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Ear wax / ear mites help

Leesa

Warren Scout
Fudge has been having itchy ears/shaking his head symptoms since earlier this year. Assumed ear mites (it started when we had 2 rabbits, Coco has sadly now passed, but she had flakey white bits inside her ears), vet said it was ear mites. Treated with Xeno 450, seemed to get better, came back, treated again. It started again with him, my Mum was supposed to do a dose on holiday but missed it so that treatment got mucked up so continued with another as he was still itching. He's a mini lop if that makes any difference (not the one in my profile pic, that was Coco as a baby, but her half brother). He's 6 years old this week.

He doesn't have any head tilt, his appetite is extremely healthy. He does sneeze a bit occasionally, but I think thats becasue he likes throwing his hay on top of himself and digging to the bottom of a large box of hay. I've been trying to ensure things like this are dumped and cleaned effectively after each Xeno 450 treatment, but potentially ear mites could be on our sofa etc as he free ranges in the lounge.

About 2/3 weeks ago he was at the vets for vaccination, spoke to a different vet about ear mites. He checked out his ears and noticed a yellow build up (maybe ear wax I'm not sure) and took a sample. Today I phoned for results and said no evidence of ear mites. The Xeno 450 I had finished and started another dosage because he's still itching - it seems like when it's been done it goes away but then the itching starts up again.

I had a look with my phone light today and one ear has a tiny bit of yellow around the edges of the base, with kind of like little bumps or balls in the coating. The other side is quite a lot worse, still only at the base but much more and seems like it cover the whole of the base rather then just the edges. Coco's ears where easier to see down but she did have a thin yellow coating at the base too.

The vet said we could treat with a number of options - after this round of Xeno 450 is done stop and when the itching starts up again take another sample to check (he suggested maybe there weren't many mites there last time because of the Xeno) and also check for bacteria to decide what to flush it with. Put him under anaesthetic and flush his ears out, but he told me of the dangers of doing that and they didn't sound good like head tilt etc. I've got to say I'm not confident them doing it there as they didn't sound experienced in it and I think I'd want him referred to a specialist.

I'm not really sure what choice to take, it sounds risky flushing them so wanted some advice/experiences. Another spanner in the works is that I want to relocate countries next year, which means flying with him. It's not a definite yet that it will happen (I have to organise a visa first), but I've been exploring options and getting him registered as EAS (I have anxiety and depression, which is part of the reason I want to relocate with him) so that he can fly in the cabin. But I'm loathed to fly him anywhere if this condition could be bad on the flight. I've been holding off replacing Coco until I am moved so I don't have to put 2 bunnies through the stress, but I really want to get him a friend soon (but also want the ear mites treated if thats what it is).

Any experience with this type of thing??
 
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Fudge has been having itchy ears/shaking his head symptoms since earlier this year. Assumed ear mites (it started when we had 2 rabbits, Coco has sadly now passed, but she had flakey white bits inside her ears), vet said it was ear mites. Treated with Xeno 450, seemed to get better, came back, treated again. It started again with him, my Mum was supposed to do a dose on holiday but missed it so that treatment got mucked up so continued with another as he was still itching. He's a mini lop if that makes any difference (not the one in my profile pic, that was Coco as a baby, but her half brother). He's 6 years old this week.

He doesn't have any head tilt, his appetite is extremely healthy. He does sneeze a bit occasionally, but I think thats becasue he likes throwing his hay on top of himself and digging to the bottom of a large box of hay. I've been trying to ensure things like this are dumped and cleaned effectively after each Xeno 450 treatment, but potentially ear mites could be on our sofa etc as he free ranges in the lounge.

About 2/3 weeks ago he was at the vets for vaccination, spoke to a different vet about ear mites. He checked out his ears and noticed a yellow build up (maybe ear wax I'm not sure) and took a sample. Today I phoned for results and said no evidence of ear mites. The Xeno 450 I had finished and started another dosage because he's still itching - it seems like when it's been done it goes away but then the itching starts up again.

I had a look with my phone light today and one ear has a tiny bit of yellow around the edges of the base, with kind of like little bumps or balls in the coating. The other side is quite a lot worse, still only at the base but much more and seems like it cover the whole of the base rather then just the edges. Coco's ears where easier to see down but she did have a thin yellow coating at the base too.

