treatment for ringworm

Question
I have differing opinions from 3 different vets as to the treatment of ringworm.  One little bunny was misdiagnosed for several months, and now I have several bunnies whohave reddened skin and missing fur at the corners of their mouths,under their chins, in the creases of their necks or at the base of their ears.  The first vet told me to apply chlorhexidine 1:20with water 1x daily, and miconozle cream(sold over the counter for yeast infections)2x a day for 60 to 90 days.  Also, she sold me Maalseb shampoo to use 1x weekly, and on the day of the shampoo (limited to the affected head area), not to treat with the other meds.  A volunteer called her vet, and asked for her advice.  That vet suggested using only clotriminozole spray,1% for a couple of weeks, or swabbing with betadine.  A 3rd offered to dip them, or give them grisofulvin, however her offer came with a warning:  I may lose some of the bunnies-(I have a small rescue of 13, currently.)  

Answer
Dear Lynne,

First, are you absolutely sure this is ringworm?  I ask because the symptoms sound much more like mange.  Ringworm fungus is characterized by very round, naked lesions on the skin, and the affected skin is sometimes covered with very small, reddish dots (barely visible).  The crust and missing fur you describe is far more consistent with mange:

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

If this is the case, then none of the treatments listed in your note will have any effect at all.  if the affected area is limited to the edges of the mouth and under the chin, then it is more likely that the bunny has molar spurs that cause him to drool, burning the skin and causing the fur to fall out.  This must be treated in an entirely different way:

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

Please find a vet who is experienced with rabbits here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and ask about getting your bunny some Revolution (selamectin), and having the molars checked for spurs.  

If this really is ringworm, then there are other treatments, but I'm betting this is mites, not fungus.

Hope this helps.

Dana