Always scratching ear and can’t be petted

[Amirr35]

Hello i just got new lionhead male rabbit couple days ago … he started makin me worried by scratch ing his ear alot… I heard about mites and flakes dandruff all that and Google about it… when i check his ear canal , it doesn’t hv any crust or brown thing and quite clean in there so that mean my rabbit doesn’t have mites? He always scratch his ear but im pretty sure the itchy part is outside the ear…but there do not hav any dandruff or flakes so why he scratching? I know rabbit sometimes groom and scratch ear or some part but I dont think is normal because I can tell he quite uncomfortable with it..I planned to take him to vet but if u guys have some home remedies help me out..like oil stuff? And 1 more thing why when I try to pet him he back off doesn’t want me to touch him and if i try to touch it he will back off and hop from me..but he dont have prob with me when I m giving treats infact he run to me when I show him treats( I’m pretty sure he just come for food lol:3)but when I try touch or pet him he back off and hop away …so how I’m gonna groom him or cut his nail when simple touch he hop away from me and thinking about groom or cut while hold him … he sure so scared when I try do that i dw to break that bond so howw pls helpp meee :/ appreciated with all reply ..much love

[tobyluv]

A vet can use an otoscope and see down inside a rabbit’s ears better than a person can see. A vet can also take a skin scraping of the ear to check for mites or dermatitis or any skin problems. So, it would be wise to go ahead and make a vet appointment. The vet can also do a general checkup on your rabbit, which would be good to have.

It can be quite common for a rabbit to not want to be petted or touched when they first go into a new home. It can take time for a rabbit to get used to things and people. It may be weeks or more before he seeks out your company and wants to be petted. Don’t force it. Let him come to you. Sit on the floor near to him, and read or watch tv. In time, he should want to be near you and enjoy being petted. I assume by treats that you are talking about store bought rabbit cookies or treats. They can be useful in getting a rabbit to do things, but don’t give too many. Most of them contain sugar in some form, which should be limited in rabbits. Oxbow baked treats are hay based, and are better than some other treats. A lot of treats sold for rabbits, such as yogurt drops, are not healthy and should not be given to them.

[Amirr35]

I take him to the vet and they said the skin is fine …inside and outside of ear …but they gave my rabbit injection and lotion to put on the ear areas…so far he doing quite good and not much of scratching …. and now he sometimes come to me and sniff me or nudge me…I’ll take ur advised and be patience to not touch or pet him …thanksss so much

[tobyluv]

It’s good that the scratching has lessened. Since your bunny is now starting to seek you out, you can certainly try to touch him or pet him. Many rabbits like to be petted on their head or at the top of their back. They all have preferences, you just have to learn where they like to be touched and where they don’t like to be touched. Most rabbits hate for their feet to be touched. It could be that the itching was bothering him a lot before and that was one reason why he didn’t want you touching him.

Go slowly with the treats, and if he is still very young, it’s best to wait until a rabbit is 12 weeks old until you start giving greens or a little bit of fruit. But if he is old enough to start having those, you can let him come up to you, give him a pat or two, and then give him a small piece of fruit like an apple or a sprig of parsley or cilantro, and he should come to associate being petted with getting a treat.

Some rabbits very much enjoy being petted (after they have gotten to know a person) while others may only like petting in small doses. Hopefully, your rabbit will get to know you and become very comfortable around you soon, and will be glad of your petting and affection.

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