My rabbit has ear stuff and head flicking. Can I treat it at home?

In this case, seeing a vet is absolutely necessary. Ear infections cannot be treated at home, and if they are left untreated, they can lead to hearing loss. BunBun should see a vet as soon as possible. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com

It's probably an ear infection, often it cannot be seen from the outside. Ear infections are quite common in rabbits, it is usually caused by either yeast or bacterial disease. the treatment is usually simple and straightforward, you will have to take Oreo to the vet and get the ears checked, then a prescription ear drops will be prescribed according to the infectious agent.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If your parasite was mites-I have used Certain types of parasiticides to cure these that are commercially available. You would need the weight of your rabbit (many products hobby weight). If you would like a consult please let me know! I would have to get a bit more information first.

I am sorry to hear that Paisley isn’t feeling well, and thank you for your question. From what you are describing, she could have an ear infection. Unfortunately this is very common in lop eared rabbits, and often gets quite severe before they show any clinical signs at home. It may also be affecting both ears, and she may not be showing it. Ear infections can be simple and only affect the external ear, or they can be deep and be present past the ear drum and into the middle and inner ear. My recommendation would be to take Paisley to a veterinarian who is familiar with rabbits. They can perform an exam of the ears and collect samples to look for infection. They can then prescribe anti-inflammatory pain relievers and may prescribe antibiotics as well. If they suspect that the infection may be deep, they would recommend imaging with radiographs (x-rays) or a CT scan. Please don’t give Paisley any human medications, as many of them are harmful to our furry friends. I would not recommend cleaning the ears until you have visited the vet either, as many cleaners are not safe to use if you don’t know if the ear drum is intact or not (i.e. they can be damaging/toxic to the middle and inner ear). I hope that gives you a place to start, and I wish you and Paisley the best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Thor. Ear mites or infections can be pruritic (itchy) to the point of bleeding. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan, as each are a different medication. Don't attempt to clean it out as this could cause more bleeding. If mites, all rabbits need to be treated. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Nugget. Rabbit is difficult to drain as it is very thick and caseous. Sometimes ear drops are not enough to penetrate this thick material and systemic antibiotics need to be added. Culturing the infection will help identify the bacterium and therefore streamline treatments. The head bobbing could be a sign of an internal ear infection affecting the equilibrium component of the ear. You should probably consult your veterinarian again. Good luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Momo. You are doing the right thing by having him seen. You are correct that rabbits can develop neurological problems from ear disease. However, for neurological signs to develop, the infection needs to be deep in the inner or middle ear. This commonly is a sequelae to a respiratory tract infection. The signs you are describing seem to be related to the external ear canal. Hopefully this can be treated without problems. I hope this information helps!