Medicine for Infection in Rabbit Ears

Infection in your rabbit's ears may first be noticed when the rabbit is tilting its head. The infection may have resulted from bacteria, a respiratory infection or an outer ear infection which worked its way inward. As in humans, antibiotics are the most effective tool to fight an infection.

  1. Bacteria

    • Bacteria cultured from rabbits include staphylococcus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, pasteurella multocida, bordetella bronchiseptica, proteus mirabilis, streptoccus epidermidis and escherichia coli.

    Pus

    • If pus is found, a culture must be taken to determine the best antibiotic to be used.

    Antibiotics

    • Antibiotics typically used for infections in rabbits include enrofloxacin, chloramphenicol and penicillin. After a month, if the infection persists, a veterinarian will change antibiotics.

    Inflammation

    • Steroids may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation.

    Time Frame

    • Treatment for a rabbit ear infection takes at least 30 days. Sometimes, rabbits will be treated for months at a time. Rabbits with chronic ear infections may need to be treated for their entire lifetimes.