How to Get Rid of Ear Mites in Rabbits
A rabbit's ears are such a major part of its identity, so it can be particularly worrisome if they experience a problem that affects their signature body part. Ear mites, related to the spider, are extremely contagious and can seriously affect a rabbit's ears. Ear mites live off of the blood that comes out of scratched lesions. These mite-induced lesions can cause severe pain and discomfort in the bunny, as well as reddish-brown crusting in the ear canal. Fortunately, there are a few ways to remove the pesky mites from your bunny's ears.
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Things You'll Need
- Ivermectin
- Oral and injection syringes
- Moxidectin
- Ketoprofen
- Carprofen
- Meloxicam
- Antibiotic ear drops
Instructions
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Administer Ivermectin to your rabbit, suggests MyBunny.org. Ivermectin can be given either orally or subcutaneously via an injection. Give the Ivermectin for a total of three times, at two-week intervals.
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Apply a topical product that contains selamectin to your rabbit, recommends RabbitsForPets.com. Most rabbit ear mite cases are resolved with one application, but if the ear mites remain, apply another dose 30 days after the initial dose was given.
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Give medication that contains moxidectin to your rabbit orally, states MyBunny.org. While this type of treatment does not kill the mite eggs, it remains in the ear long enough to kill the larvae emerging from the eggs.
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Provide pain medication to your bunny, if the bunny is uncomfortable. MyBunny.org recommends treating a rabbit in pain with the medications ketoprofen, carprofen or meloxicam.
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Apply antibiotic ear drops, if the ear mites have caused a secondary bacterial infection. If the infection is quite severe, both drops and oral medications should be administered.
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Allow the crusts on the ears to fall off on their own, suggests RabbitsForPets.com. Removing them can be quite painful for the bunny.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult with your veterinarian for dosage information, as most depend on the weight of the bunny.
Keep your rabbit away from others that are infected with mites, as they are extremely contagious.
References
- Photo Credit floppy eared rabbits image by Ken Marshall from Fotolia.com
