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Cleaning out lops' ears

keletkezes

Wise Old Thumper
Morning all,

I've been pondering for a while what my vet said to me: to have a go at cleaning out Lopsy's ears with a cotton bud.

I've been using prescribed drops (Canaural I think, something like that) every other day, and he doesn't mind that TOO much (I do it while I'm feeding him: he runs away and has a good shake, paw etc., but comes back for more food so I can do the other one). But I'm unsure about actually physically cleaning them. Vet said to bunny-burrito and do it with a cotton bud, but I think I'll do more harm than good: I'm pretty scared of doing my own ears and wouldn't let anyone else near them, nor would I do any consenting adult's, because I'm aware of the damage a poorly-aimed if well-meant cotton bud can do! And on delicate bunny ears, it'd be even worse!

I've read some online guidance, and a lot of it says 'just don't', but some says it's OK to do the outer ear canal, so I'm thinking that's the bit I can see down into. But one false head move and it'll be burst drum or other damage :S

Should I take him back to the vets to have it done? Or carry on to the end of the course (another 2 weeks) and see how he is? He's certainly a lot less ear-itchy than he was before treatment. His ear wax wasn't bad, either, this was more a precautionary measure, getting it seen to and sorted early. Ears otherwise healthy and all that.

Any opinions, advice or stories?
 
I would use an unscented baby wipe to clean the inside bit that I could see but not too far down. I wouldn't like to use a cotton bud deep into the ear though in case the bunny moved.
 
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