Rabbit Health Series – The Most Common Reasons for a Trip To The Veterinarian
Dr. Cheryl E. Morales DVM
At Prestonwood Animal Clinic we are proud to offer care to a wide variety of pets that
include dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and small rodents. With our rabbit patients
there are number of common problems that we see on a day to day basis. This article series
will serve to discuss the most common reasons for a trip to the veterinarian and hopefully help
prevent problems or alert you to when you need to see your veterinarian. We will cover the
following topics: skin, dental, gastrointestinal, and respiratory diseases, as well as wounds,
spaying, neutering and the importance of regular wellness exams.
Rabbits can be affected by the same skin parasites as your family dog or cat. Flea control is
important as is the choice of an appropriate flea control product. Most of what we use to treat
fleas on rabbits is “off label” – meaning it is labeled for use in another species (usually a cat or
kitten flea product). Caution must be used when choosing a product as rabbits can be very
sensitive to different chemicals and pesticides. Always consult your veterinarian when
choosing a flea product – type and amount to use is very important. It is also very important to
treat your home and yard appropriately to help with flea control.
We also commonly see ear mites. Rabbits with ear mites will have thick crusts in their ears and
will often shake or scratch at their ears. The ears are typically painful and can have secondary
bacterial infections. Diagnosis is made either by seeing the mites on physical exam with an
otoscope or under the microscope after swabbing the ear. We typically treat our rabbit
patients with either ivermectin or a prescription Otomite ear drop for at least 3 weeks. Any
bacterial infection is also treated. It is important to clean the rabbit’s environment well and
treat any other pets (rabbits, cats and dogs) in the household.
Cheyletiella is the rabbit fur mite. Rabbits will often present with “dry” or “flaky” skin or even
hairloss. This mite can be diagnosed by examining the fur under the microscope. Treatment is
important to avoid spreading the mites to family members or other pets in the household.
Ringworm is a less commonly seen fungal infection of the skin. Affected rabbits have hairloss
and crusty skin. A culture can be performed to diagnose this infection. Treatment is aimed at
using topical antifungals and thoroughly cleaning the rabbits environment. A dilute bleach
water solution (1 part bleach: 10 parts water) can be used to clean cages and surfaces.
Although this article does not include all of the diseases known to affect pet rabbits, it does
cover the most commonly seen conditions. If there is any concern regarding the condition of
your pet’s skin it is always best to consult your local rabbit veterinarian.
The next topic will cover dental issues. Until next time, here’s to a happy and healthy bunny!