Just like cats and dogs, rabbits can also get fleas. So, what are the steps that you can take to help your rabbit get rid of the fleas?
It is not a good idea to put a flea collar on your rabbit to get rid of the fleas. It is right that the chemical on the collar works great for eliminating fleas. But, a rabbit’s skin is very sensitive and can burn due to the effect of the chemical. A rabbit can even get sick if the chemical is somehow ingested. So, to deal with the problem of rabbit fleas, it is wise to contact a vet who can prescribe the proper medication for it.
So today, we are going to discuss different ways to treat a rabbit with fleas safely.
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Rabbit Fleas
To our eyes, fleas will look like small black spots, but these feed on the blood of the animals. These tiny creatures clasp on the skin of the animals and suck their blood. They can even spread diseases in animals.
If you don’t treat your rabbit for fleas in time, they will continue feeding on your rabbit’s blood, making it anemic. Ignorance for an extended period can also result in rabbit’s death. So, as you notice any fleas on the rabbit, immediately take necessary actions for cleaning and treating your rabbit to get rid of fleas.
Can Rabbits Get Fleas?
Fleas are very common in cats and dogs, but rabbits are not an exception at all. They can also get fleas. The point of concern is the sensitive skin of the rabbit. Due to this, fleas can be highly dangerous for them. It is difficult to detect fleas on rabbits due to their thick fur. Often, rabbits kill fleas during their daily grooming. Due to this, you will not be able to notice any fleas and, therefore, unable to take any remedial steps.
How Do Rabbits Catch Fleas?
Most common reasons due to which rabbits catch fleas are:
- Roaming outside for a long time.
- Coming in contact with the pets who are already affected by fleas.
As a preventive measure, you should consider spraying or cleaning to get rid of bugs specifically. It will prevent any type of bugs or fleas from latching to your rabbits.
Signs That Your Rabbit Have Fleas
If there are any fleas on your rabbit, then you will find:
- Your rabbit chewing, biting, or licking its skin.
- Balding patches on your rabbit.
- Red bite marks.
- Sores on your rabbit.
Another way by which you may tell that your rabbit has fleas is by finding out any black speck in its fur. Fleas are so tiny that you can only detect them as black spots. To confirm that the spot is actually a flea, you can put a drop of water on the spot. If it is a flea, you will see a red ring of blood outside the spot.
Treatment
There are a few ways through which you can get rid of fleas from your rabbit. The most ideal thing to do whenever you notice fleas on your rabbit is to take it to a vet. The vet will be able to check your rabbit and tell whether it is ear mites, lice, ticks, any other kind of harmful parasites, or fleas that is bothering your rabbit. After checking the rabbit, the vet will be able to prescribe the proper medication to treat the rabbit.
Medications
The flea medications that are usually used for animals are not that safe to be used for rabbits. As we know, rabbits are very sensitive; hence, the medication’s strength or the suggested dosage may prove to be fatal for rabbits. Some medication may work on large rabbits but may be dangerous for the small ones.
Generally, components like organophosphates and permethrin are part of flea medication. But, these components are harmful to rabbits, and therefore, their use must be avoided. So, whenever you give any flea medication to your rabbit, firstly check that any of these components are not present in it.
Always consult a vet before giving any medication to your rabbit. He will recommend you the right medicine for rabbit fleas, its correct dosage, and also analyze your rabbit’s current situation too.
Flea Comb
Another good option to get the fleas out of your rabbit is a flea comb. This comb has got fine teeth ideal for combing out fleas. For cleaning out the fleas from the rabbit’s fur, a flea comb will work well and catch most of the fleas, if not all. But, you need to be careful while using the comb on your rabbit, as again, it has sensitive skin. If you use the comb roughly, then there are chances that it will scratch or tear the rabbit’s skin.
What Should You Avoid?
There are a number of things that you should avoid while treating your rabbit with fleas. Some things can even harm your rabbit, make it sick, and send it into shock. So, keep in mind the following things that you should not do to avoid hurting your bunny.
Flea Collar
It would be best if you never put a flea collar on your rabbit. It is really harmful to the rabbits. The rabbit can harm itself while trying to take it off, chemicals can burn its sensitive skin, and it can even get sick by licking the chemical present on the collar. A flea collar is an effective way to prevent and kill fleas on your pet dogs and cats, but you should avoid using it on rabbits.
Baths
Rabbit is not a pet that you should give a bath to. Bathing them by pouring water on them or submerging them in water can send them into shock. If you want to clean fleas from the rabbit, you can use a flea comb. To clean the fur, you can use a soft, damp cloth and massage it on the fur. Remember, whatever the circumstance be, never bathe your rabbit.
Flea Dips And Powders
Products like these may be suitable for other animals but are harmful to rabbits. The chemicals present in these products can prove to be fatal for rabbits. When you use the flea dips and powders on the rabbit fur, it is likely that the chemical will get ingested when the rabbit groom itself. This can negatively affect the health of the rabbit.
Cleaning Your Rabbit
Rabbit may be small, but cleaning it is really a daunting task. But, you do not need to be stressed about it. The below-mentioned video will explain to you how to get rid of the fleas and clean your rabbit easily. If you already know about what fleas are, you can skip the initial part of the video and jump directly to minute 7:00 to learn how to clean the rabbits.
Things To Do After Treating The Rabbit
Once you have done treating your rabbit to get rid of those blood-sucking parasites, now you have to do a couple of things that will prevent the fleas from coming back.
Sanitizing Your House
You need to sanitize and clean all the areas of the house where your rabbit or other pets usually roam. Fleas can lay eggs anywhere by hopping on and off the animal. Fleas are already so tiny that it is difficult to spot them, so finding their eggs is next to impossible. They may have laid the eggs everywhere in the house without you having any hint of it.
A good option is to use diatomaceous earth (food-grade) for getting rid of and killing any left fleas inside and outside the house. Ensure that you clean and sanitize each and every corner of the house to solve the flea issue completely.
Also, take a note to use only rabbit-safe sanitizers and cleaning products. Some chemicals can be harsh for rabbits, so avoid using the products giving such chemicals.
Clean Other Pets
If your rabbit has fleas and you have others pets too in the house, then it is undoubted that they too have fleas. So, once you have treated your rabbit, treat your other pets too and clean them to ensure that the fleas don’t return to your rabbit. Other pets need to be treated differently than rabbits to get rid of fleas, so take the necessary steps and free each of your pets from these parasites.