Welcome to the forum, Miss M! Please add your state or province to your profile... It makes it so much easier to answer questions!

He's likely shaking his head because the oil feels weird. Are there still active signs of mites? I've never had to treat for fur mites, but I have used olive oil occasionally to treat ear mites. Usually two or three treatments spaced a few days apart has been all it takes. The oil smothers the mites and should kill all the ones it is applied to. The retreatment is to get any you miss or any that hatch after treatment. It is sometimes necessary to treat all one's rabbits, depending on the degree of proximity.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome to HT

I used Listerine for our rabbits for fur mites. Worked like a charm.

 

I've just had to treat 2 of my rabbits for fur mites, or at least that's what I thought they had. It looked like several bald spots on the back of the rabbit's neck and head, and on the back of ears. There was also stuff that looked like pretty large white flakes.
Since we only raise them for meat, and do it organically (no chemicals), I didn't want to use Ivermectin. So I did some research and found that people recommended other things, like oil, Listerine, and Food grade diatomaceous earth. I've tried all 3: oil didn't work for me when used for 1 week, Listerine caused irritation to rabbit's skin when only applied once, DE seemed to have cleared whatever it was, but I can't guarantee it'll work for you. What I did was get food grade DE (it's important that it is food grade, NOT pool grade, as pool grade can cause people and rabbits to have serious health issues). I took a soft-bristled brush (a kind with nylon bristles, like you'd use on a baby or on a cat), very lightly dipped it into DE (you don't want to use too much, so it wouldn't fly around), covered the rabbit's face with my other, clean hand to protect the eyes and not let him inhale the DE, and brushed it through the rabbit's fur, all over the rabbit. I did this x2 on each of the rabbits, with about 10-14 days in between, and the problem was solved. The thing about DE is, you don't want to breath it in or get it in your eyes (or in rabbit's eyes), so treating the face could be problematic. The reason oil does not work very well is because the fur mites and eggs won't stay in just one spot on the rabbit. They'd be anywhere, as well as on the floors in the rabbit's environment. So if you only treat the one spot where the mites had made the damage, the eggs or mites from other places will continue to live.
IDK what to tell you, as I'm no authority on this, but I guess, you could do some research on DE for mites, and see if it does really work, as I'm not even 100% sure that mites is what my rabbits had.

 

Welcome to HT

I used Listerine for our rabbits for fur mites. Worked like a charm.

Could you explain exactly how you used the Listerine, WildernesFamily? Did you apply lightly, soak the affected areas, overlap into adjoining areas or what? Did you use just one treatment or was it necessary to repeat and if so, when? Did it cause any irritation to the rabbits' skin?

This is such a simple remedy that I really would like to know more about it. Thanks!

 

I was recently doing quite a bit of research on ear mites. I came across an interesting article on ear mites, fur mites, and burrowing mites (mange) on rabbits. I weighed out my options and decided to treat with ivermectin. I've only done one treatment out of the 3, and it's already completely cleared up.

I highly recommend ivermectin to treat mites. Here is the article that I was referring to: http://www.mybunny.org/info/mites.pdf

Oh, and welcome to the board! Can't wait to see what Flemish/Cal/Mini Lop buns look like!

 

Could you explain exactly how you used the Listerine, WildernesFamily? Did you apply lightly, soak the affected areas, overlap into adjoining areas or what? Did you use just one treatment or was it necessary to repeat and if so, when? Did it cause any irritation to the rabbits' skin?

This is such a simple remedy that I really would like to know more about it. Thanks!

Maggie,

I poured Listerine into my hand, and rubbed it into the fur... down the bun's spine, from that little hollow in the neck area down to the tail. I had one cage where the kits were still with mama and they licked the Listerine off each other so I had to redo after a week, but in the single cages I only ever had to do that one treatment.

Of course we did also do a major clean in the bunny shed. Washed and sterilized everything, all cages, etc.

Also, I used the regular Listerine and not a generic brand.

 

Wow! Thank you all! I added Florida to my profile. More work on my profile later.

I had seen the other things, like the ivermectin, the DE, and the Listerine. I was afraid of getting the ivermectin wrong, and I didn't see instructions for the DE and Listerine, so I figured I'd start with the easiest one, the oil. Now I've got instructions for the others, too! Thank you!

I guess I'll know in a couple of days whether the mites are gone. If not, I'll try one of the others. It's nice to have other options. Where do you get food-grade DE? A health-food store?

