Possibly Scabies?

[DeadlyVu]

IMG_1059 IMG_1062

This is my rabbit Milo’s ear. It’s only on his left ear but he’s been thumping at me every time I try to touch it or him since this morning. He had the flakes yesterday but didn’t mind me touching him at all. He’s eating and drinking and pooping pretty normally and he’s still running around. Is this scabies or mites of some kind, or is his skin just dry? This is the only spot on him like this.

[Bam]

I’m not really sure what I’m seeing on the picture. It could be cheyltiella fur mites or just dry skin. Scabies (mange) is rare in house rabbits. Mites are best treated with Revolution (spot-on selamectin) or ivermectin. PSA: Never use any compound containing fipronil (such as Frontline or Sentry) on a rabbit, it can be deadly.

It’s weird that he wont let you touch the ear. Mites can cause itching, but they dont always. Do you see him scratching his ear a lot? Are the flakes around the base of the ear or on the ear itself? Is Milo a lop rabbit?

[DeadlyVu]

He isn’t itching it any more than he usually does. The flakes are on the very tip of his ear and there’s only a few of them. He is a Holland lop, yes.

[Bam]

Tip of the ear is not the most typical place for a mite-infestation to first appear. It more commonly manifests first between the shoulder blades and/or at the base of the tail. I think you could just keep an eye on this for now. If it spreads, if you see increasing amounts of skin flakes, if scabs (skin colored, difficult to see but easily felt)  form and/or he starts scratching and biting at the ear, I’d suspect mites.

What’s more worrisome is that he wont let you touch his ear. (Or him). Hopefully he’s just annoyed with you and will calm down in a little while. It’d be good if you could examine his ear -feel for a lump at the base, look if it’s “dirty” inside. It can however be difficult to differentiate between a pain response and general annoyance. You could start by feeling his right ear base and see if he reacts differently when you then feel the left ear.

The reason I asked whether he’s a lop is that ear infections are a huge lot more common in lops than in up-eared rabbits.

[LBJ10]

It could be ear mites, which are different. They start inside the ear and then work their way out. Sometimes you will see crusts along the edges of the ear during earlier stages, but it is less common. Ear mites can be extremely painful. Does the underside/inside look inflamed or irritated?

[Bam]

Agree with LBJ. If it is ear mites, you’ll see crusts forming on the inside of the ear, starting nzear the base and working their way upwards. If you remove a crust there will be bleeding, and the bun will react with pain. Revolution (selamectin) or ivermectin constitue the gold standard for treatment. Repeat treatment to eradicate larvae that were eggs during first treatment is often needed. Prognosis is great.

[DeadlyVu]

I’ll look at it when he comes out again. He was letting me touch and pet him yesterday, including the ear, but now he’s being huffy again. I’m hoping it’s just because I woke him up or something.

[DeadlyVu]

This is the inside of his ear. It looks normal to me?

[Bam]

It does look normal. It’s difficult to see though.

[DeadlyVu]

This is the outside again. It looks like he has a bald spot or something. Other ear is normal as is behavior. He just itches it sometimes.

[Bam]

The skin looks good though. If you feel the hairless area, does it feel smooth or is it “bumpy”?

[DeadlyVu]

It’s not bumpy as far as I can tell.

[Bam]

Great! Mites cause the skin to become uneven and thick.

Could it be just molting?

[LBJ10]

Could just be molting. Also, some bunnies just get a bit thin on the back of the ears.

[Author]

Messages