Is this going to help?

[katiebear]

I know we have been around the block on the subject of ear mites...but...I think I have it under control , finally, I have identified one of my bucks as the main factor. This buck has always been prone to mites..stubborn mites...He is the first to get them and the last to get rid of them. I went through the treatment, olive oil as I have a lot of kits and am not fond of using chemicals. I have gotten rid of them in everyone but him. His in fact are worse. So I have decided to cull him.
My question for you all is do you think some rabbits are genitally predisposed to mites? I have some of his daughters in my program but they do not seem to be as prone, they don't get them as bad or as frequently. The bucks on ether side of him are clean. Only one is related but his mother is seemingly resistant. I am looking to breed resistance of this parasite into my herd so am I on the right track in culling him? I seem to be treating him every few months...I hate to see him suffer and I hate to risk the others..

 

[Dood]

I know fleas and ticks like the taste of some dogs more than others - there are 11 dogs here on the farm and Schwarts will be the first one with ticks even though she is 15 and never travels further than 20 feet from the house - my little farm dog goes all over our 7 acres and the hiking trails in the conservation area behind our property but rarely do I find a tick attached or fleas

I bet rabbits are similar and some are like sirloin steak to parasites and others like hamburger

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I know fleas and ticks like the taste of some dogs more than others

I used to work in pet stores and also managed a grooming shop/pet store. We saw this all of the time (with fleas specifically in the coastal areas of California). Most of the time they favored animals that were very old, juvenile, or immuno-compromized in some way.

Interestingly, fleas were often more attracted to women in the household in general, and pregnant women especially.

I would say that culling him was the right choice since he seems to have a susceptibility to them.

 

[katiebear]

Most of the time they favored animals that were very old, juvenile, or immuno-compromized in some way.

:hmm: He is only about 2 yr.old so not to young or to old but I kind of wonder about the immune system...I will let you know if anything looks "off"..Haven't done the deed yet..But have to get on it.

 

[alforddm]

I see this with mosquitoes and myself. Hubby and I can be standing right next to each other. He will have one maybe buzzing around his ear. I will be getting eaten alive.

 

[Zass]

In my family, it's the husband who is usually insect bait.
He attracts gnats to his eye, fleas to his ankles, and mosquitoes in general.

 

[michaels4gardens]

there is definitely some rabbits more susceptible then others, and I think it is hereditary up to a point, some rabbits seem to pass this on to their young, and some don't so- maybe some rabbits have a weaker immune system -- and this could be for a number of reasons- including genetics, or lack of hybrid vigor.

 

[akane]

If you are already using his genetics anyway I probably would throw some cat/dog flea chemicals on him (most can be used for mites on small animals safely) and see if he just has a very stubborn infestation from chronic, long term exposure. There could just be a reason oil doesn't work as well on him rather than a weakness to mites and now they have too stubborn of hold for it. Unfortunately ivermectin is not very useful for mites. Usually I take a tube of plain cat advantage and draw out little doses with a needle to put a careful drop behind one or both ears. Only thing it hasn't worked on is a rodent in the gerbil family that is rare in the US. Near everyone I know has some cat doses of advantage sitting around going expired soon since wildlife and feral cats result in flea outbreaks of every cat whether outdoor or indoor so they often get treated right after everything freezes to reduce flea populations and give them a break.

 

[ladysown]

I sold a doe this spring who was prone to ear mites. She was the ONLY one in the barn ever to get them and did not respond to traditional methods to get rid of them. The only way I got rid of them in her was by treating her with ivermectin. I kept back two daughters from her....one is exactly like her, the other is like the rest of my rabbits.

Genetics in play? YUP. The second daughter will be sold as well.

 

[michaels4gardens]

I sold a doe this spring who was prone to ear mites. She was the ONLY one in the barn ever to get them and did not respond to traditional methods to get rid of them. The only way I got rid of them in her was by treating her with ivermectin. I kept back two daughters from her....one is exactly like her, the other is like the rest of my rabbits.

Genetics in play? YUP. The second daughter will be sold as well.

when ever I had an outbreak of ear mites, [following introduction of new stock] I treated the entire herd with injectable ivermectin, and that ended the problem. I feel it is worth the $ and time to treat all of the breed stock - rather then have to stop and look at everybunny who is shaking their head, scratching their ear, or looking like a little like a lop.