effective in killing ear mites. It is available in both liquid and gel form, and can be applied directly to the ears or given orally. Ivermectin is generally considered safe for use in rabbits, but it can cause stomach upset in some animals. Rabbits are especially susceptible to ear mites, which can cause a lot of irritation.
Rabbits are among such animals that are prone to ear mites, wherein these microscopic mites, settle into the ears of the animal. In the following article, you can learn some home remedies for this problem. Horoughly clean and treat the environment in which the rabbit lives.
Infestation of Mites in the Ear in Rabbits – Wag!
After the medication, keep an eye on the recovery of your pet. You must regularly check within two weeks after its treatment if there is a sign of skin scaling. Also, observe its behavior if it stops or continues to scratch due to itching. When ear mites reach the inner part of the ear close to the brain’s nerves, it will also cause the rabbit to go off-balance. You may also notice that the normal upright ear will flop down.
If the case of your rabbit is not severe, you may only spend up to $10 for the medication. Depending on your location, the vet may also perform ear cytology that may cost you about $25 to $40. The crust will fall off, and the rabbit’s skin will heal naturally. New layers of skin will grow out without any discomfort for your rabbit. The vet will suggest injections or oral doses of ivermectin and anti-inflammatories.
Prevention
These mites are invisible to the naked eye, but they can be seen through a microscope. Ear mites usually cause no harm to their hosts, but they can sometimes cause irritation and discomfort. The most obvious symptom of ear mites is intense itching, which can lead to raw, inflamed skin. In severe cases, ear mites can also cause deafness. If you suspect that your rabbit has ear mites, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
The best way to prevent mites and get rid of existing mites is to clean and disinfect your home regularly, wash your clothing and bedding, and vacuum. You should also use non-chemical products and wear gloves while cleaning to protect yourself from mites. Put a special place to litter always can help your pet stay healthy.
Ear Mites in Rabbits – Dechra Veterinary Products
Only a few drops are needed, gently massaged into the ear. They will fall off in a couple of days on their own following the start of treatment. First of all, separate the infected rabbit from the rest.
For healthy rabbits, regular ear cleaning is not required. But if your rabbit is prone to build ear wax easily, you should clean its ears regularly. Ear mites usually multiply on ear wax so removing it is necessary.
If the mite infection is advanced, it can cause the skin to flake off excessively. Once it flakes off it will move to the surface of the fur and look like dandruff. Always support your rabbit’s hind legs while you are holding it to prevent it from kicking. Violent kicking can severely injure your rabbit’s back.
Like I always said, rabbits get easily stress, so you need to make them stay happy. To make the rabbits happy, you need to start with the cage. Prepare the cage that is at least 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep so your rabbit has plenty of room to move around.
This will create an environment that is unsuitable for ear mites, and they will eventually die off. With a little patience and persistence, you can clear your rabbit’s ears of ear mites using one of these simple home remedies. Infected rabbits tend to scratch their ears and shake their heads. In case the intensity of the infection is severe, it can cause the ear canals to bleed. This is a source of nutrition for the insects who tend to suck on the blood of the animal. If not treated on time, they can infect the head, ventral abdomen, neck and perianal region.
Amy Pratt is a lifelong rabbit owner who has been specializing with rabbits at the Humane Rescue Alliance. She helps to socialize the rabbits and educate volunteers on the care and behavior of these small mammals. If you are new to caring for rabbits, check out the Bunny Lady bimonthly newsletter. Right after you sign up, you’ll receive a FREE pdf rabbit care guidebook. I put together a guide that goes over all the basics of rabbit care so you have it all in one place. Then you will receive tips and tricks about rabbit care straight to your inbox so that you know you’ll be taking excellent care of your new rabbit.
The ear mites should be gone by then, but you always need to ensure that they are really gone. There are specific antiparasitic drugs, called ivermectins, that can be used to eliminate the mites from your rabbit's ears. The crusts on the skin should not be removed, as they will only reveal exposed tissue. Once treatment has begun and the mites are no longer infesting the crusted skin, the underlying skin will be able to heal and the crusts will fall away. Other ointments and preparations that may be used for the ear may include antibiotics for any infections that are found on the outer part of the ear. Oral antibiotics will be prescribed for inner infections.
Ear mites are highly contagious, so if one rabbit has them, the other likely does as well. Your veterinarian may choose to test both rabbits to see if both need treatment. After separating the infected rabbit, you also need to clean the environment where the rabbit used to hang out. Sanitizing them is very important since the mites might stay there and spread into other environment, even though without their host. You might as well clean your hand and even change your clothes and just clean them all. These remedies can prove beneficial when the intensity of infection is less.
Rabbit ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canals of rabbits. They feed on the wax and oils secreted by the rabbit’s skin and can cause serious irritation. Ear mites are highly contagious and can be passed from one rabbit to another through close contact. Ear mites are tiny parasitic creatures that can infest the ears of rabbits and other small animals.
No comments:
Post a Comment