Mineral oil?

[Caitlyn C]

Was wondering if anyone’s used mineral oil to clean bunnys ears? My breeder recommended it and also I don’t think it’ll hurt to throw some on his back where I’ve occasionally seen those flakes? Just wondering if anyone’s used it and if it’s safe thanks!

[Deleted User]

Hi Caitlyn! I am to scared to use anything on my boy (only cause he can’t talk (he he…) and tell me if he’s irritated by a product) that is not normally used on bunnies – but if your breeder where you got Stanley from has used it on him with no ill effects I think it should be ok? As for using it to help with the flakes – a BBer suggested the cause of that ‘could’ be mites and a dose of Revolution may do the trick? As you know, I’m still learning too – so hopefully someone who has used mineral oil on there buns may be able to stick there 2 cents in? I have never cleaned Henry’s ears (but one of my dogs does – yuck!) and never really thought about doing that (I think I spend to much time worrying about his dirty bottom). Oh, and I should add, the only reason for my concern for using something out of the norm on a bun is cause I once applied a cream to my son, and with in seconds he was complaining that it was burning and minutes thereafter had him in the shower scrubbing if off. But, as I mentioned above, if Stanley is used to it already, it should be ok. I’m actually curious now – should we bunny mum’s be cleaning our bunny’s ears? (Great! another end to clean?????) Doh! ha ha ha….. Cheers Caitlyn.

[Roberta]

I am extremely Anti Mineral Oil… It might loosen flakes and soften the skin but it does not kill mites etc… In fact by using the oil and not treating the cause I have seen some bunnies in horrendous condition where the problem has been allowed to go unchecked and become worse to the point where it spreads to eyes and genitals causing permanent and sometimes fatal damage… Breeders use it as it is cheap and will temporarily mask a problem. I would go for a vet check and a mite treatment like Revolution Puppy and Kitten, the vet may also administer a selemectin injection… UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU USE FRONTLINE ITS FATAL TO BUNNIES… Best is Revolution or the Advantage specifically for Rabbits, however you can’t go wrong if you get your vet to check it out first. If they try to give you Frontline grab your bunny and runaway screaming !!!!!

[Bam]

I second Roberta, mineral oil is often used by breeders to mask problems with mites. It doesn’t kill the mites though. If you use Revolution for kittens, the problem will go away though, it has a long term duration (4 weeks or so) thus preventing the bunny from being reinfected by mites that can have survived in your home, away from the bunny itself.

As for cleaning the ears, that shouldn’t be necessary in a healthy bunny. Do you have any photos so we can make an rough assessment of what you’re dealing with?

[Deleted User]

I have frontline at home for the ‘dogs’ (just recently gave them a dose after they came back from a haircut and bath). I knew not to use frontline on Henry – ‘thanks’ to Roberta (a few months back now). So, thanks again Roberta! And bam gave me the heads up on Revolution (ta bam).
PS – how awful is this gonna sound…. but I probably would have put some ‘frontline’ on Henry too while I was doing the dogs if it hadn’t of been for BB….. scary!
Don’t ever hesitate to ask anything Caitlyn. Cheers…..

Edit to Add – snap bam! We posted at the same time! ha ha, I know that sounds childish – but I thought it was funny……

[Beka27]

Off Topic to the OP, but I’m curious now…. I’ve never had dogs/bunnies in the same house. Is there any risk with using Frontline on your dogs or cats if your rabbit is free roaming in the same areas? There’s no transfer to furniture or danger of the bunny “grooming” the other pet? Is the only risk with direct application?

(I haven’t used a flea or mite treatment before… So maybe I’m just clueless…)

[Beka27]

Caitlyn, that is a great question! We haven’t had a thread about mineral oil in quite awhile, but if you’re wondering something, chances are others are as well!

Like the others said, breeders do have different tips and tricks they use to temporarily “resolve” an issue. “Real treatment” costs money and they are not always willing to pay for it (times X number of rabbits they have!)

Has he been to the vet yet? The vet will look at his ears and clean them if necessary. I have only ever wiped down the “outer ear” on my buns. And of course, the vet can prescribe mite treatment if needed.

[Deleted User]

Hey Beka – the frontline gets applied directly to the dogs skin usually between the shoulder blades where they can’t reach with their mouths, and you literally part the dogs hair (even short hair) to apply it to the skin (it doesn’t work if just applied to the dog’s fur). So no chance of transfer. If there was, since getting Henry I would never use it at all. The only reason I still use it for the dogs – it is that bit cheaper than the Revolution (though it is still dam expensive). Once on the dog it dries/soaks in within minutes. At least that is my experience anyway.
One thing I didn’t think of, cause I didn’t have to…. is bunny grooming the dog? Henry doesn’t groom our dogs – that would mean he’d have to make an effort and actually do something other than look sweet and innocent????? So yes – good point/question!!!!!! I’d be curious to hear if others still use frontline on their dogs with a free roam bun? Cheers Beka.

[Roberta]

Funny enough the two big ultra cheap pet supply warehouses where I buy my bunny goodies are located in your neck of the woods Andi. Ebay is a wonderful thing. I can save 20-30 dollars off 6 packs of flea/mite treatment.

