Ear Mites

[Galaxy's Mommy]

Hi, I am new to this forum, though I have had house rabbits since the year 2001. Even after all these years, ear mites are unchartered territory; not to mention freaking me out given the horror of bugs in my babies’ delicate little ears. (I have also brought bunnies to the vet on a few occasions thinking they might have mites and they didn’t)

Anyway, over the just past weekend I noticed crusting in one of Galaxy’s ears. Not knowing this was the absolutely worst thing I could do I picked off the crud – I sprayed a bit of colloidal silver..(first question, should I keep doing so to prevent infection??) .I made an appointment for Monday (the vet that sees exotics was not working on Saturday) I researched natural remedies which were sadly came from breeders, people with backyard hutch bunnies, and the like that had multiple outside rabbits without much concern for their long term health, happiness, and in some cased life  so needless to say not folks I trust….I used some food grade DE. to give him some relief and applied to his companion Nebula to prevent spreed. I also washed everything and vacumed. We went to our vet appointment on Monday and to me relief, Galaxy was treated’ This morning (Tuesday) I saw Nebula’s ear in the light and saw ear mite symptoms and check the other ear which also has ear mite crud. I am ashamed and embarrassed that I did not do a better job checking Nebula’s ears and for the fact that it didn’t occur to me that Nebula probably was dumped with mites, because in all likelihood he was kept outside ARG!– I don’t know much about the people that dumped him other than they were clueless about rabbits and claimed he was a female (NOT) (The lady trolled me on facebook wondering if he was “her rabbit” and that she was going to “sell her” ) All these things considered I should have known that he was likely the original carrier. Here is the problem now- I live in the high desert and there is one vet that see exotics here (we trust her because she will send us to an exotic vet if something is out of her ability) Nebula was with us during the appointment of course; I did not ask her to examine his ears since he was just there as Galaxy’s bonded companion. She said that Galaxy’s only had a few mites, applied Revolution, then said we needed to come back next month. 

Now my poor Nebula is infested; I can’t afford to take him after Galaxy’s appointment and treatment. In my research I saw tale of folks applying Ivermectin topically and even letting them ingest it. Problem is, I only trust House Rabbit people. I purchased Ivermectin and was going to adjust the dose. Can I do this?? His case is not horrible like pictures I have seen but it is in both of his ears and worse than Galaxy AND my standards are higher– one mite is one mite too many…

. I wish that I had had him tested and then have both of them treated…..I asked for Revolution at the Pet Food store and they don’t have it; I tried ordering online, to no avail….He is a little dutch mix; he came to me with signs of early weaning and very lean- he has filled out since he came home……Any advise would be appreciated! 

[jerseygirl]

Any chance the vet would sell you some Revolution without you having another consult? Since they saw Galaxy so recently, you could report you’d like to treat your other rabbit also. So then it’s just a matter of collecting & paying for the the med at reception. They’d probably just would want to know Nebula’s weight.

For ear and fur mite, I really recommend going with Revolution. Ivermectin doesn’t kill the eggs of ear mite so the next dose is needed sooner. Given oral or injected. But with Revolution, sometimes only the one dose is needed.

[Galaxy's Mommy]

Thank you for your input– I am going to call the vet and see what they can do; I am ashamed that I didn’t check Nebula better to begin with, especially since he could have been suffering for awhile. I am generally conservative about the use of pesticides, but I have to make an exception as well as spend more money that I don’t actually have…. They are worth it…

[Galaxy's Mommy]

Update: I called the vet today and they will not sell me the Paradyne (same as revolution) I asked about the vet authorizing a Rx for ordering Revolution online- she said no, I persisted, she asked the nurse again and the nurse said no. I persisted saying that the vet had said she would authorize a Rx for revolution before she found out that she could give him Paradyne (she just returned from Maternity leave) They are going to ask her and get back to me because she doesn’t come back until next Tuesday.
I bought Ivermectin 1.87% paste, reluctantly because there is no way I can just wait and not do anything. I put a tiny drop on his neck and a tiny drop I put in his mouth. I really hope this gives him some relief. Even if the doctor authorizes I will still have to wait for delivery! Damn! I also don’t know if this is going to reinfest Galaxy. I like to be conservative about pesticides as a rule, but as I said originally, I can only find natural remedies published by sources I don’t trust- ie. those who don’t want pesticides in their dinner and nothing invested in their long-term welfare.

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