How to Treat Mange in Rabbits

Mange is a type of allergic reaction that rabbits experience when they are infested with mites. These mites burrow into the skin and feed on the blood of the rabbit, causing serious health issues. Mange causes a loss of hair, itching, irritation and pain. Mange is something that you can treat at home, typically without requiring veterinary intervention, but speak to a veterinarian for advice if you are unsure about what treatment options to pursue.

Things You'll Need

  • Cooking Oil
  • Lemons
  • Plain yogurt
  • Borax
  • Hydrogen peroxide
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Instructions

    • 1

      Treat the irritation using cooking oil. Gently apply a small amount of cooking oil onto the areas that are affected by the mange. Use cotton swabs or cotton balls to apply the cooking oil to the skin. Keep an eye on the rabbit to make sure that this does not cause a reaction or further irritation. The oil can kill the mites and will also sooth skin irritations caused by the allergic reaction.

    • 2

      Use lemon as a topical solution to treat the skin affected by the mange. Cut up a lemon into slices, leaving the peel on. Boil the slices in water, then let the water sit overnight to cool. Apply the cool lemon water directly to the skin. This acidic tea will improve the healing of the mange-damaged skin, relieving irritation.

    • 3

      Treat mange in the ears using yogurt. Water based treatments do not work as well in the ears, but the acidophilus and other compounds in plain yogurt can kill the mites and relieve the irritation from the mange. Apply two tablespoons of plain yogurt to each ear and allow to stay overnight. Manually clean the yogurt out with cotton swabs the following day.

    • 4

      Create a solution from borax and peroxide to treat the mites and mange that have not yet been eliminated. Mix two cups of hydrogen peroxide with two tablespoons of borax and two cups of water. Bathe the rabbit in this solution, then allow it to dry naturally without rinsing or wiping it away. Continue this part of the process once weekly for up to two months to heal the skin and remove any remaining mites from the rabbit's body.