Oh -- I remember I saw something on the "Natural Preventatives and Remedies for Rabbit Illnesses" about treating them with apple cider vinegar and grapefruit seed extract in their water, too. I guess it makes the skin environment unsavory for the mites. I already have both of those, so I might try that to make sure they stay gone. Too bad these drinking bottles waste so much with dripping. Oh, well.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the babies look like too! Of course, I can't get too attached to them. We'll have to do like the lady we got the doe from and name them Rabbit Fricassee, Hassenpfeffer, and so on. LOL The kids know that the mommy (Pearl) and the daddy (Thumper) are pets, but the babies will not be. I figure they'll be ready to breed around Thanksgiving.

How do you sterilize a wooden hutch?

 

How do you sterilize a wooden hutch?

Not sure the best way to sterilize wood, but I know from keeping chickens that you can paint oil (probably mineral oil would be best, since it is non-toxic but will not go rancid) into the wood after cleaning to smother any lingering mites in the cracks and crevasses.

 

you can use a spray found in pet stores as well. works well.

 

The easiest way to sterilze would is with bleach, of course you need an outside location in a gravel driveway or some place to do it. Use some goggles or something for eye protection and keep a bucket of water handy in case you splash it on yourself. It can be "painted" on with a soft 1" paint brush. Oil might work for parasites, but it would not kill anything else and unless you used mineral oil it might tend to make the wood more of a fire hazard.

If you simply want to rid the cages of mites, you can uses some pyretherin (sp?) or one of the nicotine based insecticides...which actually are "organic". I would take the cages outside and dust them with 5% (not 10%) Sevin dust. It is actually less poisness to animals than nicotene, and very safe and effective.

 

I got food-grade DE online, in a 5 lb bag, which will last me forever. You can get it at some health food stores, but it is much more expensive. As far as I understand, it's ok for bunnies to lick it off, and may actually act as a dewormer that way. The only places you don't want it are the eyes and the lungs. I would actually get a little on a finger and rub it in the affected spots, then brush some all over. IDK that I would treat the face with it though, it's very easy to get in the eyes, since it's so light, that just brushing it in sends a bunch into the air. Listerine caused my rabbit a red, irritated spot in the place where it was applied. IDK if this was just specific to this particular rabbit as I didn't try that on the other one.

Edit: If the patches on your rabbit's skin are open wounds, IDK if DE is ok to use. Look it up, as it is irritating to eyes, so I imagine it may be irritating if there is an open sore too. I used it, rubbing it into an unbroken skin, but where the "dandruff" was.

 

I always used baby oil for EAR mites, and cat flea powder for FUR mites. They are two completely separate things requiring different treatments... except for the Ivermectin methods. On the flea powder... make sure it is for cats and not dogs, since cats groom themselves, like rabbits. Thus, the formula isn't toxic to animals, only to the mites.

Pat Lamar

 

Not sure the best way to sterilize wood, but I know from keeping chickens that you can paint oil (probably mineral oil would be best, since it is non-toxic but will not go rancid) into the wood after cleaning to smother any lingering mites in the cracks and crevasses.

Use raw linseed oil-an ol fashioned wood preservative!!!- available by the gallon at some hardware type stores. (Boiled linseed oil is chemically treated with nasty stuff)

 

A lot of feed stores either carry food grade DE or can order it for you. One of the feed stores near me sells it by the pound. My Co-op ordered a 50lb bag of it that my mom and I split.

 

I always used baby oil for EAR mites, and cat flea powder for FUR mites. They are two completely separate things requiring different treatments... except for the Ivermectin methods. On the flea powder... make sure it is for cats and not dogs, since cats groom themselves, like rabbits. Thus, the formula isn't toxic to animals, only to the mites.

Pat Lamar

I have looked all over for cat flea powder, but have not been able to find it. I couldn't even find it at Petco or PetSmart! What brand do you use and where do buy it?

 

If you can't find it in any local stores, there are TONS of places to buy it online:

 

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Pro...List_PC_productlist_Nav_200_N_23+133+30+4294960697.aspx?CoreCat=CatSFC_FleaTick

 

I have looked all over for cat flea powder, but have not been able to find it. I couldn't even find it at Petco or PetSmart! What brand do you use and where do buy it?

It's been awhile since I've had to buy any, but I believe it was Hartz brand? I usually bought it at a farm supply store.

