fleas

Question
Dear Dr. Krempels,
I'm hoping you can help my house rabbits who have a case of fleas. I have 4 house rabbits living pretty much cage free in my sunroom. I also have cats and 1 dog who are being treated for the fleas and I plan to have a professional company in to treat the whole home. Any suggestions in this area? My rabbit vet said that the only thing they know of is sprayable Frontline. I've been having a hard time finding this product. What would be your protocol for a situation such as mine? Thank you for your time especially at this particularly busy time of year!  

Answer
Dear Sandy,

1.  NO FRONTLINE!!!!  This product is deadly to rabbits and must NEVER be used on them!!!

2.  Please find another vet who is more familiar with the special medical needs of rabbits.  If s/he doesn't know by now that fipronil (Frontline) should never be used on rabbits, then s/he should NOT be seeing rabbits as patients!!  It even says on the label NOT to use it on rabbits.  SHAME on that vet!

3.  The safest remedies for fleas on rabbits are Revolution (selamectin) and Advantage (imidocloprid).  The former also will kill mites, so that's all we ever use.

You can find a more experienced rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps.

Dana