Advice on Bug

[Hermia]

Today when I was petting Pancake I saw a small black bug and before I could grab it or get a closer look it hid in the fur on his ear.  The black bug I saw was on his ear when I saw it.  He does not itch often or have any other skin conditions.  I have no idea if it was a flea or a mite.  Could you guys give me some advice on what this could have been? 

I am going to be calling the vet tomorrow in addition to gleaning whatever information I can from you guys. Thanks!

[BinkyBunny]

 Sounds like a flea — the fact you could see it so clearly and then it ran back down into your bunny’s fur, that is so…flea!   I hate those things.  Even though Jack and Vivian are indoor buns, they still can still get them from us and other animals that go outside to inside. 

It’s a good idea though to make sure with your vet.    I was using Advantage, but Jack’s fleas became immune to Advantage (very strange super fleas).  Could be that we treat our cat with Advantage and we’ve created super fleas from that — who knows.  So now we use Revolution.  Both of those though you CANNOT use the dosage that recommended on the box without a vets recommendation — as the dosage is meant for cats and dogs. .  You need to have your vet weigh your bunny (and depending on the age of your bunny too — baby or adult), they will give you the safe dosage to use. 

Advantage normally takes care of fleas within 24 hours, and Revolution takes a few days, but it also takes care of mites too.   (again, don’t use these without your vets dosage recommendation—plus you need to find out what “bug” it really is, anyway. 

 

 

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I think mites usually show up when they get swelled with blood? I ditto BB-sounds like a flea. Best to go to the vet then diagnos by yourself though! Either should be seen by a vet though! Please tell us how it goes!!

[meow1]

So, we can use flea/tick medication on our buns?

[Beka27]

Advantage and Revolution are safe in the proper doses.

“Frontline = FAIL!” NO FRONTLINE!

[Hermia]

Alright I called the vet and set up an appointment. I hope that my apartment isn’t over run with fleas before I get him in to see the vet though! Thanks for the advice guys. If it is a flea it is the only one I have seen so far so I have my fingers crossed that this won’t turn into a problem.

[Ashley&Bing]

Bing had one flea and his vet gave him Revolution.

PS I’m glad I’m not the only person with a bun who had a flea. i thought I had done something wrong!

[Beka27]

This is the big reason my guys cannot go outside. Even if I were to supervise against big predators, I live in a highly wooded area and neighbor dogs have been known to have fleas from time to time. You guys certainly did not “do anything wrong”. If you have pets that are going in and out, they can be brought in and transfered to the bunny easily. (Probably even brought in by you accidentally.)

[Hermia]

In my case it could have been one or two possibilities, one of the rabbits must have had fleas when we brought them home(only a couple of weeks ago) or we or a guest of ours must have brought them home with us. I think that the latter is more likely because I hadn’t noticed any flea problems at all when I brought the rabbits home and you would think that I would have noticed something by this time. However, last weekend my hubby’s family came to stay and even though they left their pets at home(dogs who go in and out a lot) they could have brought fleas in the house with them on their luggage or clothes.

Ugh I hate fleas!

Thanks for the help everyone!

[Author]

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