*Health question template for this forum is below the explanation of my reason for posting, my concerns, and my questions*
Questions in a nutshell:
– What’s the minimum amount of time to wait between administering flea treatments which are designed to be given monthly? (Rabbit is small lionhead, 1.1kg/2.4 lbs, and a senior bun 8y/o)
– Are there any topical treatments for skin mites that are rabbit safe?
– Correct dosage for Revolution?
Reasons for concern:
I just went to a vet, and although they were somewhat knowledgeable about rabbits, there were several red flags that indicated the vet was not an expert on the subject matter, and I do not trust what she recommended as it conflicts with information I previously received from a vet who WAS an expert in rabbits (she taught classes for other vets to learn how to treat rabbits and was highly recommended by everyone in the rabbit community in that entire part of the state. Very sadly, I now live 13 hours away so I cannot see her. I contacted her office hoping for her advice, but was told she cannot recommend anything without an appointment). I am hoping people here can help share their knowledge and opinions.
While giving my 8-year-old lionhead the OTC Bayer Advantage II flea treatment for kittens 2-5 lbs (an OTC that is safe for rabbits and which I’ve used on my rabbits for years), I noticed that there was white dandruff on her back (buried in her long fur), close to her neck. The next day I took her to the vet, who confirmed that there were skin mites causing it. The vet prescribed Revolution (for puppies and kittens less than 5 lbs), which is a flea treatment that is also an anti-parasitic, and will kill the mites. However, the vet was about to administer the Revolution on the spot, less than 24 hours after I had given her the Advantage II flea treatment. I was alarmed, because the previous expert rabbit vet I had been to had told me to wait a minimum of 2 weeks between flea treatments that are meant to last for a month. Not only that, but the vet tech at the current (non-expert) vet had said that “usually it’s about two days,” so even the vet tech had thought some amount of time between treatments was necessary. Also, when I called the office of the expert vet to ask my question, the vet tech who answered the phone said that she thought it was “usually two weeks,” before asking the vet herself (who, again, said she couldn’t give advice/recommendations without seeing my rabbit for an appointment).
I’m also cautious because my lionhead girl is particularly small, I think she’s only about 2.5 lbs, and is a senior rabbit. My concern is that giving her the Revolution too soon after the Advantage II would be an overdose and might be fatal. However, since she has skin mites, obviously I want to give her treatment as soon as possible in order to treat the mites.
So, this is what I’m wondering:
– What’s the minimum amount of time to wait between administering flea treatments which are designed to be given monthly? (Rabbit is small lionhead, 1.1kg/2.4 lbs, and a senior bun 8y/o)
– Are there any topical treatments for skin mites that are rabbit safe? Something to give her in the meantime before I can safely administer the Revolution? I asked the current vet, but she said there wasn’t (that she knew of) because most topical ointments, etc. for mites have steroids, which she said rabbits are sensitive to.
– Correct dosage for Revolution?
The amounts for Revolution that the current vet recommended seem particularly high based both on the information found on the product packaging as well as my past experience with the expert rabbit vet. Years ago, I had two rabbits who were the same breed and nearly the same exact bodyweight as my current two rabbits. Back when those two rabbits got fleas, I went to the expert rabbit vet, who also prescribed Revolution. She instructed me to give each rabbit one full application (pre-packaged tube) of Revolution. I asked her if it was okay, even though the female lionhead was about 2.5 lbs and the male mini lop was almost 5 lbs. She reassured me that it was fine to give them both one tube each. This is what I did, and there were no observable negative consequences (and it successfully treated the fleas).
The current vet, however, said to give one tube to the 2.4 lb lionhead, and to give two tubes at the same time to the male holland lop, who is 4.4 lbs. This is twice the dose recommended for the previous mini lop. Additionally, each of these tubes are labeled as being 15 mg (0.25 mL), and the minimum recommended dosage listed on the product packaging is 2.7 mg per lb (6 mg/kg) of body weight. So, the minimum for my rabbits would be 6.5-6.6 mg for the smaller lionhead, and 11.9-12 mg for the larger holland lop. So, these are minimum amounts, but considering these amounts, 30 mg (recommended by current vet) for the male seems like a shockingly large amount.
Maintenance and Housing
Is your bunny housed indoors or outdoors?
Indoors
Does your bunny live with other bunnies?
I have two rabbits that live together in the same enclosure (one of whom also moves around the room at will).
