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[shadow rabbit10]

Got a new doe today. She's a broken chinchilla standard rex. She has a pretty horrible earmite infestation though, shame on her previous owner for letting it get this bad. I have started her on a vegetable oil treatment and I'm keeping her far away from my other rabbits for the time being. Do you all use anything different to combat earmites?

I don't know what else there is... Most people use Mineral Oil. Good luck with that.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

No they didn't. I actually never met the original owner, they traded a bunch of rabbits with the lady I got this one from and she didn't need this one. So I don't think she picked them up from this lady because she didn't have her long and it looks like this has been going on for a long time. I should have checked her over better before buying, but then again I probably would have got her anyway just because I felt sorry for her. 

Bunnylady, thanks for the advice. Can you get mineral oil at any drugstore?

Mineral Oil can be found at Target/Walmart

 

[PoultryPower]

Do you use the mineral oil like you would on a chicken with scaly leg?
I know you also use petroleum jelly on chickens, maybe that would work on rabbits too.

 

[wolftracks]

I helped someone with earmites with a dog and I used baby oil from the dollar store, so that might be a cheap way to go.

 

[Nature Gurl]

I would not use mineral as it is a petrolium byproduct and may have negative effects on your rabbits health. Use an oil that won't be harmful if they ingest a bit. I use olive oil. If the initial infection is very bad I mix a bit of apple cider vinegar with it to help clean out the ear and kill infection. Also adding a few drops of tea tree oil mixed with olive oil is very effective as well. To help any open wound in the ear heal I have been adding several drops of vitamin E oil to the mixture as well. Use a dropper to drop in the ear every day for at least 2 weeks, continuing treatment every other day for at least another 2 weeks. You basically want the inside of the ear to be covered by this mixture in order to drowned out the mites. Also the hutch must be disinfected regularily to kill any exsisting mites or eggs. They can live in raw wood so if your hutch is not painted it will need some extra scrubbing. To disinfect the hutch use a mixture of white vinegar, water, and a few drops of dish soap. I also like to add a small amount of organic apple cidar vinegar to their drinking water to boost their insides to help fight any infection from internally. Plus its good for them. About a tablespoon to 1 gallon is all you need. I do this with my chickens once in a while as well...for good health. I keep Flemish Giants. I adopted 2 that came with mites. This treatment worked like a charm! Best of luck!

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Mineral Oil is used simply by puttin on the tip of a Q-Tip (or something like it) and rubbing the crust off that forms in the ear. To flush out the mites, pour a few drops into the ear. Your rabbits will probably hate it, but it does get rod of mites. I've never heard of it being harmful though. I thought vegetable/olive oil is a greater risk due to fungus or something. Petrolleum jellyisnt good for ear mites because it can't get inside the ear. I use Letroleum Jelly on any cuts the rabbits get to prevent scarring though.

 

[Bunnylady]

I would not use mineral as it is a petrolium byproduct and may have negative effects on your rabbits health. Use an oil that won't be harmful if they ingest a bit.

Mineral oil is non-digestible, and is not considered harmful if ingested. It might interfere with the absorption of certain fat-soluble vitamins, but since we are only talking about a couple of drops in each ear for a few days, the chances of the rabbit ingesting enough to cause a vitamin deficiency are pretty small.

The ACV and tea tree oil mentioned in the rest of Nature Gurl's post have antiseptic properties, which might help to offset the risk of secondary fungal infection from the olive oil. Can't help but think that ACV on a raw ear would be about like lemon juice on a paper cut. though.

 

[wolftracks]

ACV is actually soothing. I always recommend it for people with sunburn. 40 years worth of burnt people can't all be wrong. It's also great for cuts. It's got to be the raw stuff with the Mother though, cause the other stuff DOES burn.

Trying to figure out how to make some frames to hold battery cages. I'm going to make the holes bigger to use for the rabbits. All these cages here and there are driving me nuts. Has anyone ever done this? I have used them, but I want legs and ?????? Just need some ideas.

 

[PoultryPower]

This is what someone just posted on a California rabbit breeders group about ear mites. Thought I would share it with you all.

To treat ear mites.
--Oil the ears with VET RX or olive oil. Ear mites can not live in oil.
Looks like this:.Vet RX
:http://www.jefferspet.com/vetrx-rabbit-remedy/camid/liv/cp/VT-R1/
It can be sold at feed stores. Safe to use. Not expensive either. Just use very
little.

Be sure to repeat every 2 weeks till all is gone. Treat all your rabbits. Clean
the scab out with a cotton swab using a oil product. Wash your hands before
touching each rabbit to prevent spread.


Disinfect & clean all cages.


Wood hutches can be difficult. Mites like wood areas. Spray the cages/hutches
down with pine sol or what I use is HEXOL found at the drugs store. It is a
hospital grade disinfectant. Like pinesol, but made for baby nurseries & a
stronger grade.
ReneeList owner ofCalifornia_Show_Rabbits

 

[PoultryPower]

Does anyone have any good suggestions for feed? I need it to come in at least a 50 lbs bag and $20 or under.