Ear cleaning tips?

[Scooter]

I have a bun with character in the form of a floppy ear.  (the below pic was about 3 weeks after he came home)

We knew when we brought him home that he had had an accident with his siblings and our breeder believed that he was stepped on.  We expected the ear to stiffen and it hasn’t. Some nights Bunners gets really cuddly, and loves to have it rubbed and it seems to stand up a little better, but has never really stood up on it’s own. 

All that aside, the floppy ear gets quite a bit of white/clear waxy buildup in the front of the base right below the top of his skull (Its the fold closest to his eye in the picture).  He will sit very still and let me rub in his ear with my fingertip, ( I don’t have to actually go inside the ear) but I’m wondering if there is a better way to clean?  His upright ear does really well, no buildup at all, and he doesn’t worry his floppy ear too much, but I wonder if that’s because I pay so much attention to it being clean and healthy.

I really don’t want to use any Q-Tip type object, but I am looking for something more like an ear drop, etc. 

Any suggestions?? 

Rach

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I would really suggest not using a q-tip or anything like that. I have to clean one ear on one of my bunnies (most rabbits are capable and more then willing to keep themselves meticulously clean) as he can’t get to that ear. I just take a wet papertowel and run it in the inside of the ear. You can do the same. Mineral oil is also OK to use.

If you notice wax in the ear, the deep part not the floopy part-that is when you need a vet to clean it. I wouldn’t imagine they would charge much, nail trims take longer and cost around 15$ so a little ear clean shouldn’t be too much. But you definitely don’t want to dabble in there with a q-tip you could cause damage if your bunny moves suddenly (Which-they are known to do!)

[KatnipCrzy]

for dogs, cats and bunnies it is safe to wipe out their ears with a tissue or cotton ball.  As long as you do not stick anything further into their ear than your finger will reasonably go- that should be fine.

I would hesitate to use any sort of medication or cleaner on the buns ears other than the wipe slightly damp with warm water.  Accumulated moisture can lead to an ear infection- and his lop ear will not help that by not allowing as much air circulation.

If the ear seems to bother him or has a bad smell (yucky or yeasty) he should be seen by a vet.

[bunnytowne]

HE is cute with his ears like that.  HE doesn’t seem to mind. 

[Scooter]

HAHA I think he secretly knows how cute they make him. He’s now started doing an “eartoss” which is a lot like the hair toss in teenage girls. lol… he flops it around to get it out of his face. So cute!

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