My rabbit's ear is hot and smelly. Can I treat infection at home?

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an ear infection. How often you use these depends on which of the tabs you are referring to. I would check the product instructions and follow that. I recommend that you have Oreo evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to check what type of infection is present and treat accordingly. Usually this resolves with topical therapy. Good luck and have a good day!

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.

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!

Hi, good for you for noticing the problem. You can flush out the bunny's ear safely by using a saline solution, like eye wash. Squirt a few drops into his ear and massage the base of it, then let him shake his head to remove debris.Them once it it moist, carefully use Q tips to remove any stuck debris. Be careful not to push any back into the ear canal. You may need to flush it a few times to get it all out. Some bunnies need to have their ears cleaned regularly. If you notice any smell, redness or pus like discharge, take him to a vet. Good luck, I hope this helps!

If ear infections are left untreated, they can lead to hearing loss. Unfortunately this cannot be treated at home without prescription medication, but a vet should see you for this problem. Give your vet a call.

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.