Lop's ears, what would cause this?

[Bunster.love]

My lop has an area of "irritation" ? in both his ears. The inside of his ears are otherwise clean, this is well outside his ear canal, just on the skin side on both of his ears - strictly in those similar areas on both ears. Did he maybe just over groom? I have included pictures. It seems to have improved very slightly, definitely hasn't gotten worse. I really didn't notice anything until I rubbed his ears & felt this & looked. I'm sure it must have developed pretty recent. It is hard & scaly....I am thinking there was some "oozing" initially and then dried & thats the scaling I see over the area ? Anyone know?

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We had one with mites when she 1st came to us. Get a scraping to a vet or take your bunny in for a check.

 

[JBun]

Overgrooming is unlikely as that would be more the outside of the ear, and wouldn't cause that kind of damage. Even though it's outside of the ear canal, it still looks like it could be ear mites, especially being in both ears. That oozing and crustiness is typical. Definitely get it checked out.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Mites
Medirabbit: ear mites

https://rabbit.org/veterinarians/

 

[Bunster.love]

Overgrooming is unlikely as that would be more the outside of the ear, and wouldn't cause that kind of damage. Even though it's outside of the ear canal, it still looks like it could be ear mites, especially being in both ears. That oozing and crustiness is typical. Definitely get it checked out.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Mites
Medirabbit: ear mites

https://rabbit.org/veterinarians/

Okay....I will definitely make an appt. I just thought I would see something "IN" the ear if it were ear mites. So to clarify, It won't always show up on the inside? (more towards the ear canal?)

 

[Bunster.love]

So to follow up a little.... the ears are definitely getting less irritated looking, the area is reducing, and the crust is beginning to peel off a little.... I included another pict. I did make an appt at the vet, but they can't get me in for 10 days - so I will see what it looks like in that time. (I wouldn't think ear mites would resolve on their own, but part of me thinks I have seen this once before in the past & it also disappeared by itself (?) I am just keeping this post going in case someone else is curious how it turns out.

 

[JBun]

Only time I've seen scaly yellowish sores/irritation like that on the inner surface of the ears, is from ear mites. But it's possible it's something else, just would be unusual. Was your bun exposed to freezing temperatures in the past month, or could it have burned somehow, like a rug burn? Those might produce a similar looking sore

 

[Bunster.love]

Thank you JBun for your input on this. Its SO nice to run things by this forum with people that take it serious and are knowledgeable people such as yourself. No, nothing like that. Yeah, I know - it's weird. Kind of why I was wondering if anyone had ever run across it. I have fostered lots of buns and only saw this ONCE before (and I kind of think it was my guy ... but maybe 2 years ago.) I am always paranoid if I am seeing mites or ear wax when I take in fosters ....I have to be really careful. I have 9 fosters right now and none of them have mites or anything I could have spread to him (and I don't want to spread it to THEM). Its REALLY improving now.... The one side has completely shedded the crust and the other is about to shed a good size portion. The slight underlying redness has dissipated. This progression has all been in the time frame of about a week. I included updated photos. Just figured this was good to document. Just weird! Hes indoor, free roam, doesn't get into anything.

 

[JBun]

You haven't applied any topical products in the last week or so, or has he had any meds or injections lately? I'm just wondering if it's some sort of dermal reaction to a product or allergen.

 

[Bunster.love]

You haven't applied any topical products in the last week or so, or has he had any meds or injections lately? I'm just wondering if it's some sort of dermal reaction to a product or allergen.

Nothing like that. The ONLY thing that I can think of is one of my cats has decided that he likes the convenience of rabbits litter box , and doesn't smell like HIS lol). Its definitely not a regular occurrence, since I caught him pee in it several months ago - I added a petsafe invisible fence controller to buns litter area now as well (I already us it in the house to keep the cats off the leather chairs !). On occasion I can forget to get their collars on first thing in the morning - and that DUMB SMART cat must KNOW -haha. Very remote possibility a urine scald ? - but the circumstances would have to be just right for that.... and literally very rare ....but... Just playing Sherlock here.