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​Parasites of Rabbits

by Dr. Maggie Wood
Photos and edited by Susan Horton, DVM
Skin parasites (ectoparasites)

The common rabbit fur mite is called Cheyletiella.  This mite causes flaking, dryness, and thinning of the fur predominantly on the rabbit’s back. Therefore, it is sometimes referred to as "walking dandruff".
Picture
Picture
Picture
Rabbits can also get ear mites, which can cause inflammation, dark crusts, and itching of the ears.  It is important to differentiate between a mite infestation and a bacterial or fungal infection since they can have similar symptoms.  Mites can be diagnosed by taking samples to examine microscopically pictured below.
Picture
Picture
Rabbits are also susceptible to fleas, especially if they live in a household with dogs and cats.  Usually the cat or dog is the one that brings the fleas into the household and perpetuates the flea infestation, so it is important to treat the cat or dog also.  Many products sold for cats or dogs can be toxic for rabbits, so it is important to consult with a veterinarian to provide the correct flea treatment.

Flies can also lay eggs on rabbits that then develop into larvae.  This is most common in rabbits housed outdoors, so it is recommended to keep your rabbit indoors to avoid this issue.  There are 2 main types of larvae.  The first type is called Cuterebra.  These are quite large and only 1 larva is present at each site under the skin.  They appear as a bump or swelling with a tiny "air hole" at the surface of the skin pictured below.  These must be surgically removed.  Never attempt to pull them out through the hole as this may cause a fatal anaphylactic reaction!
Picture
Cuterebra
Picture
Cuterebra
The other type of fly larvae are small maggots.  These are most commonly found in rabbits that have a wound or skin infection, especially if the rabbit is debilitated or unable to groom himself properly.  There are usually many maggots present in one spot and they will eat away at the rabbit’s skin if they are not removed promptly.

Parasites affecting nervous tissue ( brain, spinal cord, etc)

E. Cuniculi is a rabbit parasite that can infect the brain and other organs in the body.  They are infected by oral ingestion of the microscopic parasite eggs found in the urine of affected rabbits.  They can be chronically infected for quite a while before any symptoms are seen, which unfortunately makes it easier to spread from one rabbit to another.  Neurologic signs may include a head tilt, circling, rolling or falling to one side, tremoring, weakness, and rapid eye movements.  E. Cuniculi can also cause kidney problems, urinary incontinence, and eye problems such as cataracts and uveitis (inflammation of the eye).
Picture
Cataract
Rabbits that are housed outdoors and exposed to raccoon droppings can become infected with a raccoon parasite called Baylisascaris.  It can migrate to their brain and cause neurologic symptoms similar to E. Cuniculi.  It is best to prevent Baylisascaris by keeping your rabbit indoors, since it does not usually respond to medical treatment.

Bacterial infections of the inner ear can also cause similar neurologic symptoms to E. Cuniculi, so it is important to remember that not every rabbit with a head tilt or circling to one side has a parasite.  They can respond to antibiotic therapy if it is caused by an ear infection.

Gastrointestinal Parasites (endoparasites)

Coccidia are the most common intestinal parasites of rabbits.  Symptoms may include diarrhea and weight loss.  Baby bunnies are more susceptible to coccidia, and they can become very sick and dehydrated.  One type of coccidia can cause liver disease also.  With an acute infection, this can cause severe illness due to liver dysfunction and obstruction of the bile ducts.  With a more chronic infection, it can contribute to the development of tumors of the bile duct.
Picture
Coccidia
Rabbits can also get other parasites such as pinworms, tapeworms, and stomach worms.  Not all rabbits with intestinal parasites show signs right away, so it is recommended to have a stool sample checked for any new rabbit that you bring into your household.
Since most parasites are contagious and are spread between rabbits, it is important to isolate affected rabbits until they are free of the parasite and determine if any other rabbits in the household have been exposed.  It is also important to clean and disinfect the environment during treatment.

