Ear wax?

[Rafaela]

Hello everyone!

My rabbit is having a real bad time dealing with molt season and high temperatures mixed all together on this summer in Brasil.

Recently, i posted about the fur loss (which is already grown) and how i noticed a little scabbing on the tip of her left ear. Thankfully, the scabbing is disappearing and the veterinarian said it might be due skin allergies or irritation.

Since these episodes, i’m constantly checking my rabbits ear to see if it’s recuperating correctly, and then i noticed a small amount of white (a little bit yellowish) wax in her ear. Is it normal? Does rabbits have ear wax? Since she’s a lop bunny i’m concerned she’s having difficulties to clean her ear, since she’s scratching more than usually she used to.

I’m pinning a picture of inside of her ear, unfortunately the pic is a bit blurred because my camera isn’t that good hahaha but she didn’t felt pain or discomfort while i was manipulating her ear to take the pics.

Thank you again!

[Bam]

Rabbits do have ear wax.

Lop rabbits are prone to ear infections. It’s much the same as with dogs with hanging ears (cocker spaniels etc). Wax and debris can build up in the outer ear canal, and since the canal is narrow and the area is poorly ventilated, it’s an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive in.  This can lead to serious infection if the ear drum becomes involved.

My rabbit vet says lops ears should be checked every 6 months to catch any problems early. Lops often have very narrow ear canals though, so it is often difficult to even get an otoscope in there to view the ear drum.

There are drops that soften the build-up of wax/debris so it can be cleaned out.

Sometimes wax and debris collect under the ear so that you can see or feel it as lumps under where the ears attach to the skull.

[Rafaela]

Bam, thank you so much for educating me again!

I had no idea rabbits can collect that amount of wax in their ears, the moment i saw i was shocked!

I’ll talk to my vet again and i’ll keep checking her ears so far.

Thank you!

[LBJ10]

Yes, rabbits absolutely have ear wax. Lops tend to have more trouble getting it out naturally, but uppy eared bunnies can have problems too depending on the shape of their ear canal. One of my rabbits had an earwash that the vet prescribed. It was for dogs. You just had to be careful with it. While it did loosen debris and dry things out, it could also sting if you got it in their eyes.

[Rafaela]

Oh it’s so interesting i had no idea before they can produce that amount and actually have troubles with ear wax just like dogs! Thank you so much, i’ll surely keep an eye on her and in her loppy ears! Thank you so much!

[Bam]

Lops as a rule have difficulty getting the wax out and often need a bit of help from their caretaker. If you keep on top of it it never has to develop into a problem. A friend of mine routinely pull clumps of wax out from her lop’s ears with a pair of tweezers.

[Rafaela]

Does she have a tutorial of how i can clean with tweezers??

I’m a bit nervous of hurting inside my bunny ears, so i’m cleaning it with cotton!

Thank you!

[Author]

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