Scaly Ear question

[Icarus]

Please do not tell me to spay or neuter my rabbits


I bought 10 breeding age Vienna rabbits at the auction. ALL have Ear Cankers, ranging from mild (some scaling at the bottom of the ear) to severe (inflamed from top to bottom, VERY scaly). Three of the does are heavily pregnant, and the others I have no doubt are pregnant after being in with several bucks.

Obviously I cannot treat the does with Ivermectin because of the risk it poses to their offspring. I've heard that Vegetable or Mineral oil applied every other day for two weeks also works. I also have Lanolin Rich Ointment, which has been excellent in treating fur mites and ear cankers (along with Ivermec) and hock sores.


I'm treating the bucks TODAY as soon as I can find my new tube (unopened in the package) of Ivermectin. I want to make the does as comfortable as possible, or safely treat them.

 

[luvthempigs]

I don't know if it's safe to use ivermectin in pregnant does, I know we used it in pregnant horses.

I did a forum search though and found this thread: http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_t...um_id=8&highlight=ivermectin+in+pregnant+does

Hopefully it will be of some help to you

 

[tonyshuman]

The ivermectin is the best option. Although there is some anecdotal evidence that oil applied to the ears can heal ear mites, I cannot recommend it in good conscience. The oil can go down into the ear canal and block it off partly, which will trap bacteria in the ear canal, and lead to ear infection.

Here is a good site (if a bit graphic) talking about how to treat it.
http://medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Parasitic/earmite/Psoroptes.htm

I found a lot of information that ivermectin does not cause issues in rabbit fetuses when given at levels that are also safe for the mother. In order to see birth defects, they have to dose the mother at amounts that are dangerous to her as well.

http://www.safe2use.com/scabiesboard/ivermectin/ivermectin-warnings.htm
http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v31je03.htm
http://www.guinealynx.info/ivermectin.html

The second link also mentions using selamectin (avermectin) without causing birth defects.

I would just dose the mothers. If you are worried about it because you want to dose at levels above where teratogenic effects were observed (in those links I posted), another option is Capstar, another antiparasitic that should be effective against the ear mites but is apparently less problematic for pregnant creatures.

 

[Icarus]

tonyshuman wrote:

I would just dose the mothers. If you are worried about it because you want to dose at levels above where teratogenic effects were observed (in those links I posted), another option is Capstar, another antiparasitic that should be effective against the ear mites but is apparently less problematic for pregnant creatures.

Oh that makes me happy to hear! I was worried that the does would have to wait to give birth, then wait until the kits where weaned, THEN I could give them Ivermec if I haven't cleared up the mites by then. I didn't know if a very small dose (rabbit safe) would affect the fetuses, causing more harm to the mother.

Thankfully, only one has really bad mites (not inch-thick-crusties, but still bad). The others are in the beginning stages of it and should clear up quick.

Off to dose my does!


ALSO: I have a Dutch Buck, 100% healthy, I gave him Ivermectin about three months prior, should I dose him as a precaution again? Or should I just watch him for any signs of scalies developing?
He is, of course, far away from the sick bunnies.