Rabbit Mites

Rabbit mites are a group of arachnids (yes, from the same family as spiders) that feed on dirt, mould, animals and plants. On your bun they live, feed and breed in your bun’s ears, fur and skin. The most common types of rabbit mites are fur mites and ear mites. Mites are painful for your bun and if left untreated can result in serious damage, particularly ear mites which can lead to hearing loss.

Rabbit Mites can be a highly irritating and potentially serious condition that affects a rabbit’s health and well being. As parasites, rabbit mites not only cause a plethora of problems for an infected animal, they can also spread out to other species such as dogs, cats, and even humans.

As mites reproduce, larger numbers become a source of itchiness for the infected rabbit. As the annoyance worsens and the rabbit begins to scratch, skin inflammation and soreness occur and lesions can develop over time. Lesions under the fur or inside the ears of a rabbit encourage unhealthy and potentially life threatening bacterial infections and possible permanent abnormalities of the ears or skin.

A further concern during an epidemic of rabbit mites is the contagious nature of the mite. Once a rabbit has become infected, there is a good chance that parasites will transfer into the environment as well as to other mammals in the vicinity. Much like lice, rabbit mites are spread through contact and to further the problem, their eggs can be transferred as well. Humans who become infected with rabbit mites typically experience only mild itchiness and irritation for a limited time, but in some cases skin lesions can appear and present more serious problems.

Symptoms:Intense scratching of the ears and head. Excessive head shaking.Redness of the skin inside the ear.Thick reddish-brown crusts in the ear. Bleeding ear canals.

get rid of Rabbit mites:Observe your rabbit closely if you suspect he has mites. An infested rabbit may show signs of extreme itching, hair loss, and red, scaly patches along the back and neck. Separate the hair along the spine and look closely for flaking or dandruff, both indicators of an infestation.

Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to have your rabbit examined. Your vet will check for signs of mites, and will take a skin scraping to diagnose a mite infestation. If your rabbit is infested, your vet will likely recommend a course of treatment including a topical medication containing selamectin, which has been proven safe for rabbits.

Clean the affected area with warm water and small animal shampoo to remove excess scaling and dandruff. Rabbits are naturally clean animals and do not handle full baths well, but a quick scrub with a wash cloth will remove the scaling and keep your rabbit from becoming chilled.

Apply the medication as directed by your veterinarian. Most topical creams are applied once or twice a day to the affected area until the mites clear up. Be sure to wear a pair of rubber gloves when handling and treating your rabbit to minimize the chance of contracting the mites yourself.

Disinfect your rabbit’s living area to eliminate the chance of reinfestation. Wash his bedding in hot water and bleach to remove mites from his sleeping area. A solution of bleach and water can be sprayed throughout your rabbit’s cage to kill any remaining mites. Allow the bedding and cage to dry and examine them closely, as it may take multiple cleanings to fully remove them.

If you ever have any bug related questions feel free to call us either at Beyond Pest Control. Once again, and I can’t stress this enough we are on call twenty four hours a day seven days a week to kill those bugs, we aren’t kidding whether you call us at 9 am or midnight we will be available to take your call and either get rid of the bug infestation, or answer any questions you may have concerning the bug issue. I can honestly guarantee that there will be someone to answer that call. We make it our business to make you bug free!

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Beyond Pest Control.

Our pest control specialists service all NYC boroughs, including Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island (both Nassau & Suffolk counties), Staten Island and even both Westchester & Rockland counties.