Itchy Bunny – no fleas or mites

[Max2021]

Hello everyone, I just got Max last week; he is 8 months old (unknown mix). He has an appointment in 2 weeks to get neutered. I took him to the vet yesterday because I noticed that he seemed itchy.  The vet said he didn’t have fleas or mites but could be developing some so she squirted Revolution on him and told me to come back in 4 weeks for another dose. I find that odd. How could a rabbit be developing mites? And why wouldn’t she give me the meds? Additionally, she prescribed Max Meloxicam for inflammation (10 days).  She did send me home with this. An hour after administering it to him, he just sits completely still and stares …. for 10 minutes; it’s really odd.  Interestingly enough, I too take Meloxicam for inflammation/arthritis. I researched the drug and keep reading that it is prescribed to rabbits for  pain. Max doesn’t appear to be in pain at all. This is my first bunny and only pet so I’m learning as much as I can about rabbits. Any thoughts?

[Bam]

I agree “developing mites” sounds puzzling!  There is a simple explanation though. All rabbits have some mites in their fur, they get them from their mum when theyre kits. The buns immune defense keeps the number of mites down, and the mites dont cause the bun any trouble.

When a rabbit is under some sort of stress – not necessarily “bad” stress, it can be from getting a new home or even sth as simple as molting – the mites can sometimes seize the opportunity and multiply into much larger numbers, which is when they might start to cause the bun discomfort.

I dont know why your vet didn’t prescribe Revolution, she might routinely give Revolution in the clinic.

The Meloxicam I would guess is for  itch relief. Itch is sometimes a response to pain stimuli. If your bun has irritated skin, there’s some sort of inflammation going on. The bun scratching itself could make it worse.

Meloxicam can have a short-lasting sedative effect when you start treatment. I just saw this in my bun who got meloxicam for 5 days after her spay. It made her very sleepy, but only for sth like 20 minutes right after I gave her the med. It was very noticeable though, she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

[Max2021]

Bam, thank you so much! That’s really enlightening! I had no idea about the mites. Also, your comment about Meloxicam was reassuring. I appreciate you taking the time to respond!!

[Bam]

Thank you!

Hopefully the Revolution does the trick, it’s highly effective against mites. Repeat treatment is given to kill off any eggs that might have hatched after the first dose. For really bad cases of mites you often give a third dose, but bad cases of mites tend to be very visible – you see patches of hairloss and “dandruff”, most commonly at the nape of the neck or the root of the tail. You can also feel a roughening of the skin in those spots.

If the itch continues, there could be some other problem. Rabbits can get allergies and some vets can do a skin prick test to suss out what the rabbit is allergic to. Normally you try to change sth in the bun’s environment , for example try a different type of pellets or a different type of hay,  A vet can also prescribe children’s benadryl (antihistamine).

 

[Max2021]

Thanks again, Bam! Max was an outdoor rabbit in a hutch.  When my husband and I adopted him, we decided to keep him inside with the goal of ‘free roaming’ him once liter-trained.  So, his environment has completely changed! He seems like he is loving it but no doubt, there is quite an adjustment.   I should have asked more questions at the vet’s office and next time I will! I’m just grateful for this forum and those that take the time to share their knowledge and experience with the rest of us!

[Author]

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