Flea?

[skysblue]

About two weeks ago, i noticed there was a pretty big black bug that hides in her fur and i finally got it out like a week ago. I thought it was just a single thing, but then i just now saw two more, and caught another one. I tried to kill it by squishing it between my fingers, but it wouldn’t die and keeps moving! 

And then i found blood… 

i checked her skin and fur, everything looks normal! She acts normal as well.

Does she need a shower? Medication? Is it from the hay?

Photo of the dead bug:

http://imgur.com/a/ow5I5

[daisy_doo]

Did you bring her outside ever? If you did, it might be a beetle. You should take her to the vet in case.

[tobyluv]

Fleas are small black bugs, but they are difficult to kill when squeezing them. Since you said it was a pretty big bug, that doesn’t sound like a flea. When it moved, did it quickly hop away and seem to vanish, or did it crawl away? Fleas do leave flea dirt behind in an animal’s fur, which are feces mostly containing blood. It appears as black specks, but if you happen to wet that flea dirt, it will turn red and you will be able to see it is blood. If you hadn’t said it was big bug, it would definitely sound like a flea, but I’ve never seen any really big fleas.

If it is fleas, the best treatment is Revolution kitten formula. I think you can only get it from a vet, but I’m not sure. You place the drops on the back of a rabbit’s neck where it can’t reach. Advantage kitten formula can also be used, but NEVER use Frontline on rabbits. Don’t give a rabbit a shower. I’ve never heard of fleas in hay, but they could have gotten carried in the house in various ways.

Years ago I had a rabbit that somehow got fleas. I think my husband brought them home from his mother’s cats. That’s when I saw how difficult they were to kill, due to their hard shell bodies. I did find that I could have some water in the sink and if I caught one, I would hold it under water, then let the water down the drain.

If it is fleas, you will have to vacuum the area thoroughly, and keep it vacuumed. Fleas only live on the animals at times, other times they are in carpets or elsewhere.

You need to identify the insect, and only treat her for fleas if she actually has fleas.

[skysblue]

Posted By tobyluv on 8/15/2017 9:41 PM

Fleas are small black bugs, but they are difficult to kill when squeezing them. Since you said it was a pretty big bug, that doesn’t sound like a flea. When it moved, did it quickly hop away and seem to vanish, or did it crawl away? Fleas do leave flea dirt behind in an animal’s fur, which are feces mostly containing blood. It appears as black specks, but if you happen to wet that flea dirt, it will turn red and you will be able to see it is blood. If you hadn’t said it was big bug, it would definitely sound like a flea, but I’ve never seen any really big fleas.

If it is fleas, the best treatment is Revolution kitten formula. I think you can only get it from a vet, but I’m not sure. You place the drops on the back of a rabbit’s neck where it can’t reach. Advantage kitten formula can also be used, but NEVER use Frontline on rabbits. Don’t give a rabbit a shower. I’ve never heard of fleas in hay, but they could have gotten carried in the house in various ways.

Years ago I had a rabbit that somehow got fleas. I think my husband brought them home from his mother’s cats. That’s when I saw how difficult they were to kill, due to their hard shell bodies. I did find that I could have some water in the sink and if I caught one, I would hold it under water, then let the water down the drain.

If it is fleas, you will have to vacuum the area thoroughly, and keep it vacuumed. Fleas only live on the animals at times, other times they are in carpets or elsewhere.

You need to identify the insect, and only treat her for fleas if she actually has fleas.

Ah, i guess “big” is subjective, but it looked a lot like a flea when i killed it, i can see the legs (i posted a photo link above). When it moved, or if i let go, it quickly vanishes. I haven’t found any flea dirt in the fur. For the revolution, do you know whats the kitten pack dosage? Is it for 0-5lbs for cat/dog or the 5.1-15 lb cat? All the online site requires a prescription. i am not sure if my vet will let me have the med without doing a physical examination. My rabbit was given revolution once from the vet last year for suspected fur mites.

Is washing the blankets and beds with hot water enough to kill the flea? Should i do it now or after the treatment?

I read that 50/50 shampoo with vinegar is a good solution to bath the rabbit. I never bath on this particular rabbit before, but i have experience with the pervious rabbit that i have, but i can’t predict how this one will act. I am thinking if i should do a home remedy and a bath/ flea comb before getting vet help/ Revolution?

Thanks for the reply.

[LBJ10]

I can’t tell from the picture. But if it “disappeared” when you let go, then it was probably a flea. Ticks are larger, but move slowly by crawling. Fleas are spring-loaded and can quickly “jump” from one place to the next.

[12345ABCDE]

Posted By skysblue on 8/15/2017 10:40 PM

Posted By tobyluv on 8/15/2017 9:41 PM

Fleas are small black bugs, but they are difficult to kill when squeezing them. Since you said it was a pretty big bug, that doesn’t sound like a flea. When it moved, did it quickly hop away and seem to vanish, or did it crawl away? Fleas do leave flea dirt behind in an animal’s fur, which are feces mostly containing blood. It appears as black specks, but if you happen to wet that flea dirt, it will turn red and you will be able to see it is blood. If you hadn’t said it was big bug, it would definitely sound like a flea, but I’ve never seen any really big fleas.

If it is fleas, the best treatment is Revolution kitten formula. I think you can only get it from a vet, but I’m not sure. You place the drops on the back of a rabbit’s neck where it can’t reach. Advantage kitten formula can also be used, but NEVER use Frontline on rabbits. Don’t give a rabbit a shower. I’ve never heard of fleas in hay, but they could have gotten carried in the house in various ways.

Years ago I had a rabbit that somehow got fleas. I think my husband brought them home from his mother’s cats. That’s when I saw how difficult they were to kill, due to their hard shell bodies. I did find that I could have some water in the sink and if I caught one, I would hold it under water, then let the water down the drain.

If it is fleas, you will have to vacuum the area thoroughly, and keep it vacuumed. Fleas only live on the animals at times, other times they are in carpets or elsewhere.

You need to identify the insect, and only treat her for fleas if she actually has fleas.

Ah, i guess “big” is subjective, but it looked a lot like a flea when i killed it, i can see the legs (i posted a photo link above). When it moved, or if i let go, it quickly vanishes. I haven’t found any flea dirt in the fur. For the revolution, do you know whats the kitten pack dosage? Is it for 0-5lbs for cat/dog or the 5.1-15 lb cat? All the online site requires a prescription. i am not sure if my vet will let me have the med without doing a physical examination. My rabbit was given revolution once from the vet last year for suspected fur mites.

Is washing the blankets and beds with hot water enough to kill the flea? Should i do it now or after the treatment?

I read that 50/50 shampoo with vinegar is a good solution to bath the rabbit. I never bath on this particular rabbit before, but i have experience with the pervious rabbit that i have, but i can’t predict how this one will act. I am thinking if i should do a home remedy and a bath/ flea comb before getting vet help/ Revolution?

Thanks for the reply.

No, do not try washing your rabbit. Use proper flea treatment.

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