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
Oil or ivermectin by themselves are not always effective for treating mites, but are very effective when used together in tandem. Oil suffocates the mites, softens the scabs and soothes the skin. clearing out the dense waxy scabby material allows for further penetration of ivermectin to more effectively treat the infestation.
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]
Ear mites can be treated in an off-label fashion with various parasiticides including ivermectin (Ivomec, Merck, AgVet Division, Rahway, NJ), 0.4 mg/kg SC q7-14d for three treatments), or selamectin (Revolution, Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY), 6 or 18 mg/kg topically q4wk for 1-2 treatments) (see “Fleas,” below).† Imidacloprid and moxidectin (Advocate/Advantage Multi, Bayer, Agriculture Division, Shawnee Mission, KS) are also effective for ear mites when applied topically three times 30 days apart.18 Subcutaneous eprinomectin (200-300 μg/kg once) can be used for Psoroptes, but this treatment is not effective topically.Less effective treatments are topical mineral oil, acaricides, and flea powder.27,41 [3]
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.
Old Wives Tales and DANGERIOUS Home remedies =
WD-40:
- "squirt WD-40 in the ears"
First off it will burn as it's an irritant and secondly it is poisonous.
That main ingrdiant of WD-40 is White spirit (stoddard solvent) :
In rabbits loss of appetite and hypoactivity followed a single dermal exposure of 2000-3000 mg/kg, and death occurred in 1 out of 16 exposed animals. In skin irritation tests white spirit was determined to be a slight to moderate irritant. In short- and long-term toxicity studies on white spirit, the central nervous system (CNS), respiratory system, liver and kidney were generally found to be the target of white spirit toxicity.
apple cider vinegar and vegetable oil
- "every few days for a coupes weeks. The vinegar helped the crusty stuff to de-fuse and easier to fall out and the oil helped drown out the mites. We used syringes and just squirt it in their ears."
This will BURN raw infected and damaged skin. and it will not kill mites , ACV has some great uses in rabbits, this is not one of them .
eucalyptus oil
- "I always thought this was caused from getting water in their ears. We used to use eucalyptus oil. They would scream like hell for a few seconds but it would clear it up."
- "I like to drop Eucalyptus oil directly in the ear. oh yeah , they SCREAM a bit at first.. then it clears it right up."
eucalyptus oil is Poisonous to rabbits, it will also BURN the raw skin that has been irritated by the mites.
Evaluation the Effects of Eucalyptus Essential Oil and Hypertonic Saline as Scolicidal Agents in Induction of Sclerosing Cholangitis in Rabbits
Hydrogen Peroxide
- "Peroxide in ears everyday until clear always works for me"
- "Peroxide works too"
- "Ear mites .Hydrogen Peroxide poured in infected ears"
This will BURN, the sudden shock from the pain has killed a few rabbits, it is unnessicarry and cruel.
