Wood?

[colleenbunny]

 I’m really asking this question for a friend because I’m a little worried. My friend keeps her rabbit outside full-time in an hutch. The hutch is made of wood. The floor is wood and the ceiling is wood. The only wire part is the doors and walls. The rabbit has an issue with ear mites in the past. (The ear mites keep coming back.) I’ve recently heard that wood “breeds” ear mites. If you can confirm this is true, that would be a great help. And anything you can tell me about preventing ear mites would also be appreciated. (And are ear mites contagious?)

[Monkeybun]

Being outdoors breed mites. Seriously, they can be passed to the bun from other animals, from the environment, etc. And they can spread. Best way to not have them is to treat the bun, and move it indoors where it will be safer and healthier.

[Bam]

If your friend is persistent about keeping her bun outside – sometimes parents etc can be very reluctant to let a bunny live indoors – then there’s always the risk of parasites attacking her bun. She has to treat the bun when the mites manifest themselves + take extra good care to give the rabbit healthy, high-quality food. Good healthy food helps keep the immune-system in good working order. Mites and other parasites benefit from and take advantage of lowered immune-defenses in animals and humans.

The hutch should at least be painted, on the inside as well as on the outside. (But not when the bun is in it of course, paint-fumes are toxic.) Painted wood is much easier to clean and doesn’t provide as many “hiding-places” for mites, bacteria and other parasites and microbes you’d want to avoid. The paint should be for carpentry outdoors and high gloss and in a light colour because light colour makes it easier to spot insects and dirt and sticky poop and other unwanted stuff. The hutch should also stand on legs or sth so it isn’t directly on the ground.

[Roberta]

There is only one wood suitable for pest control which is Fir….. It is extremely expensive and I doubt your friends rabbitat is made from it. If she insists on keeping them out doors the mite and parasite problem will persist. They can be treated with revolution or similar rabbit appropriate products and if she is keeping them out doors it will have to be done monthly.
I would suggest you let her know that her vet and medication bills will be greatly reduced by moving them indoors.

[Beka27]

When her bun has has mites in the past, has she taken him to the vet for treatment, or how did they resolve the issue? Did the vet give info on prevention?

[colleenbunny]

 She has never taken her rabbit to the vet, and I doubt she ever will.  Whenever the bun gets ear mites she rubs mineral oil on the inside of the infected ear. I’m sad and happy about the upgrade between the cages. I’m sad because the old cage was in the garage, but now it’s outside (not the same cage). But now the old cage is being used, so she can’t use that. But I’m happy because the old cage had a wire floor and this cage has a wood floor. All she everdoes when her rabbit is sick is do whatever the 4H rabbit club she took told her to do about it. 

[Roberta]

The mineral oil to treat mites worries me. I have seen images of very nasty wounds and infections caused by treating with mineral oil. It can drive the mites deeper into the flesh and down around the eyes and mouth. Prolonged infestation can be horrific.
Could she atleast be persuaded to invest in some revolution puppy and kitten ? That would treat the mites as well as other parasites. Although I believe over there in some states you have to get a script for it from your vet. Maybe some other members know of some mite medication that can be purchased that will be effective but I believe the revolution will have the best result.

[colleenbunny]

Thanks! I will recommend Revolution to her.

[colleenbunny]

Would This work?:

http://www.amazon.com/EarSolv-Treatment-Infections-Rabbits-GUARANTEED/dp/B00ADJ5TDG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366651854&sr=8-1&keywords=ear+mite+treatment+for+rabbits

[colleenbunny]

Would this paint work?

http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-242256-Gallon-Performance-Protective/dp/B002ZXDZJS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366652181&sr=8-1&keywords=high+gloss+paint+for+carpentry+white

[colleenbunny]

I don’t think the hutch is made of Fir, because she got it off of craigslist and it looks really old.

[Bam]

That paint is for metal surfaces only. For the wood-part of the cage you need wood paint, for use outdoors.

[colleenbunny]

Okay.

[colleenbunny]

I’ll visit soon, so I’ll try to get some pics of the rabbit and the cage setup. A picture really is worth a thousand words!

[Author]

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