If yes, are they bonded?
Yes.
If you rabbit spends time outside, are wild rabbits around?
They do not spend time outside.
How much exercise does your bunny get per day?
They are both free to run around the room at all times; the young male holland lop takes advantage of this, but the female lionhead never does, as she prefers staying in the 2 foot x 5 foot cage, and always has.
How often do you clean the litter box?
Every two days (it’s an XL litterbox, 1.5 feet x 2 feet, with about two inches of paper bedding).
How often do you groom your bunny?
As needed. They only need it during seasonal shedding, though. When petting them daily, a small amount of fur is sometimes removed, which I throw away. If there is more fur than usual, I’ll pet them more or get out the grooming brush.
Spay/Neuter
Is your bunny spayed/neutered?
Female: unknown (I’ve had vets look into a number of times) Male: yes.
If so, for how long?
Male: 11 months
If not, why not?
Female: it’s unknown if she was, and at this point she is older than the recommended age to be spayed. The animal shelter I got her from said she was spayed, vets see no green line, but her fur is very thick, and even an X-ray was inconclusive (according to the vet?).
Are you aware of reproductive cancer risk in females? If not, please read about it here.
Yes.
Pooping and Diet – Very Important
What does your bunny eat normally:
Unlimited timothy hay, measured timothy pellets according to body weight. Both are Small Pet Select brand (organic, high quality, grown in USA, freshly delivered)
How much hay and what type?
Please see above. They both eat it frequently throughout the day, every day. Since it is unlimited, I don’t have exact amounts.
How much pellets and what type?
Please see above. They both share 1/2 cup of pellets daily (1/4 cup twice a day); the male naturally eats more than the female, but they both eat simultaneously and both get a reasonable amount for their body weight. Male probably eats 3/5 of the pellets, female eats 2/5. Since the vet visit a couple days ago, I am limiting the pellets to 1/2 this amount (might increase it a little), because they both are developing points on their teeth. The boy is picky and seems to not eat enough hay each day.
How much veggies and what types?
They do not eat vegetables regularly, but when they do it is small amounts of romaine lettuce, baby spinach, and grape-sized raw carrot pieces.
How many treats and what types?
The treat is the grape-sized carrot pieces given rarely.
Anything else not listed?
The boy sometimes chews on cardboard boxes a little bit.
When was the last time your bunny ate? (If > 12 hours ago this is an emergency, contact a vet ASAP)
This morning, a couple hours ago. They are both sleeping right now.
What was the last thing your bunny ate?
Timothy hay and pellets described above.
When was the last time your bunny pooped? (If > 12 hours ago this is an emergency, contact a vet ASAP)
While eating a couple hours ago.
How did your bunny’s most recent poops look (round and firm, misshapen, small and hard, soft/mushy, runny, etc.) ?
Dry, spherical, firm, fibrous, dark brown.
Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this bunny?
Female: 5.5 years; Male, 1 year.
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?
Female: skin mites. She also lost a little bit of weight. She is blind, left eye has a little bit of discharge (this is an issue I’ve seen the vet about frequently lately) and might have arthritis. Male: Vet did not see any skin mites on him, but obviously he will be treated preventatively.
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?
Three days ago.
Have you consulted a vet?
Yes.
Have you started any treatment for the symptoms?
Meloxicam (anti-inflammatory) for the arthritis/comfort of my girl, and ciprofloxacin eye drops for the discharge from her eyes. (Discharge is clear and sticky. This is an ongoing issue that comes and goes and for which she gets vet-recommended and prescribed treatment). OTC flea treatment; no treatment for the skin mites yet because that is what this question is about.
Was your bunny physically ill or injured when you got them?
Female: no. Male: when I got him a year ago, he had fleas, for which both rabbits received three months of the OTC Advantage II for kittens 2-5 lbs which is rabbit-safe.
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?
Over time, I think the girl hops a little more stiffly/timidly, but she has never been one for exercise besides having frequent, currently constant, access to the room’s floor for running around. I’ve taken her out of the cage several times throughout her life to let her explore around, which she does calmly with curiosity, then when she’s done, she hops back into the cage and goes back to the dark box/hutch where she likes to nap throughout the day. She knows she can hop out of the cage and hop around, she just doesn’t like to, for whatever reason.
Explain your situation in detail. (Please explain what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)
Please see the beginning of this post. I of course will answer any additional questions you might have.
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