I’ve edited the title of your post to include there are pictures. Some medical images can be disturbing to users, so I added that as a slight precaution.

I have no experience with mites, whether it’s minor or severe, but I imagine a severe case of mites could even propagate bacterial issues as well because of the damage caused?

If the vet was rabbit-savvy, it’s a safer bet to start the treatment as recommended and monitor for improvements, no change, or worsening.

Thank you for taking in this rabbit, especially in its condition. Seeing an injured or sickly animal can make it intimidating to approach and care for because you’re unsure what’s wrong, but I’m sure this rabbit is thankful you are welcoming.

In terms of diet for now, can you get any non-pesticide grass, or buy a small bag of Timothy hay to provide? Veggies are a part of a rabbit diet, but the large majority is actually hay. In terms of veggies, stay away from carrots (not a veggie; they’re actually high-sugar treats that shouldn’t be fed often) and iceberg lettuce and cabbage. Green, red, and romaine lettuce are all fine though.

There’s good preliminary information on the BUNNY INFO section of this website.

For water, the rabbit may be hydrated through eating vegetables, but for now, just have a bowl out with fresh water as well so the option is always there.

Wouldn’t the vet prescribe some Revolution (selamectin) or ivermectin to treat empirically for mites? It does look like a bad case of ear mites, and as Wick says, the compromised skin is a really, really good environment for bacteria to take advantage of. So maybe you could ask to treat him with both a broad spectrum antibiotic like enrofloxacine and an anti-parasitic like Revolution or ivermectin? He should also have a painkiller because whatever this is, it’s bothering him.

I think Charlie could have good chances of recovery if you treat now. He is after all still eating. If it is mites you’d see improve,ent quickly with selamectin or ivermectin.

(Warning we always issue when anti-parasitics are mentioned: Never use any compound containing fipronil on a rabbit. Fipronil is sold under a variety of brand names and it’s deadly toxic to rabbits. It’s fine for cats and dogs, but thuroughly unsafe for rabbits.)

I’m not a vet but that really really looks like mites. It’s very likely it could be both. I agree with Bam. Ask the vet for Revolution. It’s harmless to do give even if it were not mites.

I agree. It does look like ear mites. Keep in mind, skin scrapings can yield false negatives.

If it were me, I would get some Revolution. Don’t worry about giving it alongside Baytril. It won’t hurt anything.

It is ear mites, Fitz has had them. That’s a bad case, but it’s curable!
What you need to do is take a syringe and suck up some mineral, olive, vegetable or coconut oil and cover the inside of his ears where there are mites twice a day until it clears up, and then about 3 days after to be sure.

Let all crusts fall off naturally, don’t try to remove them. Keep back feet claws short so he doesn’t make matters worse by scratching himself. Also obviously keep his living area clean, but I’m pretty sure you are doing that.

Revolution will be a lot more effective than mineral oil, but mineral oil can help soften the crusts up so they fall off more easily.

(As for fipronil, it’s safe for cats. There is another common anti-parasitic, permethrin, that cats are very sensitive to. It’s well tolerated by dogs though, and most rabbits, but not all rabbits so Revolution is a much better option).

Oh, the ivermectin treatment really does seem to be helping! Then it is mites, and he will get a lot better. When my bun had fur mites, the first difference I saw with the antiparasitic was bigger flakes that came off easy.

There’s nothing really good to put on the ears to soothe them, since rabbits should never have cortcosteroids and that’s what a human or dog would get for itching. An antihistamine can help (benadryl is rabbit safe in the correct dose), hopefully he can get that at the shelter. As you’re saying, oils could irritate the sore area further, and you don’t want that.

When my bun Bam had itchy sores in his ears (not from mites but from a reaction to a vaccine), I put a little bit of hand sanitizer on his back feet, the nail area, just to minimize the nr of bacteria he could transfer by scratching his ears. I only used a little bit and let it dry before putting him back on the ground.

I’m sorry you wont be able to keep him, but you have saved him and that’s a beautiful thing. And you’ve helped him with his mites even though the vet was being uncooperative, that’s wonderful too. Thank you so much for doing this for Charlie!

Thanks for helping him. I’m glad to hear the update. Poor bub, looks so sad. I hope he has a long, bunderful life.