Fur Mites & Ear Mites

Rabbits can get fur and ear mites (Cheyletiella mites) very easily.  This is the most common mite that will infect rabbits. Stray animals and wild animals carry them and pass through yards on a daily basis. One minute your bunny could be mite free hopping around grazing on grass in your back yard and then all of a sudden one day you notice a nasty crusty and flaky debris on the inside of your bunnies ear.  Or you notice something that looks like dandruff (fur mites are often referred to as "walking dandruff") on the back of your bunnies neck.  These are the first signs of mites.  The mites eat the top layer of skin (keratin) by secreting an enzyme that dissolves a tiny portion of the skin and will cause the itching and flakes you can see with the naked eye. If left untreated, it can make the rabbit weak and compromise their immune system. It is a very simple parasite to treat and kill. This type of mite cannot live out its full life cycle (3 weeks) on a human.  There is no need for an uncontrollable mite infestation in a rabbitry. We give an injectable dose of Ivermectin (cattle wormer that can be easily overdosed so please do your research before using) in the nape of the neck and follow up one wees later with a second injection as a precaution.  I have read that you can give this injection five days to three weeks later.  We have never had a bad infestation and our treatments are usually just preventative treatments. We also have used Revolution for cats because it kills fleas and this is part of our quarantine protocol. Please note, never use Frontline product on any rabbit as it can be fatal. Always consult your veterinarian about any medication and treatment for your animals.    

The site link below speaks about other types of parasites as well.  The photos that they have for fur mites and ear mites are extreme cases but you can see what it looks like.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/skin-and-fur-parasites/

We purchased some new bunnies that came to us with fur mites. Here are some photos we took to show how it looks after sheared.  

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