rabbit itch - mites/scabies?

Question
Hi Dana. Me again.My rabbit's previous problem with loss of appetite and withdrawn behavior is over. He's back to his affectionate,"greedy" and playful self after 5days of force feeding,oral hydration and 24hr TLC watch. I know you & many others advised vet consultation but I failed to mention I'm in the Philippines where as one poster said there's a scarcity in rabbit-savvy vets - usually they specialize in dogs,cats,birds,fish and livestock. Even a vet student advised me against bringing Mancy to them as chances are, they'll diagnose and prescribe meds despite lack of actual lagomorph exposure and might even use him as experimental patient.

Now my problem is he's been itching at the nose and scratches it til it bleeds. I thought it was because he was just a zealous scratcher with nails too long. Now, with small crusty raw lesions, I'm thinking scabies, fur mites or mange. He's the only pet,uncaged and I live alone.
1. Could he have gotten it from the rug he kept gnawing at (now removed)if it had dust mites? 2. Might I have been the contaminant(as human host to mites not showing symptoms) since I used to rub his nose with my chin/nose/hands when he snuggles up to me(we're together almost 24/7,he likes sleeping beside me). 3. Since permethrin is not advisable, shall I take him directly for Ivermectin shot? Or oral med? (the only time I'll take him to general vet)I can't put topical ointment that's toxic when ingested since he uses his paws to groom and licks them often.

Thank you in advance.
Lee

p.s.I hope fellow rabbit-owner from the Philippines likewise desperate for a rabbit-savvy vet could contact me

Answer
Dear Lee,

I'm sorry you're in a spot where there are few rabbit-savvy vets.  You might want to check the international vet listings here periodically:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to see if there are updates including the Philippines.  

This does sound like mites, and the best remedy is Revolution/Stronghold (selamectin), topically applied at 6mg/kg once every 2-3 weeks.  Ivermectin is the next best thing, and one injection followed by another about 10-14 days later should clear up the problem, if it's mange.  You can read more here:

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

Hope that helps, and I *really* hope you can get selamectin where you are.  It's the best and most effective remedy we've found.

If neither ivermectin nor selamectin works, there's a possiblity that this is rabbit syphilis, which can lie dormant until the bunny is stressed or otherwise immunocompromised.  This is safely treated with *injectible* Pencillin-G Procaine for 5-7 days.

But I hope it's just mange.

Dana