My bun is so itchy

[Devany]

So I noticed my boy bunny has been so itchy lately and I thought he had fleas because my cat had them but everytime I check him and brush him there’s literally nothing on him. Please help

[DanaNM]

He could have fur mites, do you see any red or scaly areas on his skin?

Sometimes they also seem a bit more itchy when they are molting.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Devany]

I don’t see any scaly areas on his skin. I looked all through his fur and there is nothing. He’s itching on his face and ears and I see him nibbling himself. I’m honestly confused

[Bam]

How old is he? Sometimes very young buns and puppy dogs itch themselves a lot.

Rabbits can get food allergies and other types of allergies.

[Devany]

He’s 9 months old hes about to be 1 in October. The itching just started around the time I noticed that my cat had fleas. They are both inside animals but my cat got fleas from my mom’s cat who goes outside. And my bun  just eats Timothy hay and occasionally I give him snacks because he has a sensitive stomach

[LBJ10]

You could get Revolution (selamectin) as a “just in case”. It won’t hurt him to apply it, so no harm done if it isn’t fleas or mites.

 

PSA: Never use anything with fipronil on rabbits. It’s toxic to them.

[Devany]

Okay, I will look into that and thank you!!!

[Devany]

Okay, thank you for replying back to me!!

[Devany]

I tried getting the revolution and I have to get it prescribed to me. If I want to purchase it :/

[Bam]

Yes, Revolution (selamectin) is prescription only in most countries except Australia. Sometimes your vet might will let you purchase it from their clinic without a appointment.

For fleas you can use Advantage. It has imidaclopride. In early stages of an infestation you might not see any fleas or eggs on the rabbit.

(PSA: Never use any compound containing fipronil on a rabbit. It can be deady toxic to them. Many anti-parasitics contain fipronil, so carefully read the ingredient list! End of PSA.)

[Devany]

The cat and dog one is safe for my rabbit?

[Bam]

Yes. I think the kitten one is what’s used for rabbits, mainly because of body weight. You want a dosage that’s as close to your bun’s weight as possible.

You will need to do at least one repeat treatment to get the fleas that are eggs now but will hatch later. Repeat treatment should be done about 8 days after the initial treatment (4 weeks in cats) because rabbits metabolize drugs very fast.

[LBJ10]

My vet will just prescribe it over the phone. No need for a visit. You can call your vet to ask. Just say your cat had fleas and you want to treat your bunny as a preventative. And yes, it’s typically the kitten formula. You just need to make sure you’re using the correct amount.

If you can’t get Revolution, then you could try Advantage (as Bam suggested).

[Author]

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