Why is my rabbit scratching its eyes and ears? Is it an infection?

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 Snowbow and including a photo. Scratching at the ears could be ear mites or an infection. Take a look inside of the ear to see if any accumulations, discharge, odor, blood. The discolored urine could be due to increased vitamin intake (B vitamins will often change the color of the urine). But he could also have a urinary tract infection. A veterinary visit is recommended for both conditions. Good luck.

It looks like the ear is definitely irritated and has some hair loss, however without an exam in person it would be hard to say if it's bacterial, allergies, etc as the cause. It is best to bring Marwa to a vet to have it checked and any samples taken so that the appropriate medication can be given.

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!

Mites would be the most common reason for scratching, mites cannot be seen with the naked eye at all (only under the microscope). you might want to take him to the vet in order to get a treatment for mites.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is my pleasure to answer your question as well as possible. I will do my best to give you the clearest and most current information I can. If you need to follow up with further questions or need a more in-depth discussion, please do not hesitate to request a consultation and we can help you further. Cute bunny, and congratulations on your new family member. Yes, it is pretty common for bunnies to get eye infections but there are a number of different reasons for them. The most common of those include a blocked tear duct that would normal drain extra tears from the eye into the nose, an abrasion or scratch, or an E. Cuniculi infection. A blocked tear duct can be caused by something as simple as a dusty brand of hay to something as complex as a chronic tooth issue. In a bunny as young as yours the chronic condition is less likely. Unfortunately, the only good way to tell if there is a blockage is for a vet to stain the eye and see if the colored stain drains into the nose as it should. If it is blocked, the vet can flush it out. They could also get a very superficial look at the teeth to see if they appear normal. The vet would be likely to give you some medication to help the irritated skin in front of the eye heal faster as well, for now please keep that area as clean and dry as possible.

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.