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Dry Skin

Sweetie

Sweetie

Mama Doe
Hi All,

Does anyone know if bunnies get dry skin? I have noticed flakey skin on the top of my buns head just by his ears (hes a mini lop). Ive never seen this before and have noticed him scratching there occassionally. He hasnt got it anywhere else. He had his nails clipped yesterday so i dont know if he just irritated the skin with his nails before they were clipped.
 
It sounds like mites. Rabbits are prone to get them under stress so if he has been ill or there has been a lot of disturbance near him recently they could have multiplied more than his immune system could cope with.

Is it a small sort of circular patch with some hair broken off half way down the hair shaft? Is it flaky like scurf with possibly some redness/soreness around?

If he has been scratching at it, it does sound like mites.

This usually needs a couple of injections from the vet (7 to 10 days apart to catch the lifecycle of the mites) and it clears up pretty quickly. The medicated shampoos don't always work. It costs from £3 to £8 depending on where you live - my practice it is more expensive but definately worth it.

Once he has been treated you need to clean out his bedding and area to prevent reinfection and if he has a girly she may need to be done too just to make sure she isn't carrying any that could reinfect him.

Caz
 
Thanks Caz,

It doesnt look sore or red, with out sounding silly, it just looks like dandruff!

We`ve only had him three months and he hasnt had any illnesses yet (touch wood!!) or any disturbances, although, we did get him a friend about three/four weeks ago, we didnt have her for long though, only a few days. We had to take her back as Elvis was petrified of her, and stopped eating/drinking/ She was an outside bunny where as Elvis is an indoor bunny.

If it is mites, do you think its possible he couldve caught them from her?? (im new to all this so i apologise if im asking silly questions!)
 
How did you treat it? Do they have to be taken to the vets or is there treatment that can be bought from a petshop?

Do you know how rabbits get mites?
 
It is thought that rabbits naturally have mites living on them but they are at such a low population level they don't cause any problems. When a rabbit gets stressed it allows the mite population to multiply to levels that cause the rabbit discomfort.

It is probable if he stopped eating because of the girl rabbit this would be enough stress to trigger the mites! That would constitute a disturbance ;)!

Is there is no redness you have caught it early before it spreads. There are shampoos you can buy but I tried them on Zeus and they didn't work very well. It is best to get a vet to check him over and give him some Ivomectin (sp?) injections. Because the mites are blood suckers this poisons them. You should have at least two, one to kill off the adults and one 7 to 10 days later to catch any new ones that may have hatched from eggs that were left behind.

Caz
 
Princess had mites - the vet said it could have been from the stresses of being in rescue and then moving to my house! I had a tube of Frontline for bunnies which works well.

They naturally have them but at times of stress they can multiply and make themselves visible as the flaky skin etc. Hay can also carry mites.

Nicola
 
Im on a bit of a budget so would be really useful if anyone knows a rough amount a trip to the vets for mites is likely to cost?
 
It cost me about £15 for injection and consultation for the first rabbit. It depends on how much your vet charges for a consultation. Mine charges £9 for follow ups (can't remember what the charge is for a first consultation as I have been going there so often every trip is charged at follow-up rates).

My vet is a specialist and on the pricy side though!

Bunnylove's vet only charges £3/4 per injection!!

Best to give your vet a call and ask, don't leave it too long as Zeus got his just before I went on holiday but I didn't know what it was at the time and thought it was part of his moult, by the time I got back (four days later) he had three or four large patches and was grumpy all the time from the constant itching - it then took three injections to clear him once the vet diagnosed what it was (originally when I rang before my holiday the vet I spoke to didn't have a clue and suggested an irregular moult although later I realised I had practically described textbook mite symptoms)!! Luckily the vet that saw him recognised it immediately.

Caz
 
thank You Caz :D :D :D

Ill give them a ring on my lunch break (at work at the mo)
Going to see if I can get him in by the weekend. My vets arent cheap but arent expensive either, quite reasonable actually, didnt have to pay for the first check up when we got Elvis!

Im getting quite worried now, hes home all alone!!!

He shakes his head from time to time too, is this ear mites???
 
I don't know but when you take him in ask the vet to do an all over check-up/MOT for you just to be safe!

Caz
 
Will do!

I was only in there last night having his nails clipped! Didnt notice the flakey skin till i cleaned him when i got home!
 
Isn't that always the way :roll: !

I have to make a list everytime I go to the vet now as I always remember there was something I wanted to ask when I am halfway home!

Caz
 
Just spoken to the vets, its £14.67 for the consultation then £5 for the injections (total of 3).

Not as much as i thought, just got to find a suitable appointment time now!!
 
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