Getting rid of fur mites on rabbit and home

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

My rabbit was recently diagnosed with fur mites by the vet.  He received his first treatment.  (he will receive 3 treatments over 6 weeks).  My vet recommended that I clean his cage very thoroughly.  I clean the entire cage once a week and empty litter box daily.  However, I let him play freely in one room and his cage is in a different room.  My vet recommended that I clean the room where he roams freely as well as the room where he sleeps in.  Do you recommend any products (flea and tick products or cleaning products)that will kill the mites?  I have hardwood floors, so Im not sure if dust products are still recommened for hardwood floors.  I read that borax is good for rugs/carpets.  Is this true?  If I vaccuum, should I be throwing out the vaccuum bag after each time I vaccuum?  Also, Im concerned that the mites may be moving throughout my home since they are considered "walking dandruff".  I have a cat that moves throughout the house and enters the rooms that the rabbit has been in. Im concerned that the fur mites may have attached to the cat and the cat has transported the fur mites throughout the home.  Should I be treating the entire home?  The vet has already started the cat with treatment (Revolution) but should I continue with revolution on the cat and rabbit on a monthly basis after the 6 week treatment as a preventative measure?  If the rabbit and cat are being treated, and humans are carriers, can the fur mites survive on humans longer than 10 days? or do the fur mites die if they dont have a rabbit or cat host?  Do you recommend flea and tick foggers to treat a room?  The room that the rabbit plays in has a fish tank with fresh water fish.  How can I treat this room if foggers are not recommended?  I would like to treat my home and animals safely.  Thanks for all the information you can provide. I really hope to hear back from you.  Thanks

ANSWER: Dear Jule,

Revolution on the bunny will be a good start.  Fur mites don't usually live long in the environment, but borax worked into the carpet should desiccate any that might wander down there.  Just be sure to work it in well so there's minimal stuff on the carpet for bunny to contact.  It's not super toxic, but also not great to ingest in large quantities.

I would not resort to foggers or other insecticides. Give the borax and Revolution a chance to work.

Hope they do the trick.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Dr. Krempels!

The information is very much appreciated!  I wanted to ask a follow up question.  The majority of the floors in my home are hardwood and the carpets are area rugs.  Would you recommend using the borax on the hardwood floors?  How long should I let the borax sit on the carpet?  How would I know that the rabbit and house is fur mite free after the treatments?

Thanks once again.

Jule

Answer
Dear Jule,

No need for borax on hardwood floors unless they have lots of cracks.  In that case, use enough borax to shift down into any cracks where it can't be seen, and just leave it there for a couple of weeks.

Fur mites generally live on the host, not in the environment.  So the Revolution should really do the trick for bunny, and you probably do not have to worry too much about getting them out of the house.

Hope this helps.

Dana