Skin crust

Question
QUESTION: Hi , my rabbit has a small crust on the top of her nose, I can see it when I push the fur aside and it's about the size of a small pimple and is yellow in color. The crust seems quite thick though but I can only feel it when I run my nail across it. Apart from that she has afew tiny patched of white crust on her body that has been there for about a year, besides that she's normal! I have a bottle of antiseptic from the vets , should I rub some over the crust daily? Cause I feel sort of silly bringing her in over a small crust , unless it escalates into something worst of course. Before reading articles rabbit skin diseases I sprayed her with k.o.Kiki antiparasito supposedly inoffensive to rabbits and other small animals. It contains tetrametrina 0,15% , permetrina 0,05% , agus alcoholes y excipients c.s.p 100%. I've rubbed this on the crust on her nose and over her ears and body. I've been using this since 2 years ago when the bunny's groomer recommended it to me.but I've read somewhere that permetrina is unsafe for bunnies?
Thanks , your advise would be much appreciated .

ANSWER: Dear Abby,

Without seeing the lesions I cannot be 100% sure, but this sounds like a slight case of mange, which is caused by parasitic mites.  This can be treated safely with ivermectin injections or--better--topical application of selamectin (Revolution or Stronghold), which will kill the mites in about 15 hours, and then the healing will begin.

Please see this for more information:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

It is very likely that this is mange, and I would ask the vet about treating for it, just to be safe.  The crusts will start to come off about a week after treatment, and your bunny will be on the road to recovery.

Hope this helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Thanks for your reply! I'm taking my bunny to the vets tmr because today she has developed a reddish pink spot on her right nostril where there is no fur. Could this be caused by the mites? And could this ,hopefully not, cause respiratory problems like snuffles/ pneumonia ? Unfortunately, her lower lips are covered with the yellow crust too and some small black dots):
If it is near her mouth, it would be better to opt for the injection or oral medication rather than oilmemt as the bunny would lick it right?
Also, do I have to disinfect the bunny's cage? How do I go about doing this ? And my bunny roams around freely in the house when I'm around, so do I have to disinfect the house too?
Thank you :)

Answer
Dear Abby,

Topical Revolution/Stronghold (selamectin) is better than an injection, as it will last longer.  If the bun licks it, it's not a big deal.  But best to apply it to the back of the neck where she can't reach.

You don't need to treat the crusts.  They will fall off once the mites die (which will be about 15-24 hours after the medication is given; they bite, they die).

You probably don't need to go nuts disinfecting the house.  The mites live primarily on the rabbit.  But vacuuming well, throwing out the bag, washing all bedding and other washables where bunny has been resting are all good ideas, just to be safe.

If mites from the environment get on the bunny, they will die as soon as they bite her.  So Revolution is a good long-term solution for getting rid of mites in the environment, too.

Hope this helps.

Dana