How to Rid Rabbits of Fleas

Fleas on rabbits cause great discomfort to the animals and sometimes lead to infections and sores, especially if the rabbits scratch excessively. Treating rabbits with fleas is not as straightforward as treating dogs or cats with fleas. Many commercial pet flea medications are dangerous to rabbits, leading to long-term damage or death. This also applies to certain natural treatments. The best thing to do is manually remove the fleas and only resort to a rabbit-safe flea topical treatment if this is ineffective.

Things You'll Need

  • Mild detergent
  • Cleaning cloths
  • Dish disinfectant
  • Bowl
  • Towel
  • Flea comb
  • Advantage, Revolution or other rabbit-safe flea treatment
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Instructions

    • 1

      Vacuum all the carpeted areas your rabbits have access to and anywhere else you have noticed fleas. Fleas can live in carpets for up to two weeks.

    • 2

      Pick up your rabbits and put them somewhere other than their nest area.

    • 3

      Remove and replace all the bedding and litter. Burn the old bedding or put in a trash bag and tie the top tightly.

    • 4

      Clean the rabbit nest area and litter boxes with a mild disinfectant. Be sure to rinse it thoroughly afterward.

    • 5

      Fill the bowl with warm water and detergent.

    • 6

      Hold one rabbit at a time in your lap, on a towel if the rabbit is nervous, and comb through the fur, rinsing the comb in the bowl after each run through the fur. Dry the comb on the towel after rinsing it. Continue this until you think you have combed out most of the fleas.

    • 7

      Consult your veterinarian before applying a treatment. The directions for cats or dogs on the package do not necessarily apply to rabbits and some treatments are dangerous to rabbits. Normally, you apply the medication somewhere the rabbit cannot lick it off, such as the back of the neck. It is also advisable to separate your rabbits so they can't lick the treatment off each other.