I dont know what is bothering her ears.

[I_heart_Fraggles]

So Fraggles has been scratching both ears and shaking her head a lot. Every few minutes she very carefully uses her back feet to slowly dig in both ears. She washes her foot for a long time after a scratching session. She has also been shaking her head quite a bit. But the ears are clean with no dirt,sores or smell. They look totally normal. She is completely indoors and is never exposed to any other animals. But the ear itching started when I changed her hay from alfalfa to orchard grass. Its a good quality hay from a feed store and not in those pet store bags. Its clean,good smelling and seems to be pretty dust free. Any idea's?

 

[Bunny parents]

Could it be moulting season ? :confused2: My girl scratches her ears more often when it's a moulting season. Or maybe while she's eating hay and the hay tickles her ears ? How long has she been doing this ? Maybe observe her for a while and if her ears still itchy a lot. It'd be good to check her ears with a vet. You know...just in case.

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Her hay is only in her cage but she is all over the place. No matter were she is in the house she will scratch her ears. Yes I am going to have to take her to the vet on Monday if the ears are not any better. Its been about a week now since I really started seeing it. The ears look pretty good although I will admit that trying to seriously look in her ears is met with some major foot flickys.

 

[Bunny parents]

Is she shedding her fur right now ? it could cause tickle ears too. Anyway, please keep us post. I hope it's nothing but a temporary itchiness.

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Oh sorry I meant to answer that, no she is not shedding. Its still cold over here near Seattle. I was worried about mites but did not see how that is possible since she is indoor only and not exposed to anything. Now I am just hoping its not some kind of infection.

 

[Bunny parents]

Well, let's wait and see till Monday. My girl is an indoor bunny too. I was freaked out a bit when we took her to our parents' house during Easter and we took her out for a walk. Our parents used to have a dog, but she passed away for couple months. I was so worried about mites and fleas. I kept checking her ears and body and every where. Now that we're back to our home, I still keep checking her.
Is that her on your Avatar ? Wow, a gorgeous little girl.

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Thanks for that. Hopefully its nothing,just itchy. Can bunnies get dry skin? lol...Your lop is really pretty I love lops. But Fraggles hates other bunnies. Yep that is her on my avatar she is my pretty girl. She was the cutest baby I had ever seen.

 

[Bunny parents]

I'm not so sure about dry skin. hehehe it was funny when I read your post about dry skin, I was automatically, what if my girl will have dry skin, do I have to buy BUNNY NIVEA for her ??? Just kidding. Or my Diva girl would prefer something more luxurious... perhaps La mer ??? hehehe. Okay, I'll quit doing that. I'm being crazy here. I want to go home to her .
Thank you for the compliments for my girl Yes, she's my dearest girl. We've been thinking about finding her buddy, but I'm scared she will prefer to be a Diva bunny in the house too.
I'll be waiting to hear from you about Fraggles.
ray: We will keep you guys in mind and pray for Fraggles that she has nothing serious.
Have a lovely day
Vircia.

 

[MiniLopHop]

It can also be ear wax. My girl will get a bit of wax that the vet cleans out and then the shaking stops. I think some buns are more sensitive about the wax than others.

 

[jujub793]

i do notice when my buns scratch their ears they ALWAYS will lick the toes of the foot that did the scratching, right after....must be some sort of bunny bathing ritual?:?

 

[MiniLopHop]

perhaps it's like us washing our hands?

 

[tonyshuman]

Sounds like it could be ear mites. They can be carried on hay or even your shoes.

 

[tamsin]

It might be the problem is too far down the ear canal to see without a scope. Those ears go a long way down!

 

[Sweetie]

I agree with tonyshuman and tamsin. It can be ear mites. Prince was itching his ears a lot and would not stop. They can be carried in by anything, hay, your shoes, etc. Even indoor bunnies can get ear mites. Get her into see the vet asap.

 

[Bluesmaven]

yep ear mites and cats usually have them too. They can cause head tilt I've been told.

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Ear mites??? No not my fat bun bun She is to cute to have ear mites. Wouldn't I see them?

 

[tamsin]

Not necessarily, though they may become more obvious as the levels increase if it's not treated. Sometimes you can see excess wax and crustiness but again not always if you've caught it early.

The good news is treatment is easy and because you've probably caught it very early by noticing her behaviour rather than waiting until it's really obvious - you can sort it quick

 

[Bluesmaven]

I used cat Revolution on my bunnies because it kills ear mites.

 

[Sweetie]

Go to a rabbit savvy vet and they will give Fraggles ivermectin. It is dosed based on the weight of your bunny. It has to be repeated until the ear mites are totally gone. It is dosed every two weeks.

Prince and Sweetie both got it done in 2008. They haven't had any issues since then.

I would use Revolution as a preventative for ear mites, that way they don't get them again.

 

[Bunny parents]

Any updates ???