Dan has taught college Nutrition, Anatomy, Physiology, and Sports Nutrition courses and has a master's degree in Dietetics & Nutrition.
Olivia is a 5-year-old who recently got a pet rabbit for her birthday. Olivia has wanted a pet rabbit for a very long time, and loves playing with her new furry friend whom she named Twinkle. Since Olivia's backyard is fenced in, Olivia's mom allows her to bring Twinkle in the backyard to play. Each day, Olivia and Twinkle play together outside for a couple of hours.
Recently, Olivia has noticed that Twinkle has been itching her right ear a lot, and that there is a brown crust growing in this ear as well. Olivia told her mom about these symptoms, and her mom called a veterinarian to schedule an appointment. At the vet's office, Twinkle was taken through several tests to see what was causing the problems with her ear. After going over all the results, the vet told Olivia and her mom that Twinkle had ear mites in her right ear.
Ear mites (scientific name Psoroptes cuniculi) are an eight-legged parasite that can infect the ears of certain animal hosts including rabbits, sheep, horses, and goats (this lesson will focus solely on ear mites in rabbits). Rabbits that live in close proximity to other potentially infected rabbits, such as in pet stores or houses that have multiple pet rabbits, are at increased risk for being infected with ear mites. Rabbits may also become infected by these arachnids by playing or resting in grass or other materials that may contain the eggs of these mites (such as grass used for bedding or found outside, like when Twinkle played in the backyard).
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The symptoms of ear mites in rabbits include:
If a rabbit with ear mites does not receive proper treatment, these symptoms may progress into hearing loss. The irritation may also spread to other areas of the body, such as the neck, stomach, groin areas of the rabbit.
Treatment for ear mites in rabbits often includes the administration of ivermectin, which is an anti-parasitic medication that is also used to treat head-lice in humans. Ivermectin will work to kill all the ear mites that have infected a rabbit, and once the ear mites have been destroyed, the itching and crust in the ears will begin to go away.
It is also very important to thoroughly clean and sterilize the living areas of the rabbit. For example, it is very important to clean the rabbits cage and all objects in the cage. Additionally, any materials used for bedding should be immediately thrown away and replaced. Any object that has come in contact with the rabbit should also be thoroughly cleaned, such as brushes or toys. Thorough cleaning will help to destroy any mites or mite eggs that may have contaminated these areas or objects, preventing the rabbit from being infected with ear mites again.
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Ear mites are a parasite that can infect the ears of rabbits (as well as goats, horses, and sheep). Rabbits that live in close proximity to other potentially infected rabbits, such as in pet-stores or houses that have multiple pet rabbits, are at increased risk for being infected with ear mites. Rabbits may also become infected by ear mites by playing or resting in grass or other materials that may contain the eggs of these mites.
Symptoms of rabbits with ear mites include itchy ears, constant shaking of the head, brown crust in the ears, and hair loss on the ears. Treatment will often involve the administration of ivermectin, which is an anti-parasitic medication. It is also important to thoroughly clean the living areas of the rabbit and any objects that have come in contact with the rabbit. Cleaning will help kill any mites and mite eggs that remain, preventing the rabbit from being reinfected with ear mites.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is for your information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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Animal Science Study Guide5 chapters | 35 lessons
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