Mange in Rabbits

Rabbits that become afflicted with mange are actually being preyed upon by sarcoptic mites that burrow into the skin, most commonly around the ears, nose and mouth. If left untreated, the condition causes the rabbit to become very itchy and uncomfortable, and white, crusty lesions that produce a foul odor will begin to appear around the rabbit's head. Luckily, the condition is easily treatable with the proper veterinary care.
There are three different types of mange in rabbits. All are caused by mites, which are arachnids, like spiders. They vary in their degree of severity. All three types of mange are diagnosed by the same tests and treated similarly.

Sarcoptic Mange

• Sarcoptic mange is extremely itchy. begging rascally rabbit image by Rheamy Higgins from Fotolia.com

  Sarcoptic mange is what most people mean when they use the term mange. It's caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, a burrowing mite. The female mite tunnels into the skin to lay her eggs. Sarcoptic mange first appears on ear edges, lips and nose, then spreads to other areas of the body.

Ear Mange

• In advanced cases of Psoroptes, the affected ear will fall down. wilson image by Chris Hart from Fotolia.com

  Ear mange is caused by Psoroptes cuniculi, which lives inside the ear. It can affect one or both ears, with crusts forming deep in the ear canal. An infested rabbit will shake his head and scratch his ears violently. It's extremely painful.

Fur Mange

• Cheyletiella mites can infest dogs, cats and, temporarily, humans. Rabbit image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com

  Mange caused by the Cheyletiella mite is called "walking dandruff" because when you look closely at the flakes on the skin, you can see them move. This mange may present with few clinical signs beyond skin flakes, itchiness and minor hair loss.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

1. • Take the rabbit to a veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of a parasitic infection, like excessive itching, hair loss or dry, scaly skin. The vet will typically perform a skin scrape right away to determine under a microscope the exact kind of mite that is present. Mange is a condition caused by untreated mite infestation.
   • Ask your veterinarian about medicinal injections that can help kill the mites infecting your rabbit. The drug most commonly used to treat a range of skin problems in small mammals, including those caused by mites, is called Ivermectin, which is given via injection by the veterinarian.
   • Clean the rabbit's habitat thoroughly with warm water and dishwashing liquid every day until the rabbit is completely cured of the mite infestation. Changing the bedding daily will help prevent mites that drop off during treatment from breeding and causing a recurrence of symptoms.
   • Keep the rabbit's stress levels low after the infestation clears up to help prevent a recurrence. Small pets are more susceptible to disease and parasitic attack when they are stressed. Providing the rabbit with a clean and roomy habitat, a proper diet and plenty of exercise will help keep it healthy throughout its lifespan.