Can I use ivomec ear drops for a bun?

[Tammy B]

Stewie i have discovered has been shaking and scratching at his ears.I've looked inside and it seems obvious to me that he has ear mites nothing in the cat yet.I have some ivomec earmite treatment that you put in your cats ears to get rid of them(Gizmo my cat had them last fall..Miserable lil critters)..Now i know i am going to have to watch the cat closely now as well cause Stewie got em but i was just wondering if the drops were safe for rabbits.

 

[lovelops]

Ok now I have heard people have used that meds for their rabbits with no problems and then I have heard it killed rabbits and certain lops with white fur have reactions to that med..and have gone into shock and died. Ivomec is a brand name for Ivermectin and you can give that also to pregnant rabbits with ear mites and there is no problem with the kits.

However, for mites the typical safe course of treatment for ear mites is to use oil, any type but I use mineral oil. Put oil in the rabbits ears and rub it in. Do this daily for 2 weeks. This kills the mites. It is that simple to treat ear mites. No chemicals are needed.

You could use baby oil if you have it. Hell you can also use mineral oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, canola oil, vasoline, sunflower oil..

Mineral oil is best and you can pick it up anywhere. Try this FIRST. Then when you go take him in to get fixed, ask the vet if it has not cleared up about using that specific meds on him, but make certain you are talking to an exotic vet. Not someone that just specialises in dogs nad cats. They will give you two different answers.

If you decide to use the cat ear mite drops, you might want to use vasoline to keep the scabs softer so they don't crack and bleed and use the cat ear mite drops at 1/2 the dosage for up to three days. The scabs shouldn't be removed because they crack and bleed and are very painful and can cause scaring in some rabbits. The vasoline makes it soft for the buns so when they shake their hedas or scratch they come out easier without hurting them and fall out naturally. Typically by the second or 3rd does they (scabs) are gone and so are the mites.. Friends of mine who have rabbits who have used this method told me the mites never came back. Two weeks later you might have to repeat to kill the hatchlings. The oil won't be able to kill the eggs. Only the mites!

I hope this help. Let me know which route you decide to go!

Vanessa

 

[missyscove]

The rabbit ear mite is different than the cat ear mite so chances are your cat will show no signs. Without knowing more about the dose and strength of the solution you have on hand, I can't comment on whether or not it would be safe. My advice would be to talk to your rabbit-savvy vet about it. My personal favorite treatment for ear mites is revolution (selamectin) which is a topical parasiticide you apply similarly to how you would apply a product like advantage. However, it is prescription only and you have to get it from your vet. Typically just one treatment can do the trick.

 

[BlueMoods]

I'd just get VetRX Rabbit Remedy (can get on Amazon or buy locally) and use it per directions for rabbit ear mites. It's safe, it's used warm so, the rabbits generally like it and, it works very well.

 

[Tammy B]

Thank You everybody but i have used the mineral oil..swabbed his ears and i don't see any sign of mites his ears weren't really all that dirty..And tes i read on theIvomec that it is not recommended for white colored lops which mine is so i didn't risk it.I think he's just grooming and shaking his ears a lil.It's not constant..As a new bunny mom i got a lil parinoid lol..I have had just a cat for the past 7.5 years so used to cat stuff and in a cat that would signal ear mites....Sorry everyone but at least i know now ivomec is a NO.

 

[woahlookitsme]

Many breeders use ivermectin in the ears just one or two drops for treatment of ear mites.

Ivermectin is not recommended for blue eyed white/vienna marked or Dutch rabbits. Broken rabbits are fine to use it on.

 

[lovelops]

I found some other information on medicine that you could use on rabbits and wanted to post it here:

Some bunnies, especially the Rex breed, are prone to developing sore hocks. Periodically, examine the soles of your bunny's rear paws to see if the fur has worn off and red sores are evident. Ulcerations and cracks in the skin pose a health risk because they are entry points for bacteria. A good healing remedy is Zymox Topical Cream - Hydrocortisone Free. You can find it on-line. It is wise to keep a tube on hand to apply to any cuts or scratches. Be sure to get the Hydrocortisone FREE Zymox. It is also great for healing any scratches or surface wounds on rabbits. Pet Nutrition Products sells a one ounce tube of "Zymox Cream without Hydrocortisone for Dogs and Cats" for $9.49, plus shipping/no tax. For our bunnies that are prone to sore hocks, we place a layer of fleece padding in their cages, rather than the rougher rugs we typically use.

- Lop-eared rabbits are prone to ear infections because their floppy ears cover the ear canal, keeping it moist and habitable for germs. You can keep the ear canal dry with Zymox OTIC Solution without hydrocortisone. The product can be found online from Pet Nutrition Products: http://www.petnutritionproducts.com 866-473-8432. A small, 1.25 ounce bottle, "Zymox OTIC Solution without Hydrocortisone for Pets" was $12.89 plus shipping/no sales tax. The National HRS website www.rabbit.org offers advice for applying ear drops: "Rabbits like to have their ears stroked. They generally are not big fans of having liquid squirted down there though. That means that sometimes rabbits are most uncooperative about this procedure. You can try administering ear drops while on the floor, but it's often easier to do it on a tabletop where you can secure her with one hand." "The first trick with ear drops is to get the nozzle pretty close to the ear's actual opening (never push anything down beyond the opening.) That way, when the rabbit shakes her head, the medicine will go down into the ear instead of all over your kitchen. The second trick is to try not to hit the inside surface of the ear with the nozzle itself. This tickles and it will make the rabbit shake her head, which makes it very hard to aim. Once the drops are in, you can massage the base of the ear to help it go down and get spread around." "A portion of the outer ear is composed of a bent canal that goes vertically and then almost horizontally to lead to the eardrum. This portion of the ear is prone to buildup of earwax and debris, which may then become a breeding ground for infection. Many rabbits can deftly clean out any accumulation with a back toenail, but lops and infirm rabbits may need a bit of help. Since the ear canal has a bend, this can be done fairly safely. Your veterinarian can show you how." Some up-eared rabbits are also prone to earwax buildup, a good reason for twice yearly vet check ups.

 

[woahlookitsme]

I actually owned a French lop for a little bit and didn't have issues with any ear infections. No use in applying medicine where it isn't needed. I also asked his breeder if she has had more problems than the normal rabbit due to the floppy ears and she said she hasn't. All she does is look inside the ear canal every once in a while to check for overproduction of wax.

 

[lovelops]

It varies. Everyone's bunnies is different. I have four dogs and one keeps getting ear infections and the other's don't. I can't explain it, but he is just more susceptable. I used to get inflamed tonsils 5 times a year, my sister never did. it's all hit or miss.


Vanessa