Content
- How to tell if my rabbit has fleas
- How to detect fleas in rabbits?
- Diseases that fleas transmit to rabbits
- How to prevent fleas on rabbits
- How to eliminate fleas on rabbits
- Home Remedies for Fleas on Rabbits
In this PeritoAnimal article, we are going to talk about a very nasty insect. More specifically, let's talk about the fleas on rabbits. These external parasites, which also affect dogs, cats and even humans, among others, feed on the blood of the animals they parasitize.
It is necessary to know that they lay their eggs in the environment, which is why it is so important to deworm both the animal and to disinfect the place where they live. Let's learn to spot them and get rid of them, so keep reading to learn how to eliminate fleas on rabbits.
How to tell if my rabbit has fleas
A lot of people wonder if rabbits have fleas and the answer to that is yes. Even if your rabbit lives indoors, it is possible that he is affected by fleas, either because he lives with dogs or cats that get them outside, or because you bring fleas to him without realizing it. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to flea symptoms in rabbits.
First, itching is usually the key sign for suspecting the presence of the parasite. Fleas are blood-sucking insects, therefore, feed on blood that extract from animals that parasitize through bites, an action that causes discomfort and itching. In addition, in some animals their saliva is capable of triggering an allergic reaction, which produces, in addition to itching, hair loss and more or less serious injuries, especially in the lower back.
How to detect fleas in rabbits?
We have already seen that flea symptoms in rabbits can coincide with other skin problems, so it is necessary to carefully analyze the animal to look for and detect the parasites. When examining the rabbit carefully, opening space between the fur to visualize the skin, it is possible to find the fleas, a few millimeters long and a elongated body, ideal for moving between the coat.
Also, they have hind legs capable of jumping great heights. However, not noticing any fleas does not mean they are not there. Sometimes, what we find in the fur are small black grains, like sand, which are your droppings. By watering these grains, it is possible to verify that they are blood.
It is very important to know that fleas are not only found on the animal. In fact, what you can see on the rabbit are adult fleas that are feeding, but it's in the environment they lay their eggs and they develop until they become adults and climb back into the animal, completing the cycle. Therefore, any flea treatment must target the rabbit and its habitat, and the adult and immature forms of the parasite.
If your rabbit is itchy and you can't find fleas, or if it's already dewormed, it's important to go to the vet, as the itch can be present in other pathologies that need to be diagnosed.
Perhaps you might be interested in this other article about the types of fleas and how to identify them.
Diseases that fleas transmit to rabbits
Fleas on rabbits are not just a health problem for them, as can spread for other animals they live with and also for people. Therefore, it is critical that you establish a proper deworming schedule, following your veterinarian's recommendations.
In addition to the damage that the parasitic action can cause to the skin, a serious flea infestation can cause anemia, since they feed on blood, especially in more vulnerable rabbits, such as puppies, the elderly or those who already have a disease. The fact is that fleas can transmit an extremely serious disease: a myxomatosis, quite common in several countries but in Brazil it has little incidence.
This viral disease has a very high mortality and is characterized by appearance of lumps, inflammation and associated skin lesions. It also lowers the immune response, which opens the door to the development of secondary bacterial infections such as conjunctivitis and pneumonia. This disease can be prevented with a vaccine. For more information, don't miss this article on rabbit myxomatosis - symptoms and prevention.
How to prevent fleas on rabbits
As we have said, the prevention of fleas in rabbits and other parasites goes through a proper deworming, always under the responsibility of the veterinarian. To prevent and treat external parasites, rabbit pipettes or sprays are often used. For internal parasites, tablets or syrups are usually used to deworm rabbits.
On the other hand, as there are no flea collars for rabbits, many people decide to use the versions for cats or small dogs. However, this is not recommended, because they are products formulated for other species. You will find all the information about antiparasitic products and their administration in this article: the best products to deworm rabbits.
How to eliminate fleas on rabbits
While you can find several flea products for sale, you should always consult the veterinarian before administering any to your rabbit. The reason is that not all are formulated for them and their use can cause severe poisoning.
Once the veterinarian prescribes the appropriate medicine, you will proceed with its application to fight fleas in rabbits. In general, pipettes for rabbits that release a liquid that runs on the head, between the ears, ensuring that the rabbit does not touch it and, if it lives with others, preventing it from being licked by its congeners due to the risk of intoxication. Powdered or shampooed antiparasitic drugs are less recommended because rabbits are often unwilling to take baths.
You can also purchase a special comb to catch fleas. They are small, metallic and with the teeth very close together. As they pass through the coat, the parasites become trapped between the teeth. They are very useful in helping to stop the infestation, but they are not a substitute for using an antiparasitic product.
And lastly, we can't forget the house deworming, where most fleas are found in their immature stages. You can wash fabrics and apply insecticides to surfaces, always checking with your veterinarian to make sure they are not harmful to the rabbit or other animals.
Home Remedies for Fleas on Rabbits
Although some products like the lemon or vinegar have a flea repellent effect, the truth is that, once we have an infestation at home, it will be necessary to treat it with a veterinary product, which will also serve as a preventive.
The problem with using water with lemon or vinegar is that if we spray it, we can stress the rabbit, who can also be bothered by the smell. For this reason, these home remedies for fleas on rabbits can be used in emergencies, such as when we detect parasites at a time when the vet is not attending, but we must always go to the specialist. Especially if your rabbit is full of fleas, or if you are dealing with a case of fleas in puppy rabbits, these remedies will not solve the problem.
Now that you know all about the rabbit flea, don't miss the following video where we show you how to identify if a rabbit loves you:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Fleas on Rabbits - How to Detect and Eliminate Them, we recommend that you visit our Deworming and Vermifuges section.