Bunny Mites Vs. Fleas

Bunny mites and fleas cause similar symptoms in domestic pets, but treatment and prevention of these pests are different. Both bunny mites and fleas are types of parasite that look for a host organism to support their growing population. Fleas and bunny mites makes their home in the fur of domestic pets, including rabbits, cats and dogs, although different pets are vulnerable to different types of parasite, and those parasites that are attracted to cats typically cannot survive if they find only a rabbit.

  1. Species

    • There are two major species of bunny mite -- Psoroptes cuniculi are ear mites, and Cheyletiella parasitivorax are fur mites. As their names suggest, ear mites dwell in rabbit ears, and fur mites in their coat and on their skin. Ear mites and fur mites are the two most common species of mite that affect pet rabbits in the United States. While bunny mites are a type of arachnid -- related to spiders and scorpions -- fleas are insects, with six instead of eight legs. Cat fleas, or Ctenocephalides felis, are some of most widespread flea species in the world. Cat fleas can live on dog blood as well, and occasionally bite humans, although without a cat present, C. felis populations cannot survive. Dog fleas -- Ctenocephalides canis -- are a separate species of flea that only affect dogs.

    Symptoms

    • Ear mites in rabbits cause blood to crust in the ear canal. You may notice your bunny scratching her ears or shaking her head, or her ears may droop. Fur mites cause dandruff in rabbit fur and patchy fur loss, as well as skin irritation -- or dermatitis -- and scratching of sores or scabs on the neck and behind the head. Fleas, on the other hand, leave a noticeable trail known as flea dirt. Flea dirt is actually flea waste that is expelled after blood meals. It resembles black specks that you can comb out of your pet's fur. Fleas also cause scratching and scabbing, similar to both types of bunny mites.

    Treatment

    • Treatment plans for bunny mites and fleas take a two-pronged approach -- thoroughly clean and treat both the affected pet and her habitat to get rid of the mites or fleas permanently. Ivermectin is a rabbit medicine administered orally or by injection, and works by creating a toxic environment for both ear mites and fur mites. Similar products exist to treat fleas in cats and dogs. It's important never to use flea treatments for rabbits or mite treatments for cats and dogs. Different drugs are formulated for different pets and can be fatal if used to treat animals other than those specified. With both mites and fleas, thoroughly clean the pet's bedding and cage with hot water to kill the bug population. In the event of a flea infestation, the pet owner's home may need to be professionally fumigated to effectively remove the pests.

    Prevention

    • Pets that live an exclusively indoor existence are less likely to encounter fleas or mites. When pets are allowed to enjoy the outdoors, their risk of bringing home mites or fleas immediately goes up. Flea collars, available for cats and dogs, do not kill fleas, but instead make the cat's or dog's coat inhospitable for them so that they are discouraged from reproducing there. Keeping your rabbit's living quarters clean by regularly changing the bedding and toilet area will help minimize your rabbit's risk of developing mites.