Okay, so...

[HannahM130328]

I just brought in one of my 3 month old does and noticed that she has cuts and scabs on her back, kind of close to her neck.
My dad mentioned that there have been mosquitoes in the backyard near the rabbits and my theory is that a few bit her and she either chewed on her skin or used something in her cage to scratch herself. It doesn't look TOO bad, but it still worries me. She's like my baby, still.
Don't have a way to get pictures up, so I hope the description was enough...
Any tips/ideas/remedies?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

That sounds like fur mites, actually. They usually start at the neck behind the ears.

My Beveren doe had a slight case when I bought her, and I put food grade diatomaceous earth on her once, and they were gone.

You might also want to check her ears for ear mites, but from your description of the scratches, it really sounds like fur mites. If it were ear mites, her ears should be scratched up, especially at the base.

 

[HannahM130328]

Thank you, MamaSheepdog!

I checked her ears, and they look fine, so I'll figure something out. You said "food grade diatomaceous earth"? What is that, exactly?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

DE is the fossilized remains of microscopic creatures called diatoms. At the microscopic level they are very sharp. It kills insects because they have a waxy coating on their exoskeleton, and it cuts through that, causing the bug to dehydrate.

There is a food grade product which can be eaten (it is often added to grain to prevent weevil and moth infestations), but the pool grade version is heat treated which changes the structure and it is poisonous.

Food grade DE can be found at feed stores or ordered online. TSC carries it, but I believe it is called "red earth" because of the soil type where it is mined which causes it to be red.

 

[Miss M]

Yep, sounds like fur mites to me, too.

I believe you rub a tablespoon or two of DE into the fur. Make sure you get the area where the scabs are. You may need to repeat every week or so for 4 - 6 weeks, to make sure you get hatching eggs and all.

DE is safe for all mammals, except if it gets in the eyes or lungs, where it can irritate. It is a very fine powder, so just don't make big clouds. Small clouds are unavoidable.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Our TSCs carry regular food grade DE. It's in their poultry section.

 

[HannahM130328]

Thank you all, you've been a lot of help!

 

[luvabunny]

You didn't say if she had been housed with other rabbits, but if so, it could be that she has been "ridden", either in a dominance or breeding attempt.
She's "probably" too young, but if she's been housed with bucks, I'd give her a nestbox in case.

 

[Miss M]

:yeahthat:

Even with other young does... they can start bullying each other.