Rabbit Scratching – Getting Worried

[snowballsmomma]

I’m started to get worried about my bun.

The past few days, after I would pet him, he would go and scratch his ears for a minute or two.  I thought it was weird, but couldn’t tell if I was imagining it so decided to wait and see if it would get worse.

Today he’s been acting weirdly.  First he made a weird sound for 20 seconds (first video, although you have to put the sound up really high), he didn’t eat his cecotropes and midway through his sleeping time, he started scratching his ears pretty hard (last two videos).  Now he’s sleeping (it’s still technically his sleeping time), but I’m getting worried

I don’t know what to do… my vet is already closed now so I don’t know if I could see anyone anyway?  What should I do?

video-1601226064

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(All three videos reviewed and approved by Wick)

 

[Wick & Fable]

I closed your other topic and linked to this one, since it includes more concerns you have. As mentioned, all these behaviors actually seem quite normal. He could just have an especially deep itch because a piece of fur it down his ear or something. Rabbits, just like humans, sometimes get those more irritating itches that take a bit more effort to satisfy!

I wouldn’t be too concerned at this point. Sometimes as rabbit owners we start labeling a lot of normal behaviors as bad signs because we are on high-alert and are worried. As of now, i see videos of some pretty normal rabbit stuff.

Leaving behind a cecotrope or two occasionally isn’t a worry either. If it happens more continuously, then that is a worry.

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.

[snowballsmomma]

Hi Wick – Thanks for your thoughts.  Maybe I am just a bit paranoid…  I definitely can overthink sometimes!  He left a lot of cecotropes but I would guess that I should be more alert to a pattern rather than a single time – i.e. if it happens tomorrow as well. It’s hard to tell what is a serious concern and what is not.  The head shaking thing is more rare but maybe I also had more time this weekend to obsess about him haha.

[Moonlightbunny66]

Looks like cute chilling and grooming to me. If he is kicking inside his ears a lot and shaking his head side to side it could be ear mites. You can take your phone flashlight and look inside his ears to see if it’s really dirty and scabby deep in it.

I noticed my Pinky kicking inside and shaking his head a lot multiple times a day everyday, so I looked in his ears and it was really dirty and had some red scabs. I took him to the vet and he had ear mites so he’s getting treated right now. Also, my vet told me not to clean or remove the dirty stuff in his ears.

Btw your bunny is adorable! 😍

[snowballsmomma]

Moonlightbunny66 – Thanks so much 🙂 I was getting worried since he was shaking his head and seemed to kick inside his ear with such strength haha, but at the same time, it isn’t very frequent right now.  It’s mostly after I pet him and the odd time I am watching him.  I assume with Pinky, it kept getting worse?  I did look inside his ears with a flashlight and everything looks clean (no scabs, nothing really in there), but that’s really interesting that you saw something when you looked in Pinky’s ears!  I hope Pinky gets better soon!

And aww thank you!  I think so too hehe but then again I’m very biased 😛  Your bun in the profile pic looks sooo adorable as well 🙂

[DanaNM]

Sometimes my buns with scratch their ears after I pet them, especially if they are molting. They can get loose fur in their ears and it tickles them. 🙂

So if it’s only after you pet, that would be my guess.

. . . 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.  

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