One of our does came with ear mites. The breeder treated her before she delivered her but the treatment clearly failed. When I realized it I treated her ear and then again to get any that hatched. This doe is not friendly and rarely even gives me a look in her ears without completely loosing it. She should be pregnant and I was really hoping she'd be healed by now. It's been well over a month since treatment. Don't have the date in front of me at the moment. She gets her nesting box tomorrow. Finally got some pictures and was hoping for some of the more opinion on it. I'm probably over worrying about her as she doesn't pick at that ear, shake her head or anything but it is warmer to the touch, harder than it should be, clearly inflamed and quite full of scabs which could just be the healing process. I really just want her to be comfortable.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
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That looks like a relatively major infestation, and its being inflamed and crusty like that would make me suspect it was not mite-free or actually healing. If she came that way, she could be very unhappy about being handled simply because her ears are hurting and she doesn't want them touched. Poor little one!
What treatment did the breeder use? I have always had good results with oil (sweet oil, olive oil, or mineral oil), but the trick is to get everything in the ear coated with it. When there is a big build-up of scabs/dead tissue like that, it can be difficult for the oil to reach the mites on the first or second application.
In the past when I've treated rabbits that had serious infestations, we've used a daily application of oil over the course of a week or more; I only stop when it's obvious that the crusts and inflammation are receding, and there are no more crusts forming. I go fairly generously with the oil, and do a good round of gentle massage each time (very gentle, because the ear is already irritated and painful), to make sure the oil gets in and on everything all the way down into the ear. Holding the rabbit and massaging it in, focusing the massage on the base of the ear, not only helps move the oil, but it also gives the oil more time to coat the ear, since once you let the rabbit go, she'll shake and scratch a lot of it out. This is not entirely bad if you've gotten the oil way down, though, since that shaking and scratching will also loosen up some of the crusts that the mites can use to hide from the oil.
If you've got a rabbit that does not cooperate with you holding her, you might consider wrapping her up in a towel or rag. When I'm tattooing rabbits, I basically swaddle the rabbit so that it won't hurt me or itself if it startles. I use big rags - old t-shirt material is my favorite since it's stretchy - and wrap the rabbit up as tightly in the stretchy material as I can, leaving the head and ears out, of course. Then I hold the rabbit snuggled on my lap with its hindquarters gently wedged between my legs while I work on its ears. I hold it firmly, and usually the rabbit will just sit there, but holding on too tightly can result in its struggling to get free.
If she's due within the week and
really objects to being handled, I'd probably hold off till at least a few days-to-a-week after she kindles. Even a significant infestation isn't usually an emergency, and most likely won't cause bigger problems if it's let go a few more days. But it will sap her energy and eventually might affect the kits as well.
Another option is ivermectin, but that's another treatment I'd wouldn't necessarily use on a doe during late pregnancy or lactation if I could avoid it.
