Ear mites

Ear Mite Psoroptes cuniculi (Rabbit Ear Mite)

Etiology

Psoroptes cuniculi is a nonburrowing mite and the causative agent of psoroptic mange, also called ear mange, ear canker, or otoacariasis.[1]

Clinical Signs

canker and lesions of the ear

Epizootiology

life cycle

Treatment, Prevention, and Control

Several successful treatments have been reported. Prior to local treatment, the ears should be cleaned gently to remove accumulated exudate. One treatment involves the application of 3% rotenone in mineral oil (1:3) every 5 days for 30 days. Ivermectin is an effective treatment at dosages of 400–440 μg/kg SC or IM (Curtis et al., 1990; McKellar et al., 1992; Wright and Riner, 1985). [2]

To treat ear mites

• First Soften the canker with Mineral Oil, Sweet Oil, or Olive oil.
• Allow the oil to soften and detach the bulk of the crust.
  • Never pull or scrape out the crust, always allow it to work out on it's own with gentile massaging and patting using almost no pressure.
• loose crusts will attach to a cotton ball as they come loose.
• Once the ear is clear of crusts, give a gentile wipe with cotton balls and q tips to remove excess oil.
• After removing excessive oil, use 3 drops of 1% ivermectin swine/cattle injectable Ivermectin solution, administered Topically into the ear.
  • Place in 3 drops then seal with a cotton ball to prevent it from flying out .
  • repeat in the other ear.
• You can then drop .5 cc ivermectin topically on the back of the neck.

• Biology and Diseases of RabbitsMegan H. Nowland DVM, BS, DACLAM, ... Howard G. Rush DVM, MS, DACLAM, in Laboratory Animal Medicine (Third Edition), 2015
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