Pat Lamar

 

Wal-mart sells Hartz stuff. I don't know about the flea powder because I don't use it, but they carry a lot of Hartz stuff. At one time, they also carried Sargents line of "Naturals" products - which included a cat flea powder.

 

Hi! Sorry it took me so long to get back! Y'all have given me so much great information, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

For now, since it looks like the mites have cleared up at least to a large extent, I'm using apple cider vinegar and grapefruit seed extract in the water for both rabbits, to hopefully take care of any that might be lingering. Got this from the "Natural Preventatives and Remedies" thread:

Post by rrourk:
"Preventative for most ailments:

We are using Raw Apple Cider Vinegar *not flavored* in our water on a daily basis. Dosage: my daughter started out using 1 tsp to 1 qt water, and now is up to 1 cup to 1 gallon water.

Side note: my daughter's rabbitry really experienced a huge outbreak of fur mites, she said all she had to do was the ACV and GSE *grapefruit seed extract*. Dosage: the amount of ACV listed above and 10 drops GSE to 1 gallon water."

So I'm putting 1/2 teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar and 1 drop of grapefruit seed extract per pint of water into their bowls. I got fed up with the water bottles, so I got dishes that clamp to the side of the cage. I will work up to 1 ounce of ACV per pint (converting from above), and 2 drops of GSE.

We have been using GSE for years to fight off illnesses. It isn't a cure-all snake oil, but if we start as soon as we start feeling like something might be coming on, and take 15-20 drops in a cup of tea (or whatever) three times a day faithfully, it usually doesn't get very bad, and usually goes away pretty quickly. So I can see how it would be good as a preventative for rabbits.

I'm going to see if I can order some DE through my feed store, just to have on hand.

Thank you all so much!!!

 

I have looked all over for cat flea powder, but have not been able to find it. I couldn't even find it at Petco or PetSmart! What brand do you use and where do buy it?

Cat flea powder is primarily 5% Sevin dust. Check for the actual chemical name of Sevin dust, and then check the active ingredient of cat flea powder.

 

Use raw linseed oil-an ol fashioned wood preservative!!!- available by the gallon at some hardware type stores. (Boiled linseed oil is chemically treated with nasty stuff)

Raw linseed oil is a great preservative (not much of a disinfectant though)
Boiled linseed oil is the main ingredient of oil base paint. The problem with raw linseed oil is that it takes days and days to dry (actually cure) and remains sticky for a long while.

 

Cat Flea power, Sevin Garden Dust, "Chicken Powder" or Ivomec hog wormer, all work to control fur mites on rabbits.

The dust you use a couple times a week for a couple weeks. Ivomec is not on the "used for list" on the drug, but you can find/ask. We've all got/found a standard dose per # of rabbit that works.

Let me know if you have any other questions.!

JLH

 

Hi! Sorry it took me so long to get back! Y'all have given me so much great information, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

For now, since it looks like the mites have cleared up at least to a large extent, I'm using apple cider vinegar and grapefruit seed extract in the water for both rabbits, to hopefully take care of any that might be lingering. Got this from the "Natural Preventatives and Remedies" thread:

Post by rrourk:
"Preventative for most ailments:

We are using Raw Apple Cider Vinegar *not flavored* in our water on a daily basis. Dosage: my daughter started out using 1 tsp to 1 qt water, and now is up to 1 cup to 1 gallon water.

Side note: my daughter's rabbitry really experienced a huge outbreak of fur mites, she said all she had to do was the ACV and GSE *grapefruit seed extract*. Dosage: the amount of ACV listed above and 10 drops GSE to 1 gallon water."

So I'm putting 1/2 teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar and 1 drop of grapefruit seed extract per pint of water into their bowls. I got fed up with the water bottles, so I got dishes that clamp to the side of the cage. I will work up to 1 ounce of ACV per pint (converting from above), and 2 drops of GSE.

We have been using GSE for years to fight off illnesses. It isn't a cure-all snake oil, but if we start as soon as we start feeling like something might be coming on, and take 15-20 drops in a cup of tea (or whatever) three times a day faithfully, it usually doesn't get very bad, and usually goes away pretty quickly. So I can see how it would be good as a preventative for rabbits.

I'm going to see if I can order some DE through my feed store, just to have on hand.

Thank you all so much!!!

1 cup to 1 gallon water!!!!!!!!

I missed this dosage for apple cider vinegar when it was originally posted. It sounds like far too much to me! I use about 2 tablespoons per gallon.