Ear Infection

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

My bunny Dorothy has been scratching at her left ear and shaking her head a lot. She has upright ears and last night I noticed that the left ear was starting to fall down, so I called the exotic vet to make an appointment, but the soonest they can get her in is Tuesday next week. This is my first bunny, so I don’t have a lot of experience with this – is this too long to wait for something like this? Should I be trying to get her in sooner?

Also, for those who have had a bunny with this type of infection – what does treatment usually consist of and the approximate vet cost? I hope someone on here can help me. Thanks!

[Benthebunny]

As in Tuesday in six days? Should not be too long.

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

Yes, 6 days. I think it’s been bothering her for a bit now, like a week or so, but the ear just fell down last night.

[Odette]

The ear drop complicates the wait.

Do you see flakiness or crustiness inside Dorothy’s ear(s)?

The scratching and shaking could be mites. If so, the vet will swab Dorothy’s ear to confirm and treat with miticide. Odette was treated at her first get well check. I noticed some scratching beforehand. The cost was the base price for an exam ($36 USD) and the cost of the miticide (approx. $20 USD). If you are in the US, the base price of the exam will differ but the miticide will most likely be around the same price. You can call your vet office and ask the cost of an exam so you can have some idea what to expect.

I haven’t dealt with a fungal or bacterial infection of the ear. Hopefully someone else can help you with that process. I would think they do basically the same thing– swab the ear and treat with the appropriate medicine. I think those would be ear drops. I’m not sure and hopefully someone will come and either correct me on this or corroborate.

The good thing is the quicker you treat something like this, the less difficult it will be. I wouldn’t be too concerned about waiting six days for mites. I would be a little more cautious with a bacterial or fungal infection. But, the most important thing is to get Dorothy treated before the infection gets nasty. If you can’t get the appointment moved up, just keep a close eye on her symptoms and the inside of her ear.

Update us please. Give Dorothy a nose rub from Odette. I hope she is on the mend very soon.

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

No flakiness or crustiness. I think there may be slight fur loss on the ears, it’s kinda hard to tell because I think she might have had thin fur there to begin with when we first got her.

Thank you for the info, you’ve been very helpful. She doesn’t seem too uncomfortable now aside from the itching – she still eats, drinks, poops, and plays like normal, so I think we will be okay to wait until Tuesday. I will keep you posted on her status!

[Odette]

I am glad there is no crust or flakiness.

Dorothy eating and playing and pooping normally are all great signs. I agree that Tuesday is fine.

I think the thin ear fur is normal too. Odette’s fur is thin there too and she’s a little fuzzball everwhere else. Plus, it wouldn’t be unusual if she scratched some fur off.

[Bam]

The ear drop is a bit worrisome. In case it’s an infection inside the ear, it should be treated as soon as possible. Didn’t the vet think the ear drop was a concern?

Fur mites can easily wait until Tuesday though.

[DorothyTheMiniSatinBun]

Just an update: her ear is upright. I don’t know if it was just bothering her more-so that night. Maybe it is excess wax build up? I don’t know, I am still taking her in to double check that everything is alright because she still scratches at it pretty regularly, the left one in particular.

[Bam]

I’m glad it’s upright again! I hope it’s just mites, those are as a rule very easily and safely treated with Revolution or ivermectin.

[Author]

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