The vet said we could treat with a number of options - after this round of Xeno 450 is done stop and when the itching starts up again take another sample to check (he suggested maybe there weren't many mites there last time because of the Xeno) and also check for bacteria to decide what to flush it with. Put him under anaesthetic and flush his ears out, but he told me of the dangers of doing that and they didn't sound good like head tilt etc. I've got to say I'm not confident them doing it there as they didn't sound experienced in it and I think I'd want him referred to a specialist.

I'm not really sure what choice to take, it sounds risky flushing them so wanted some advice/experiences. Another spanner in the works is that I want to relocate countries next year, which means flying with him. It's not a definite yet that it will happen (I have to organise a visa first), but I've been exploring options and getting him registered as EAS (I have anxiety and depression, which is part of the reason I want to relocate with him) so that he can fly in the cabin. But I'm loathed to fly him anywhere if this condition could be bad on the flight. I've been holding off replacing Coco until I am moved so I don't have to put 2 bunnies through the stress, but I really want to get him a friend soon (but also want the ear mites treated if thats what it is).

Any experience with this type of thing??

In short I would seek a second opinion from a more Rabbit Savvy Vet/Exotics Specialist. It is not always necessary to flush out the ear canals to clear wax build up, but sometimes behind the plug of wax there can be a lot of pus-ie infection. I would arrange this 'second opinion' consultation ASAP as any conditions affecting the ears need very prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Have you felt the base of his ears for any lumps ? Lop Rabbits are very prone to ear problems, ear base abscesses being just one. The following links are maybe a bit of information overload, but may give you some additional insight into the potential problems.

https://www.veterinarywebinars.com/...oads/2016/03/Study_Notes_Ear_Nose_Rabbits.pdf

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/ear-disorders/otitis-externa/overview-of-otitis-externa

But as I said the most important thing to do, today if possible, is to arrange an appointment with a Rabbit Savvy Vet. It may help to have a look on here for one

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

Good luck x
 
In short I would seek a second opinion from a more Rabbit Savvy Vet/Exotics Specialist. It is not always necessary to flush out the ear canals to clear wax build up, but sometimes behind the plug of wax there can be a lot of pus-ie infection. I would arrange this 'second opinion' consultation ASAP as any conditions affecting the ears need very prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Have you felt the base of his ears for any lumps ? Lop Rabbits are very prone to ear problems, ear base abscesses being just one. The following links are maybe a bit of information overload, but may give you some additional insight into the potential problems.

https://www.veterinarywebinars.com/...oads/2016/03/Study_Notes_Ear_Nose_Rabbits.pdf

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm

https://www.msdvetmanual.com/ear-disorders/otitis-externa/overview-of-otitis-externa

But as I said the most important thing to do, today if possible, is to arrange an appointment with a Rabbit Savvy Vet. It may help to have a look on here for one

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/

Good luck x

Thank you. I've spoken to Rutland House Referrals this morning to try and get him referred to Molly Varga (I note there was a lot of positive feedback on here and we saw her for Coco, I couldn't really find much on the 2 vets detailed on the link you gave, and all of them are a little drive so figured try and get him referred to Molly). Just called my own vets to make the referral, although the receptionist was a little funny with me about me being the customer wanting the referral (she said they do rabbit surgeries there) but as you say I want a specialist and well sadly they weren't able to save Coco at my local vets (I've felt guilty about whether she would have been better going to Rutland House at the time of her statis but I decided to put her through the least stressful option at the time) and I was a little annoyed that they hadn't phoned me about the results of his sample.

I couldn't find any lumps at his ears but I have never dealt with an ear infection/abscess so I don't know exactly what it should feel like, but it seems the same on both sides. He did however start grinding his teeth when I was rubbing in a certain place, but he has been doing this quite a bit lately as he's become quite snuggly now he's on his own and I thought it was him enjoying being stroked (although now I'm not sure!), although surely if he was in pain he wouldn't let me stroke him for 20 minutes?! I guess we will see what the vets say.

One thing I did notice is one of his eyes looks like it sticks out a little more than the other, I'm not sure if it has always been like this, but got me quite worried in whether there would be something pushing it out. Now I feel really guilty in case he is in pain. Hopefully my vets make the referral ASAP.
 
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