Mange or mites

Question
QUESTION: We have had our bunny to our vets three times in the past four weeks.  He had two doses of revolution, and just had a shot of ivermectin last night.  The other rabbit, which is bonded to him does not have either.  We also have two cats in the household.  The rabbit was treated with revolution twice, the cats were not.  Right now the rabbits are in two separate pens; although they share play time together.  The rabbit with the problem is eating normal and seems happy.  The vet saw an egg which he thought was sarcoptic or something like that, which I thought is mange.  Do we have any hope with the ivermection or is it a lost cause?  Thanks.

ANSWER: Dear Theresa,

It's very unusual that the mange is not responding to either selamectin or ivermectin.  It's possible this is something in addition to mange (the mange mite egg might have been dead, or left over?).   But there are some types of mites that seem to be more resistant to the drugs than others.  I hope your bunny doesn't have any of those.

Also note that some bunnies are not all that good at grooming off the crusts.  You can help him be carefully dampening the crusts with a bit of mineral oil, and letting them soften for about half an hour, and then combing them out with a fine-toothed flea comb.  Don't comb if it's sore:  let him get the hardest ones off.

Once you've got most of the crusts off, he'll look a bit oily.  But you can rub him gently with a series of clean, dry washcloths to get off most of the residual oil, and he can clean up the rest.  Just don't use more than you need to soften the crusts:  a little dab will do, once it soaks in.

If that doesn't work, then there's the option of a lime sulfur dip.  Many rabbit vets will not do this, as it can be risky to bathe a rabbit at all, let alone with something like this.  But other vets absolutely swear by the lime-sulfur dip, and says it helps better than anything to kill off mites and other ectoparasites.

I hope you don't have to resort to the bath, but there it is...just in case.

Hope this helps.

Dana



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

QUESTION: Dana, thanks for the help with the mineral oil; it was helpful.
Is there any course of treatment in treating severe mites?  
His belly is bare with a little fur growing back, and now they have attacked in a v shape on his back, and a little on his head.  He has had two doses for cats (5 lbs or less)
and one dose of invermectin.  Thanks for your expertise.  We also have a rabbit and two kitties with no signs at this point.  The rabbit was treated with revolution twice. It is such a blessing of what you do on here and through the HRS.  Many thanks.  

Answer
Hi, Theresa

What you're doing is pretty much what's recommended for mites...if that's the problem.  Fur mites, which cause flakes and thinning fur, can be much harder to get rid of than other types of mites, but they still usually respond to Revolution.

The only other thing I could think of was the lime sulfur dip, which would be a last resort, if it were my bunny. But if it doesn't clear up, that could be the ticket.

I hope he gets better soon!

Dana