My rabbit keeps twitching in her cage, like there's something on her. What could it be?

Question

She just twitches and shakes her head to the side like she's trying to shake something off, and sometimes she starts scratching after. It almost seems like she thinks something is after her. Could she have mites or something?

Answer 1

Fleas
Rabbits which are seen to display symptoms of discomfort and irritation making them scratch, may be infested with fleas. These tend to cluster around the head, and particularly the neck, where the dark spots of their excreta may be noticed. Fleas can be destroyed by the application of an insecticide powder available from a veterinary surgery or pet shop. Make sure that none gets into the rabbit's eyes.
Fleas reproduce by laying eggs in the host animal's bedding, or on the floor. It is therefore impossible to eradicate them without burning every last straw of the bedding and the floor litter, scrubbing out the hutch and the grazing ark and thoroughly sluicing down all other areas in use. Any crack can harbour the eggs, and in a few days - two to twelve in summer, longer in winter - the larvae will emerge, and the life cycle begins again.
The rabbit flea has achieved some notoriety over the last twenty-five years as carrier of the virus that causes myxomatosis. During an outbreak the great majority of tame rabbits are safe. Veterinary advice should be taken about any felt to be at risk on account of the proximity of wild rabbits. An injection of vaccine will give immunity within three days and last approximately one year.

Lice
Similar discomfort, and scratching, is caused by an infestation of lice. Unlike fleas, lice lay their eggs - known as nits - in the fur of the animal host. The eggs are white and secured to the fur by a natural adhesive. They show up particularly well on dark-coated rabbits, but will be noticed on any fur during grooming.
Lice can also be destroyed by a specially prepared insecticide powder supplied by a veterinary surgeon. It is effective, however, only when the maker's instructions are followed exactly. Several applications are necessary to eliminate the succeeding generations of lice emerging from the nits.

Mites
Rabbits are frequently troubled by several different mites. The ear mite can cause a condition generally known as ear mange, or car canker. Any rabbit showing symptoms of irritation and distress that make it scratch the ears and shake the head, or those with a powdery brown matter in the ears need prompt veterinary treatment.
Forage and harvest mites also attack rabbits. They burrow into the skin and set up an area of intense irritation that the rabbit will scratch until it is raw. This condition, usually known as mange, must also receive veterinary treatment.

Ticks
Sometimes ticks attach themselves to rabbits and feed on their blood for several days. Once fully engorged, the ticks will drop off naturally, but they cannot be pulled off whole while still alive. The head remains firmly embedded in position. They can be killed by cutting off their air supply for about thirty minutes with a smear of vaseline, fat or butter. Afterwards it is possible to pull them away cleanly using a pair of tweezers.

Good luck

Answer 2

It could be a couple of things:

1.) As some people mentioned, she could have ear mites. Another term for ear mites is ear canker. The vet could give her a shot of Ivermectin that can take care of the ear mites. A shot of Ivermectin protects against almost all parasites for about a month. The home remedy for getting rid of ear mites is to suffocate them with some kind of oil like mineral oil. The best and easiest home remedy method is to get a can of WD-40 with the little red tube and spray about 1-2 half second squirts in each ear while covering her eyes with your hand. Use the tube to get the spray down inside the ear. Once you've sprayed allow the rabbit to shake the ear mites out. Ear mites look like black scabs in the ear sometimes mixed with what looks like a ton of crusty ear wax. It may take 2-3 applications over several days to get rid of the ear mites completely.

2.) The rabbit could also possibly have an ear infection. This is more likely if your rabbit has just recently had a cold or respiratory problem. Feel around the base of the ears. One sign of an ear infection is the base of the ears feeling slightly warmer than normal.

3.) Fur mites or fleas could be another possibility. Although they normally won't cause a rabbit to twitch like that. Fur mites will normally produce a while flaky stuff from the rabbit that looks like dandruff. You will also normally see a think line of scabs arond the back of the neck if you pull the fur back. Fleas will look like little black specks on the fur. Some people can hardly even see them, so you might need a magnifier to look for them. They are easier to see on a rabbit with white fur or light colored fur. Fur mites are associated with ear mites so it probably isn't a bad idea to have your rabbit given a shot of Ivermectin.

One note regarding the ear mites. Don't knock any of the scabs loose, you do not want them falling down into the ear canal, that can be very hazardous to your rabbit. That's why it's better to use WD-40 and let the rabbit shake them out than to use a Q-tip and mineral oil. You can accidentally knock a piece down into the ear canal with the Q-tip and that can be bad.

Be careful of the kind of bedding you use and letting your rabbit run around in the yard. A rabbit's bedding can be the prime source of where ear mites, fur mites and fleas can come from. So can your yard if you let your rabbit run around in the grass.

Ticks and lice normally aren't common on caged rabbits.

Answer 3

Yes i think she has ear mites. I have a rabbit Daisy she is two years old now. She began twitching and scratching profusely one day and when i checked her ear it has a white crust outside the lobe. We went to the vet and removed the crust and had an xray inside the ear I was astounded by what I saw. Hundreds of little mites feeding on her red and swollen flesh. The vet gave her an injection to kill the ba*tards once w week for three weeks. We have a follow-uo checkup after a month and every two months after that. Shes mites free now.

Answer 4

clean out her cage thouroughly.Brush her gently with a fine toothed comb.Obtain a cat flea colar and leave it on her for a fortnight. do the combin thing every day. she will be the prettiest rabbit in town and the happiest one two.Could also be suffering from ear mites.look out at the local petstore for ear mite drops.hope she gets ok.

Answer 5

Hiya. i dont want to alarm you but maybe your rabbit has canker in the ear and that is CANKER not Cancer this makes them scratch and shake their head so maybe take her to the vet and get her checked out...it may well be she just has something aggravating her can you not get someone to hold her while you have a closer look in here ear? it may be something you are able to remove for her like a tiny bit of her bedding . i hope she is fine xx

Answer 6

Crack Withdrawal Symptoms. Just kidding! I have had several pet rabbits that did that and they were just fine. However, if you really are concerned about this, I would take her to a vet. If it is mites, they will be able to properly treat the rabbit. Hope that helps a little.

Answer 7

It could be ear mites. Get her checked by a vet. They will give you drops to put in her ears. Mites are transmitted on hay and straw. Little buggers! My horse gets them in his feathers and it drives him nuts too.

Answer 8

Maybe something got in her ears.

Answer 9

Have a look in her ears and see if there are any insects or dirt in there.

Answer 10

my old rabbit used to do that. its normal but just in case if you're realy worried then like check it out?