Symptoms of Ear Mites in a Rabbit

Ear mites are one of the most common medical problems in house rabbits. Ear mites are extremely uncomfortable for rabbits and can lead to secondary infections that can become dangerous. Recognizing the symptoms of ear mites will help you begin treatment before your rabbit is extremely uncomfortable or ill.

  1. Crust

    • Examine the inside of your rabbit's ears frequently to check for a reddish brown crust. This crust is often seen with ear mites and should be inspected and cultured by your veterinarian.

    Head Shaking

    • Rabbits with ear mites will often shake their heads frequently due to uncomfortable itching. If your rabbit is shaking her head, take her to the veterinarian.

    Ear Scratching

    • While infrequent relaxed scratching of the ears can be normal with rabbits, persistant scratching is not. If your rabbit is scratching her ears and can't seem to make the itching stop, she may have ear mites.

    Drooping Ears

    • If your rabbit normally has ears that stick up, his ears may droop when he has a severe case of ear mites. When mites are left untreated, thick crust forms on the ears and weighs them down. If your house rabbit had drooping ears, get him to the vet quickly for treatment.