Ear mites, caused by Psoroptes cuniculi, can cause serious problems if left untreated. They cause inflammation and crusting in the external ear canals, and the crusts can become very thick. Affected rabbits often scratch their ears and shake their heads. This can lead to more severe infection. Rarely the mites can infest the legs, feet and skin of the perineum in debilitated rabbits.
Treatment should be instituted by your veterinarian. Usually injections of ivermectin are given throughout the mite's life cycle (three weeks). It is best to not clean the ears of an infested rabbit, as this can cause severe pain and often causes the ears to bleed. Once the mites are gone, the ears can then safely be cleaned out. The rabbit's environment and any rabbits it has been in contact with must be treated.
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