Bald dry patch?

[claudia]

Coal’s had flakey ears for a while, nothing serious. I actually brought him to the vet about three weeks ago to get it checked out and the vet said he’s fine it’s nothing, and its common considering hes an older indoor rabbit. (he’ll be 6 in Feb). Anyway, tonight i discovered a bald extremely flakey patch at the base of his ear, over his temple area. I havent seen him itch it or anything that I know of (I also just discovered this tonight so) and he isn’t acting out of the ordinary. I read online it could be ear mites, but I’m not very well educated on them so I have no idea what else to look for or if it can be anything else or if it’s just something that’s happening. Of course if it doesnt go away or if it gets worse i’ll bring him to the vet, I just would like other rabbit owners advice & see if anyone else has experienced this. 

I’ve attached a link with the photo, hopefully it’s viewable, otherwise i don’t know how else to attach a picture . 

PHOTO HERE

Thank you! From me & Coal. 

[Bam]

Mites are tricky because sometimes they can’t be diagnosed properly even with a tape test. Many vets choose to treat on suspicion, though. Revolution (selamectin) or ivermectin are rabbit safe and very effective. Here’s the warning we always issue when someone mentions mites or other skin parasites. never use any compound containing Fipronil on a rabbit. Fipronil is effective against mites but lethal to rabbits. It’s fine for dogs and cats though. Fipronil is sold under a variety of brand names, Frontline being the most common one.

Another possibility is ringworm. It’s not a parasite despite the name, it’s a fungal infection. It can be stubborn and requires treatment with anti fungal ointment and sometimes systemic (oral) anti fungal meds. Forumleader Wick has quite a lot of experience with this, so I’ll alert her to the thread.

The flaky ears could be completely unrelated. Many buns get a bit of flaky skin on their ears esp when they are shedding. The flakes can be brushed off with a soft baby brush, if the skin is smooth (=not crusty). If there are crusts it’s sth else. 

[Wick & Fable]

Its great that you’re observant in checking for fur loss and how things have progressed. Whether it’s mites, ringworm, or something else, the earlier the better.

If it does begin getting worse, whether it’s by size or crustiness, a vet visit is the right call.

From a ringworm perspective, I would say one of two things is happening because I see new fur growth. Either your rabbit is combatting it fine and it will go away, or the ringworm will continue to migrate, causing fur loss and fur regrowth as it moves. Time would tell.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Author]

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