Flea Treatments for Rabbits

Most flea products are created to suit dogs and cats, leaving pet owners wondering how they can treat fleas on rabbits. Rabbits can become infested by fleas just as easily as any other animal with a fur coat. Flea treatments have become a common concern among rabbit owners worldwide. The following is a strategy for treating flea infestations on pet rabbits.

  1. Flea Powder

    • Dust your pet rabbit using a carbaryl insecticide such as 5 percent Sevin Dust. The dust should be worked down into the thick fur on the rabbit until it reaches the skin. If your rabbit licks some of this powder off, it will not necessarily hurt him, but excessive consummation could be less than ideal. There is very little actual active ingredient mixed in the powder, which is meant to act as a carrier. Avoid natural flea powders that contain pennyroyal, as this is toxic to your rabbit.

    Flea Combing

    • Use flea combing as a supplemental method of flea control. Flea combing your rabbit using a standard commercial flea comb will help to keep fleas off of your rabbit, but will not get rid of existing fleas. Make sure to check along the insides of the legs and around the ears, as these are places that are popular hiding spots for fleas.

    Room Sprays

    • Use good flea sprays to kill flea eggs and fleas for a period of up to six months. This strategy is especially handy for killing fleas and flea eggs in the room where the rabbit is being kept. These room sprays can be found in grocery and hardware stores, and they are animal safe as long as the animals have been removed from the space during the treatment process and for 24 hours following the treatment. Make sure that you follow the directions on the canister for the room spray treatment.

    Upkeep

    • Prevent fleas from becoming a problem by vacuuming and regularly steam-cleaning the areas where the rabbit is located in order to keep down the risk of infestation. This will also contribute quite substantially to the comfort of your rabbit. You can also annually treat your carpet using boric acid or sodium polyborate and fenoxycarb to keep fleas from becoming a problem.