[Beka27]

Good to hear that it dries quickly! I figured it did or else I would have heard more about quarantining animals during treatment. Lol…

I think if it were me personally, I’d be afraid to have Frontline in the house, more because of HUMAN mistakes… I could just see my husband seeing a flea on the bunny and grabbing the “flea stuff” and dumping it on her… in an effort to “help”… :o/ I suppose you could write “NOT FOR BUNNY” on the box with a permanent marker tho… lol!

[Caitlyn C]

Yes he’s been to the vet. They said he was a- ok.

[Megabunny]

Boy if our husbands knew all the bashing they take on this forum!!
Cleaning with mineral oil is fine, but what everyone is saying, I think, is that you typically don’t have to clean bunny ears and if they’re dirty, you could have a problem you won’t know about unless you take him to the vet, where they can check an ear swab. Furthermore, if you clean the ears right before taking him to the vet, the doctor won’t be able to see what you’re talking about.
ALSO, although animals have safely had their ears doused with min. oil. I wouldn’t put too much in just cuz I’m chicken.

[Beka27]

I know, right, Megabunny?! Lol!

I’m not saying I’m perfect by any means! I could just as likely see me going to “help out in the garage” and doing something stupid and mess up the cars!

“Oh… That’s not where the windshield wiper fluid goes? Whoops… ”

🙂

[Megabunny]

ROTFL!!!!! Except I’m at work on lunch. No, I’m not addicted.
Beka, if I need anything done in the house, all I have to do it pick up a hammer and my other half comes running!!! Or I start making a lot of frustrated, grunting noises (kinda like my Gus when the dog is in his way) and hubby wants to make it all better. Awww Every other time, though, he’s in my way Ha ha Makes it easier to blame everything on him.

[Bam]

I use ex-spot (permethrin) on my dog, it’s not as toxic to rabbits as Frontline + it works better against ticks. It’s a bit more expensive but it’s over-the-counter, Revolution isn’t. We’ve lots of ticks and several grave tick-borne diseases here.

There actually is a “quarantine” on both permethrin and fipronil (Frontline) spot-on products, children shouldn’t snuggle up to the treated animal for 24-48 hours after it’s been applied.

Mineral oil used to be used on babies (“baby-oil”) but nowadays more and more people recommend veggie oils like coconut for babies instead, since mineral oil is a petroleum product and there are uncertainties as to whether it’s safe for babies. Mineral oil acts as a barrier on the skin, it protects the skin from dehydration but it also won’t let the skin “breathe”.

I hope I’m not expressing myself too unclearly, I’m tired after the first step-up class since my foot was broken =)

[Deleted User]

I’ve been wanting to ask if you had the plaster taken off your foot yet bam, and was waiting for the opportunity to sneak the question into a forum….. lol! Great to hear that it’s finally off!

[LBJ10]

I was told by people here on BB that as long as the Frontline has dried, then it is okay. But I always make sure to bathe my dog once it is safe to bathe after applying the Frontline. I’m too paranoid.

[DaisyBunz]

Posted By Beka27 on 02/12/2014 06:20 AM

Like the others said, breeders do have different tips and tricks they use to temporarily “resolve” an issue. “Real treatment” costs money and they are not always willing to pay for it (times X number of rabbits they have!)

Exactly! I agree, Beka. Not many breeders take all of their rabbits to the vet. I honestly don’t trust most breeders for these reasons.

I have never heard of using mineral oil on a bunny, especially not the super-sensitive ears. I don’t know your breeder’s situation and have never met her/him, but sometimes breeders can give wrong info.
I’d definitely ask your rabbit-savvy vet.
Edit/Add: And never go past the part you can see on the ear when cleaning it. (Like, don’t stick the q-tip down, just gently swab the area that’s obviously visible.) My buns ears don’t seem to get extremely dirty, so I don’t have a lot of experience there. 

[Megabunny]

Doesn’t anyone use Advantix? It is over the counter, but cheaper at the vet because you get free tubes depending on how much you buy at a time.

[Roberta]

No Advantix here, I am not sure about Imidacloprid and its safeness on bunnies, I don’t like the sounds of Permethrin either.
I think it’s meant to be a budget version of Advantage but I can see in articles it is frequently compared to Frontline which contains Fipronil.
I’ll stick with Revolution.. I know I can’t go wrong or overdose them.

[Bam]

I actually used advantix last summer and found it super-effective. I had to get it in Denmark, though, because it’s not available in Sweden. My dog didn’t get one tick after I applied the bayvantic (the name it has in Denmark, seems to be the same thing though). It’s toxic to cats. Permethrin is Always toxic to cats.

My bunnies never snuggle with my dog. They hang out with her, but not really close up. I’m sure they would if she’d let them, but she’s just not a very cuddly dog.

If Revolution were available here without a prescription, I’d use that, but I don’t know if it’s very efficient against ticks and ticks are our problem here, we don’t normally get fleas or lice on our dogs. But boy, do we get ticks =( Sadly there’s no safe chemical protection available for humans. My mother got borreliosis last summer and she was sick for months.
  
AndHenry, my foot has healed excellently! I’m so happy =)

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