For all you Dr. Houses– Mystery Diagnosis with my rabbits ear

[Peapod026]

Hi fellow Binkyers!

My poor little rabbit Merlin needs your help! I’m wondering if anyone else has had this problem with their bun, and if so, what was the underlying cause (it better not be Lupus). He started going through a HEAVY molt about a month ago, and then I noticed he started to get really bad dandruff on his right ear. I read online that dry skin can be associated with molting, so I simply put some vitamin E oil on the affected area to try and help moisturize it. Only–it kept getting worse and worse. His ear is now really flaky with dandruff, pink, inflammed, hot to the touch, and now its even red raw. He scratches it more than usual–but not constantly.

I took him to the vet on Monday. She tested for bacterial, yeast infection and checked for mites both in his ears and on the outside. NOTHING. She ruled out an allergic reaction. She prescribed Baytril drops which I’ve been putting on the affected parts of his ears. They seems to be doing nothing, and this morning they were now red raw and almost bloody (attached picture). She mentioned she could prescribe Revolution to take care of any mites or flea or pest it might be, but we haven’t tried that yet.

He is an indoor only bunny, and he lives alone. He isn’t exposed to anything outside, or any other bunnies (my roommate has an indoor dog that sometimes comes and says hi, but I don’t think they ever get close enough or even touch). I was feeding him kale and nasturtiums from my garden, but stopped when this happened since I was worried maybe its nematodes from outside.

 Has this happened to anyone else’s bunnies? He HATES the vet and gets so terrified and stressed, I want to avoid having to take him back (plus, they seemed stumped by what was going on). Thanks so much guys–this is a wonderful resource.

PS in the attached picture his fur looks greasy from the baytril drops.

[JackRabbit]

I haven’t had the problem, but the symptoms sure sound like mites. I’d use the Revolution for kittens — if it isn’t mites it won’t hurt.

[Sarita]

Is it just on the ear?

[Peapod026]

It’s on the top of his ear, the underside of his ear, and spreading to his other ear. Both me and the vet checked the rest of his fur and didn’t see anything! Sounds like I should get some revolution!

[Roberta]

I think the Revolution Pippy and Kitten would be worth a try. You generally don’t see the mites till it’s a full infestation. If you can get them early you have a chance to stop the spread quickly.

[Sarita]

I agree with Roberta, give the Revolution a try at least.

[LBJ10]

Revolution surely can’t hurt.

[Peapod026]

Thanks guys! I’ll try revolution for kittens. But can a rabbit just get mites? I don’t understand how he was exposed?

[Roberta]

They can definitely get mites. They possibly can in on your clothes or shoes from somewhere, or on someone else. A new house plant, fur products, feathers. Some can fly and get in randomly, it’s not common but it does happen. Strangely enough hay mites don’t usually attack animals just humans and they come in on the hay. Starsky caught them in the pound from being next to a chicken.

[Bam]

Rabbits more or less always have a small nr of mites they got from their mother. When sth happens to the rabbit – and it’s not always obvious what – there’s a “dip” in the immune-defence and the mites get a chance to multiply. Then you have an outbreak. It may be connected to moulting, stress, change in food or to stuff you’d never notice.

I’d too try Revolution.

[tophdade]

Posted By Peapod026 on 12/17/2014 2:06 PM

Hi fellow Binkyers!

My poor little rabbit Merlin needs your help! I’m wondering if anyone else has had this problem with their bun, and if so, what was the underlying cause (it better not be Lupus). He started going through a HEAVY molt about a month ago, and then I noticed he started to get really bad dandruff on his right ear. I read online that dry skin can be associated with molting, so I simply put some vitamin E oil on the affected area to try and help moisturize it. Only–it kept getting worse and worse. His ear is now really flaky with dandruff, pink, inflammed, hot to the touch, and now its even red raw. He scratches it more than usual–but not constantly.

I took him to the vet on Monday. She tested for bacterial, yeast infection and checked for mites both in his ears and on the outside. NOTHING. She ruled out an allergic reaction. She prescribed Baytril drops which I’ve been putting on the affected parts of his ears. They seems to be doing nothing, and this morning they were now red raw and almost bloody (attached picture). She mentioned she could prescribe Revolution to take care of any mites or flea or pest it might be, but we haven’t tried that yet.

He is an indoor only bunny, and he lives alone. He isn’t exposed to anything outside, or any other bunnies (my roommate has an indoor dog that sometimes comes and says hi, but I don’t think they ever get close enough or even touch). I was feeding him kale and nasturtiums from my garden, but stopped when this happened since I was worried maybe its nematodes from outside.

 Has this happened to anyone else’s bunnies? He HATES the vet and gets so terrified and stressed, I want to avoid having to take him back (plus, they seemed stumped by what was going on). Thanks so much guys–this is a wonderful resource.

PS in the attached picture his fur looks greasy from the baytril drops.

Try the Revolution. I noticed you mentioned lupus, which caught me thinking. Are there steroids for bunnies, similar to a glucorticosteroid or even corticos used for human treatment of immunodeficiencies?

Edit: I realize that the lupus bit was a house reference.. Still wondering lol

[Peapod026]

Hey all!
Ooo, the plot thickens! I so go to a store called “feed n fuel” to get his hay, which is basically a large barn filled with chickens, ducks and rabbits. His hay sits open in bags not next to, but near other rabbits. Maybe some “hay mites” migrated to his hay and I brought them home. Man, a giant bag of oat hay is only $3, but I’ll start getting his hay elsewhere!
Thanks guys, I just called in his prescription for revolution and am picking it up ASAP! I’ll keep you updated on his progress!
And tophdade: hehe yes lupus was a joke, but I’m sure they have bunny steriods! Probably ones to treat feline HIV or leukemia to aid the immune system they would use for rabbits? But who knows, rabbit medicine doesn’t seem like it’s very well developed.

[Bam]

I’m looking forward to your update on the Revolution! Both my rabbits had mites when I found them, one of them had mites at the base of one ear. They had of course been subject to stress since they’d clearly been “set free” by irresponsible former owners. But both rabbits were very easily cured and no mites have reappeared on either of them.

Back to dr House: If it’s not Lupus, I suggest sarcoidosis or West Nile. They always suggest Lupus, sarcoidosis and West Nile.

[Peapod026]

Update:
Well, I gave little merlin revolution a couple days ago, and his ear looks great! Must have been ear mites. The redness and irritation is gone, but there’s still a lot of dandruff (I’m assuming that will go away?). Thanks so much for your help everyone!

[Author]

Messages