Ear mite in rabbits: a description of the parasite, what effect it has on the body, prevention and treatment

Rabbits are very sensitive animals to the environment, therefore, in order for their rearing to be productive, each individual must be closely monitored. Each, even the slightest deviation in the behavior of the animal should attract the attention of the owners and be carefully analyzed. Rabbits are susceptible to various rapidly spreading diseases that can bring death to the entire population.

One such contagious disease is Psoroptosis, a type of scabies. She is does not lead to the death of the animal, but the body weakened by this disease will not be able to withstand more serious diseases. The causative agent of this disease is a yellow tick, which, although small in size, can cause serious harm to the health of the entire livestock.

How does the disease spread and what is the causative agent of the disease?

Ear mites spread in three main ways.

1. from an infected animal.
2. From poorly treated cages, drinkers and feeders.
3. From tick carriers – rodents.

If the rabbit is already infected, then need to take immediate action, otherwise scabies can weaken the immunity of the animal, and in the future lead to the disease of the entire livestock.

This disease, unpleasant for rabbits and their owners, arises from ticks that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Their name is Psoropthesis kunikuli, the size is less than a millimeter. Its color varies from yellow to dark brown. Their behavior is typical for ticks, they bite through the skin and get inside, causing itching and scratching of the animal. Reproduction occurs by laying eggs.

Signs of disease in rabbits

To understand whether there are signs of an ear mite in a pet, you need to watch the rabbit and identify its signs or their absence. If the rabbit disease does not proceed in a latent form, then it is easy to detect at the first stage of infection.

Signs of an ear mite in a rabbit are as follows:

• restless behavior of the animal. Rabbit shakes his head, tries to scratch his ears in every possible way;
• if red tubercles appear in the ears, which grow into blisters. These blisters burst, releasing fluid;
• secondary signs that appeared in a rabbit, if the disease was not noticed at the first stage, may be the presence of scabs in the ears. The ear canal is clogged with wax and dead cells.

In rare cases, the course of the disease occurs without obvious symptoms. Only frequent scratching of the ears can indicate the presence of a possible rabbit disease. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated in time, this can lead to brain disease animal. So ear disease in rabbits can have such serious consequences.

Ear Mite Treatment

Observing the above signs of the disease in animals, need to see a specialist for confirmation of the diagnosis. If the disease is detected and medications are prescribed, then you need to follow the instructions of the veterinarian.

But, if the rabbit has obvious signs of a disease that cannot be confused with anything, then alternative methods of treatment can be used.

Recipe No.1

For the solution you need kerosene and vegetable oil. These substances are mixed in equal proportions. To lubricate the ears of rabbits well need a long stick pencil type. Gauze is wound around it, it should turn out something like a big cleaning ear. The entire gauze part is dipped into the resulting solution and the surface of the ears is lubricated. Those places where the disease is already pronounced, lubricate more abundantly.

This recipe, according to rabbit breeders, gives a quick positive result. You can see it within a day. But to consolidate the result, processing is worth repeating.

Recipe No.2

This recipe contains Iodine and Glycerin. Yoda is poured one part, and Glycerin four. Glycerin can be replaced with vegetable oil. The composition is mixed and applied in the same way as in the first recipe. Lubrication is repeated every other day.

But treating animals is not all that needs to be done. The room in which the sick animal was found must be carefully processed. The cage itself and the entire inventory, depending on the material of the objects, can be treated with a solution of whiteness or with the fire of a blowtorch.

disease prevention

But it is always better not to treat the disease, but to prevent its occurrence. So, there are a few rules that will help rabbits avoid illness, not only ear mites, but a whole bunch of more serious diseases.

1. Twice a year process cages and all related equipment special disinfectants.
2. Periodically treat with chemicals against rodents the premises in which the cages are located.
3. All new rabbits should be quarantined for at least three days. During this period, animals are carefully examined and monitored for the slightest changes in behavior.
4. Perform prophylactic treatment of the ears of rabbits, who are going to give birth in two weeks.
5. Affected animals should be isolated immediately. If this is a lactating rabbit with rabbits, then everyone needs to be isolated. The mother needs to be treated, and the rabbits only when a disease is detected.
6. When caring for sick animals, you need to be extremely careful not to transfer the infection to healthy rabbits on your hands and clothes. That’s why hands must be washed thoroughlyand change outerwear.

Raising rabbits is very profitable, but also very painstaking. This animal requires special attention at all stages of its life. Only proper care, periodic prevention and timely treatment of rabbits will allow you to grow a healthy and numerous livestock.