Ear Mites Help!!

[bekahguajardo]

Hello everybody!

I recently (about a month and a half ago) got a bunny for FFA. I have no previous knowledge on rabbits, and when I got her, it was because another student stopped caring for her at the school, and I took her over. I named her Lola (renamed actually-- it was originally the overused "Thumper") after Bugs Bunny's girlfriend. Nobody really knows anything about her, as she came without a history, I'm assuming she is over a year old though. I just know she is cute and likes me! Lol! I keep her at the school in our ag area (aka The Land Lab) in a stall (which I believe is the reason behind my problem).

Today, I noticed that she had crusty brown stuff in one of her ears (left) and told my friend who knows about rabbits. I left for a class and my friend went out to look at it. She decided to clean it out, including pulling off all the flaky pieces (which I now know after doing research tonight you are not supposed to do!! :headsmack). My vet teacher cleaned it out with alcohol and dog ear cleaner. I put her inside a cage she was previously in (it has a wire bottom). My mother and I decided it would be best to bring her home till she gets better, so I am about to leave to go pick her up.

Here is my question: what am I supposed to do?? I read about putting different oils and things to help kill the mites and heal the ear but nothing about what to do if you removed the flaky stuff! Her ear is all red/bloody, and raw (I know, I was tearing up looking at her), and I don't want to cause her anymore pain. I want to stick to a more natural route, but if there is anything to soothe it, I'm willing to try.

I honestly don't know much about this rabbit, but I absolutely love her. She's so sweet, when I pick her up she curls up into my neck and closes her eyes and I can instantly feel her relax. I'm worried and reading what these mites can do didn't help! I appreciate any advice/help anybody can give! Thank you so much!!!

 

[JBun]

You could try gently rubbing some oil, like olive oil, on the sore skin, to help sooth it, but really the best product for eliminating ear mites, is Revolution(selamectin). It only usually takes one dose and you're done, but it is an rx med and you would have to get it from a vet. Another treatment for ear mites is ivermectin. This can be given orally and needs to be given in at least 3 doses, 2 weeks apart each. I have read of people using mineral oil, but I have no knowledge of how frequently it needs to be done, or even if it is an effective treatment. I would suggest having a good rabbit vet check your bun and give you treatment for the mites. Your rabbit may also need some pain medication like metacam, because of the pain from the removed crusts, and you can get this from the vet as well. If there is any sign of infection, your rabbit may also need rabbit safe antibiotics. Also keep a close eye on your rabbits eating. A rabbit in pain will often lose it's appetite.

http://medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Parasitic/earmite/Psoroptes.htm

 

[Imbrium]

I'm sorry your bunny's having to deal with mites!

I second the recommendation of Revolution and possibly metacam through a vet (and getting the possibility of infection addressed). While I'm often a fan of holistic/natural alternatives, sometimes the best option is good ol' western medicine - even if natural treatments get rid of the mites, they'll surely take longer to get rid of and the treatments probably won't offer any residual protection while Revolution will give you a couple weeks of it. Mites are surely miserable to have, so in my opinion, the best option is whatever gets rid of them the fastest (safely, of course) so she can be comfortable again. Here's some info on Revolution dosage/using it for mites.

Do NOT give an OTC flea/tick medication for cats or dogs even if it says it also treats mites. Fipronil (Frontline and some other products) and the other common drug used (I can't remember the name) in non-prescription medications for this sort of issue can be extremely dangerous or even fatal for bunnies. Selamectin and ivermectin are the ONLY viable options for rabbit mites.

Regardless of how the mites were introduced to the stall area, the fact that your rabbit has them automatically means that the surrounding area is almost certainly harboring mites; also, since they generally can't live without a host for more than like three weeks, there's a distinct possibility that other rabbits are infected (assuming yours isn't the only rabbit kept there). The only way to fully address the issue and prevent re-occurrence is to bring your school into the loop by bringing the problem to the attention of whoever oversees the ag area (and, if necessary, escalating things by going up the chain of command until you get results). All infected animals will need to be treated and the whole area should be thoroughly disinfected... otherwise, the mites will keep coming back.

Best of luck in getting her healed up and mite free!

 

[missyscove]

One dose of revolution (Selamectin) will typically clear up an ear mite problem, but it's only available from a vet. Ivermectin will also work, but there is no ivemectin labeled for this use in rabbits which means that legally your ivermectin would have to come from a veterinarian as well.
The good news is that ear mites are a problem that can be easily resolved.

 

[majorv]

Like the others said, if you get some Revolution from a vet that's what I'd recommend first. Having said that, the Ag teacher may have some medications on hand for the other livestock in the barn...at least, my daughter's Ag teacher did. Normally, I would say a drop or two of ivermectin in each ear should clear it up, but if your rabbit is uncomfortable then he might need pain meds, too. You definitely need to talk to your teacher, though, about getting rid of the mites in the barn. We had to keep my daughter's FFA rabbits at home because the barn was full of other animals.