Rabbit Mange and Mites

Keeping pet rabbits may seem like a good idea. After all, they stay in their hutch, don't need to be walked and can be taken out and played with whenever the mood strikes. Plus, feeding rabbits seems like it would be less expensive than buying dog or cat food because they eat lettuce and other vegetables. However, rabbits, like other pets, are susceptible to certain diseases and conditions, one of which is mange resulting from mite infestations.

  1. Types

    • Various types of mites can afflict a rabbit and cause mange. These include burrowing mange mites and fur mites. Ear cankers and sarcoptic mange can also cause a rabbit to get mange. Mange can start out with just a few patches of fur missing. If left untreated, the rabbit can develop larger patches of missing fur or even worse, it can develop lesions or sores on the skin.

    Process

    • Mites, like fleas and ticks, latch on to the host's skin--in this case, the rabbit. Once the mites have found a suitable host, they will begin feeding. Because the mites have latched onto the skin, the rabbit will begin to itch. As a result, it will also begin to scratch in an effort to get the mites off. Scratching, however, will not help and will only cause the rabbit's fur to fall out, resulting in mange.

    Identification

    • Identifying mange caused by mites is pretty easy, though it will appear in different forms. The most common identifying factor is the loss of fur. However, sarcoptic mange, for example, will appear as crusts on the rabbit's toes, ears, mouth and around the eyes. The crust will be either white or beige in color. Fur mites resemble dandruff. If left untreated, the fur will eventually begin to fall out. Ear cankers appear as lesions inside the rabbit's ears; as with the other types, the fur will begin to fall out.

    Treatment

    • An injection of a medication called ivermectin will usually eliminate mites. This medication can be found in farm and feed stores or in pet stores. However, in severe cases, ivermectin may not work and the rabbit may have to be taken to a veterinarian. The veterinarian can best diagnose and treat the rabbit's symptoms, as well as rule out other possible causes of the rabbit's mange.

    Effectiveness of Treatment

    • If diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, mange and the mites that cause it can be eradicated with no problems. However, if the rabbit has been suffering from mites for quite a while, it may take longer to get rid of all the symptoms of mange. In addition, it will take a while for the fur to grow back. Rabbits that get ear cankers may experience a thickening of the skin inside the ear as a result of the mites.