Bunny has sores on his ears from his collar

Question
Hi Dana,

My Mini Rex was recently neutered and was instructed to wear an e-collar for ten days.

After the collar was removed, I noticed one pink spot which seemed to have less fur on the exact location in which his ears would rub against the collar.

Two days later, the spots appear to have a layer of white crust on it.

He seems fine and is not scratching his ears.

Do you think the white crusties are a symptom of mites? Or just his ears becoming raw after rubbing against the collar for a week?

Thanks!

Cheers,
Jessica

Answer
Dear Jessica,

Unless your bunny was chewing at his sutures, I'm very surprised that the vet prescribed an E-collar for no less than TEN DAYS.  That is unheard of for a rabbit, and most experienced rabbit vets will *never* prescribe an E-collar for a rabbit unless there is good reason (i.e., the bunny is chewing at his surgical site, which most rabbits do not).

The hairless spot could be from rubbing against the collar, and now that the collar is off it's scabbing up to heal.  But keep an eye on it in case it gets larger or spreads, in which case it could be due to mites.  Please read:

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

for more information on that.

But to tell you the truth, I would be very wary of going back to the vet who neutered your bunny.  Prescribing an E-collar for ten days is something you might do for a dog or cat, but not for a rabbit, and this calls into question the vet's expertise with rabbits.

I would find a new vet who is experienced with rabbits by using the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope you can find someone close to you who can give your bunny the care appropriate for a rabbit, and not simply treat him as if he were an oddly shaped dog or cat.  :(

Hope this helps!

Dana