Sore on ear- advise please

[Dougster_thelop]

Hi guys,

I have a lop rabbit and he’s got a little sore on his ear. It use to just be a scratch and was the smallest scab ever and it never use to bother him. Lately I’ve noticed it’s got bigger, so it isn’t massive but it is red and it being itchy must really annoy him.

Just wondered if anyone had any advise on what to put on it to help it heal/ try to stop him from scratching it.

[Deleted User]

If it’s something that has progressed over time and you don’t know how it got there then it’s probably best to have a vet look at it. I can’t imagine anyone will have any at home remedies without a greater description or a picture of it either

[Bam]

I agree with Eddy, if it’s gotten worse with time instead of better, you do need him to be seen. It could be ringworm (a fungal infection, so nothing to do with worms). You can of course rinse it with saline (normal saline eyewash for humans) meanwhile and gently pat it dry with something clean and soft. You can’t use cortisone on a bunny exept in extreme cases and as ordered by a vet, so he’d need something else for the itching. (Rabbits are extremely sensitive to corticosteroids).

If it’s an infection it could spread.

Here’s a warning we always issue when the subject of possible external parasites comes up: Do NOT treat a bunny with any compound containing fipronil. It’s deadly toxic to rabbits. Fipronil is sold under a wide variety of names (Frontline is probably the best known). This doesn’t really sound like parasites though since it’s localized to one spot on one ear. Could you get us a picture?

[Dougster_thelop]

Thank you.
It’s currently just a little red dot o have tried to upload a picture but it won’t upload.
He’s an indoor rabbit and it looks clean etc but wondered if anyone has had previous experience

[Bam]

It doesn’t look like much, I agree. have you tried triple antibiotic cream on it? (neosporin without the painkiller is one brand). Fucidine cream can also be used on bunnies.

I’d try that for a couple of days but if it still won’t heal and the bunny seems bothered by it, I’d contact a vet. How long has he had it for? I take it there are no other sores on him?

[LBJ10]

I agree. Try some ointment and see if it helps. If there’s still no improvement, then it would be best to have it looked at.

[Dougster_thelop]

Thank you. It’s been there about a week I would say. But has now only just started to get bigger and red as you see in the picture. Thai you for your advise. I put some cream on it last night and gave it a quick clean with some saline.
My issue now is that he keeps cleaning his ears and wiping off the cream. Hopefully he leaves it on for long enough to have some positive effect.
Thank you

[Bam]

He could be making the sore bigger and more inflamed by scratching it and cleaning it. If the cream helps against the itching he might leave the ear alone, but if he keeps at it, he might need to wear a cone until the sore has healed. At least during the times you can’t keep an eye on him and stop him from cleaning the ear.

A week isn’t very long, I was afraid it had been many weeks or months. A week seems normal for such a wound and if the bun scratches at it (a bun’s feet and nails are of course never bacteria-free (and they shouldn’t be), so bacteria could get into the wound and make it worse).

I hope it’ll heal well now!

[Dougster_thelop]

I’ve just found another one on the inside of his ear so think I’m going to have to take him to the vet. They don’t look bad (infected) going to give them till Monday then see what ideas they have.
I wasn’t sure if you could get cones for rabbits think he might need one at this rate ha.
Thanks for your help ?

[Author]

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