Hair loss on ears

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BlackSpruceRabbitry7

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My buck is loosing skin and hair on his ears. I just went out to the rabbitry tonight and he was like this! I didn't notice it this morning!
Is it parasites or ringworm or something? Help! :eek:

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I've seen crusts like that on the tips of ears severely infested with ear mites... but the infestation usually starts down in the base of the ear, not at the tip. Nevertheless, it does look very much like it.

I'd spray the ears with mineral oil or some kind of cooking oil, and see what happens.
 
Miss M":18gaes62 said:
I've seen crusts like that on the tips of ears severely infested with ear mites.

Eww! Really?

BlackSpruceRabbitry7":18gaes62 said:
Is it parasites or ringworm or something?

My first thought was "fungal infection". You can treat it with Blu-kote or Nu-Stock (both available at feed stores), both of which are also effective against bacterial infections.
 
MamaSheepdog":rc2if7x7 said:
Eww! Really?
In pictures, anyway. Like those you see here: http://www.medirabbit.com/GE/Hautkrankh ... rop_ge.htm (very bad infestations... the pix are not pretty. also, site is in German, but the pix are universal)

MamaSheepdog":rc2if7x7 said:
My first thought was "fungal infection". You can treat it with Blu-kote or Nu-Stock (both available at feed stores), both of which are also effective against bacterial infections.
That actually crossed my mind, too. Probably makes more sense, if there's nothing down in the ear.
 
Not to confuse things but my first guess would be mites, my second guess would be ringworm fungus, and my third (but less likely) would be rabbit syphilis- the rabbit syphilis isn't as likely but it can manifest as sores on tips of ears- So I would check the genital area just to make sure it isn't that.
 
Miss M":h8mpzw8w said:
MamaSheepdog wrote:Eww! Really?


In pictures, anyway. Like those you see here: http://www.medirabbit.com/GE/Hautkrankh ... rop_ge.htm

:hmm: The crust is so extensive in the ears that the mites would have to colonize the rest of the ear.

squidpop":h8mpzw8w said:
my third (but less likely) would be rabbit syphilis- the rabbit syphilis isn't as likely but it can manifest as sores on tips of ears- So I would check the genital area just to make sure it isn't that.

I never would have thought of that. But if the rabbit cleans its genitals and then licks its paws and cleans its ears, I can see it transferring.

Black Spruce, if you don't see any "crust" on his genitals or nose, I would assume it is fungal or bacterial and treat as I recommended above. However, just because there are no lesions elsewhere does not rule out syphillis, so if you don't see improvement within a few days to a week of treatment you might need to treat for syphilis after all.

I would also put some mineral oil in his ears in case he has ear mites.

Here is a link to diagnosing and treating rabbit syphilis:

http://www.raising-rabbits.com/rabbit-syphilis.html
 
I had rabbits that I suspected of fur mites on the back of their necks. I never was sure that it was mites but I treated them with Diatomaceous Earth (food grade not pool grade 4lb TSC $8.99) and things cleared up. They didn't have the crusts though, just a clean bald spot. There was some flaking of the skin at some point though. I just took a pinch or two and rubbed it over their fur, Ididn't do the nose, mouth, eyes though. Treated twice 10 days apart. Also sprinkled their litter (wire type cage).
 
squidpop":3bbgghxz said:
Not to confuse things but my first guess would be mites, my second guess would be ringworm fungus, and my third (but less likely) would be rabbit syphilis- the rabbit syphilis isn't as likely but it can manifest as sores on tips of ears- So I would check the genital area just to make sure it isn't that.
On the ear tips? I had no idea! I knew it made sores on the nose area. Thanks! <br /><br /> -- Fri May 23, 2014 10:48 am -- <br /><br />
MamaSheepdog":3bbgghxz said:
Miss M":3bbgghxz said:
MamaSheepdog wrote:Eww! Really?


In pictures, anyway. Like those you see here: http://www.medirabbit.com/GE/Hautkrankh ... rop_ge.htm

:hmm: The crust is so extensive in the ears that the mites would have to colonize the rest of the ear.
That's why I said the infestation usually starts at the base... I've never seen a case of ear mites that started at the tip.

I think it's much more likely that it's fungal or syphilis.
 
Miss M":29f37oei said:
That's why I said the infestation usually starts at the base... I've never seen a case of ear mites that started at the tip.

Yeah... did you see where it mentioned that if the infestation is severe enough the mites will colonize the body as well? :eek: :shock:
 
I have had this before. It wasn't mites and the problem actually started eating away at the flesh of the ear leaving them misshapen. It did not spread to other rabbits and was first noticed after I returned from a show. It spread like ringworm.
 
Schipperkesue":3n075sdg said:
I have had this before. It wasn't mites and the problem actually started eating away at the flesh of the ear leaving them misshapen.

It looks like whatever it is is eating away at Spruce's rabbit's ear too, unless that is an old injury!

So... :popcorn: ... what did you do to treat it?
 
:bunnyhop:
MamaSheepdog":3ujdc8h0 said:
Schipperkesue":3ujdc8h0 said:
I have had this before. It wasn't mites and the problem actually started eating away at the flesh of the ear leaving them misshapen.

It looks like whatever it is is eating away at Spruce's rabbit's ear too, unless that is an old injury!

So... :popcorn: ... what did you do to treat it?

I was told it was ear mites so I went with oil to smother them and there was no improvement. So because it looked like a fungus to me..again thinking ringworm...I used Canesten (sp?) treatment for yeast infections. Works like a hot damn on ringworm and fixed the ears up real good. But of course they were tattered until he died. His kindergarten class didn't mind. They loved him no matter what.
 
Schipperkesue":1kpqjh3e said:
So because it looked like a fungus to me..again thinking ringworm...I used Canesten (sp?) treatment for yeast infections. Works like a hot damn on ringworm and fixed the ears up real good. But of course they were tattered until he died. His kindergarten class didn't mind. They loved him no matter what.
I'm sorry, but this is one of the funniest posts I've ever read here. Ever. I feel sorry for all the poor rabbits (I'm treating a new doe who came with a bonus mite infection myself), but that is genius, and also hilarious.
 
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