If you rabbit is showing any of these symptoms, please call us at 847-329-8709 to make an appointment!
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  • Home
  • Emergency Care
  • Care Sheets
    • General Care >
      • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
      • Heating Reptile Enclosures
      • Health Veggie Shopping for Reptiles
      • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
      • Metabolic Bone Disease Care
      • Vaccines in Exotic Animals
    • Birds >
      • Amazon Care
      • Avian Influenza Fact Sheet
      • Avian Influenza for Poultry Fact Sheet
      • Avian Bornavirus Testing
      • Budgie Care
      • Canaries
      • Chicken Care
      • Chronic Egg Laying
      • Cleaning and Disinfecting
      • Cockatiels (and other small Psittacines)
      • Cockatoo Care
      • ​Converting Your Bird to a Pelleted Diet
      • Feather Picking
      • General Parrot Care
      • Handfeeding Baby Parrots
      • Healthy Shopping for your Birds
      • Infectious Diseases of Parrots
      • Instructions for Physical Therapy in Birds
      • Lead Poisoning
      • McWatters Diet (Homemade Mash)
      • Macaw Care
      • Parrot Precautions
      • Polyoma Virus
      • Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease
      • Proventricular Dilatation Disease
      • Spiroform Pharangitis (Spirochetes)
      • Baby Starling and Sparrow guidelines
      • Can smoke affect my bird?
      • Territorial Aggression
      • Unsafe Plants for Birds
      • Weaning Baby Birds
      • What to Feed Your Pet Bird
      • Wing Injury and Rehabilitation
      • Wing Trims
      • Your Overly Reproductive Female Bird
      • Zinc Toxicity
    • Caiman Care
    • Ferret and Fox Care >
      • Your Ferret’s First Visit to the Vet
      • An Overview of Ferret Adrenal Disease
      • Chronic Diarrhea in Ferrets
      • Ferret Dentistry
      • Heart Disease in Ferrets
      • Heartworm Disease in Ferrets
      • Insulinoma in Ferrets
      • Lymphoma In Ferrets
      • Bob’s Chicken Gravy
      • Fennec Foxes
      • Red Foxes
    • Fish >
      • Algae in your Freshwater Aquarium
      • Eel Care
      • Freshwater Tropical Fish Care
      • Beginning a Freshwater Aquarium
      • Cleaning your Freshwater Aquarium
      • How to Feed your Fish
      • Aquarium Corals
      • Koi Care
      • General Goldfish Care
    • Invertebrate Care >
      • Blue Death Feigning Beetle Care
      • Giant Vinegaroon Care
      • Asian Forest Scorpion
      • Hairy Desert Scorpion
      • Hermit Crab Care
      • Tarantula Care - Basic
      • Millipede care
    • Frogs, Toads, and Other Amphibians >
      • Argentine Horned Frogs
      • Bullfrog Care
      • Dart Frog Care
      • Feeding Pet Frogs and Toads
      • Fire Bellied Toad Care
      • Pixie Frog Care
      • Red Eyed Tree Frog Care
      • Short Tongue Syndrome
      • Tiger Salamander Care
      • Axolotl Care
      • White Lipped Tree Frog Care
      • White's Tree Frog Care
      • Ranavirus
    • Guinea Pigs and Rodents >
      • Chinchilla Care
      • Cuy Criollo (Giant Guinea Pig)
      • Health Problems with Guinea Pigs
      • Degu Care
      • Gerbil Care
      • Guinea Pig Care
      • Hamster Care
      • Diabetic Hamster Diet
      • Mice Care
      • Rat Care
      • Health Problems with Rats
      • Prairie Dog Care
      • Odontoma
      • Veggies For Guinea Pigs
      • Visible Tumors in Rodents
      • Vitamin C Deficiency In Guinea Pigs
    • Hedgehog Care >
      • Baby Hedgehog (Hoglet) Care
    • Kinkajoos and Armadillos >
      • Kinkajou Care
      • Nine Banded Armadillo Care
    • Lizards >
      • Anole Care
      • Bearded Dragon Care
      • Blue Tongued Skink Care
      • Crested Gecko Care
      • Geckos of New Caledonia
      • Crocodile Monitor Care
      • Frilled Lizard Care
      • Green Iguana Care
      • Jackson's Chameleon Care
      • Leopard Gecko Care
      • Nile Monitor Care
      • Old World Chameleon Care
      • Panther Chameleon Care
      • Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink Care
      • Savannah Monitor Care
      • Tegu Care
      • Thai Water Dragon Care
      • Uromastyx Care
      • Veiled Chameleon Care
    • Potbellied Pigs >
      • Pot Belly Pigs
      • Diamond Skin Disease
    • Rabbits >
      • Bonding Rabbits Bullet Point Checklist
      • Healthy Shopping for Rabbits
      • Complete Rabbit Care
      • Getting To Know Your New Bunny
      • Training Your Bunny
      • What To Feed Your Rabbit
      • Learning to Use the Litter Box
      • What To Expect From Your New Rabbit
      • Dental Disease in Rabbits
      • Heart Disease in Rabbits
      • Healthy Stool in Rabbits
      • Gastrointestinal Stasis in Rabbits
      • RHDV2 Fact Sheet
      • Parasites of Rabbits
      • Sore Hocks in Rabbits
      • Pasteurella in Rabbits
      • Medicating Your Rabbit or Guinea Pig
    • Snakes >
      • Amazon Tree Boa Care
      • Ball Python Care
      • Black Rat Snake Care
      • Boa Constrictor Care
      • Brazilian Rainbow Boa Care
      • Burmese Python Care
      • California Kingsnake Care
      • Cornsnake Care
      • Dumeril's Boa Care
      • Eastern Kingsnake Care
      • Emerald Tree Boa Care
      • Garter Snake Care
      • Green Tree Python Care
      • Western Hognose Care
      • Mexican Black Kingsnake Care
      • Rosy Boa Care
      • Sand Boa Care
      • Western Fox Snake Care
      • Inclusion Body Disease
    • Sugar Gliders and Marsupials
    • Turtles and Tortoises >
      • Alligator Snapping Turtle Care
      • Bell's Hingeback Care
      • Box Turtle Care
      • Chinese Box Turtle Care
      • Common Snapping Turtle Care
      • General Tortoise Husbandry
      • Leopard Tortoise Care
      • Mud Turtle Care
      • Musk Turtle Care
      • Painted Turtle Care
      • Red Eared Slider Care
      • Russian Tortoise Care
      • Soft Shelled Turtle Care
      • Sulcata Care >
        • Diet For Sulcata Tortoises
      • Common Health Problems
      • General Care of Aquatic Turtles
      • Redfoot tortoise Care
  • Contact
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