The rabbit's ears are very sensitive. If earwax or other substances accumulate inside them, they can become a perfect environment for the proliferation of mites and bacteria. In theory, cleaning rabbit ears is very simple; you just need a simple cleaning solution and a little effort. However, the procedure can be complex: if the animal is uncomfortable, scared or in pain, it may try to bite, kick or scratch to free itself. These reactions could cause injury to you and the rabbit itself; You must therefore build trust with the rodent before using the correct materials and methods to clean their ears.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Rabbit
Step 1. Keep it quiet
Cleaning a rabbit's ears, especially if they are blocked by some accumulation of secretion, can be a painful and frightening operation; it is important to establish a good friendly relationship with the animal, so that it remains calm.
- Before cleaning, remove the pet from the cage and play with it.
- Get used to your touch. Caress it gently trying to gradually get closer to the head and ears; in this way, the rabbit adapts to being touched and you do not run the risk of catching it by surprise.
- Grab it to get it used to being held back.
- These rodents do not generally like to be lifted off the ground, so avoid picking them up and carrying them around.
Step 2. Hold the rabbit
When frightened, these little mammals can injure themselves because their first instinct is to run or escape. For this reason, it is vital to maintain a good grip when having your furry friend undergo some procedure. When preparing to clean their ears, consider these factors:
- Have another person your pet trusts hold it while you clean its ears.
- While the rabbit is on the table, surround it with one arm to keep it still, but do not squeeze it down; you can tilt your torso towards the animal to keep it from jumping but don't apply pressure, otherwise you will only trigger its instinct to flee.
- If your furry friend trusts you and is calm, he may even stay on the table and you will just have to hold his ears while you clean them.
- If he is too upset, consider cleaning up later to save him further stress and prevent him from hurting himself.
Step 3. Be gentle
The ears of these animals are very, very sensitive. Always remember to be very careful when caring for a rabbit and its ears.
When cleaning, it is recommended that you grasp each pinna carefully, typically using your index finger and thumb
Step 4. Recognize the signs of stress
If the animal starts kicking, drumming, biting, scratching, or screaming, it may be too nervous to cooperate. Gently put him back in his cage or pen until he calms down and try the procedure again when he is more peaceful.
Other signs of stress are: staying still, arching with the ears close to the body, aggressive attitudes, restlessness, labored breathing, attempts to hide and restlessness
Method 2 of 3: Clean the Ears
Step 1. Gently take the ear
When the rabbit is comfortable and in a safe environment, hold his sensitive ear between thumb and forefinger; do not grasp it in the central area, to avoid touching the extremely delicate tip and the ear canal.
- During this first phase, your goal is to identify signs of irritation or obstruction; you can use a small stylus flashlight to look inside the ear canal.
- You can also try to manipulate the ear with extreme care to observe the inner walls.
Step 2. Remove the residue with a pair of tweezers
If you can see any accumulated material, such as earwax or mite remains, try removing the larger pieces; if they are stuck deep or sticking to the skin, avoid tearing or pinching them.
Never push earwax or dirt deeply; the debris could penetrate deeply into the ear canal and cause an infection
Step 3. Moisten an applicator and use the cleaning solution
Once you've got all the loose debris out, you need to apply a product to your ear. There are many home remedies and commercial products, remember to read the label carefully and discuss with your vet to make sure they are suitable for your little furry friend. The three home solutions are:
- Honey. Mix one teaspoon of honey with two of hot (not hot!) Water. Drop two or three drops of this solution into your ear and massage to make them penetrate. Do the procedure twice a day for three days and then move on to a daily application. The ears should be clean within a week.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Wet a cotton ball or cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide and use it to scrub the inside of the ear. Do this cleaning twice a day until your ears start to improve. Monitor the skin of the pinna and ear canal as it may dry out; if so, massage it with mineral, seed or olive oil after each application to avoid cracking and dryness.
- Olive oil. Massage the ears with about 15ml of oil twice a day until they are clean.
- Warning: the effectiveness of these home methods is not proven, so it would be safer to use commercial products specially formulated for rabbits (in some cases, only on the advice of the veterinarian, it is possible to use products for cats).
Step 4. Gently rub the pinna moving from the inside out
When the solution starts to work, the accumulated material comes off. Gently wipe the rabbit's ears with a paper towel or soft tissue to get rid of any debris that could cause further infection.
Step 5. Avoid contaminating your ears again
Mites, dirt and infections have numerous causes; however, it is important to keep the animal's den in perfect hygienic conditions, to avoid new infestations.
- Clean the cage or enclosure using a cleaning solution when the rabbit is not inside.
- Remember to change your food and water bowls often.
- Always remove dirty substrate.
Method 3 of 3: Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Disease
Step 1. Recognize a healthy ear
The ears of rabbits are different according to the breed and age of the specimen; however, when they are in good health, they should be clean. Generally, they are pinkish and in some breeds it is possible to see the veins running through them.
Step 2. Watch out for infections
A rabbit suffering from it tends to scratch its head, to tilt it, not to eat, to show signs of pain and has secretions that come out of the ears. Otitis can be very serious and should be treated by a veterinarian.
If the infection causes yeast pustules (raised pimples with a whitish head) to form, you can clean the rabbit's ears using the methods described above. However, you should still have the pet referred to a veterinarian to prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection
Step 3. Identify ear mites
These parasites are quite common among rabbits and can be recognized without difficulty. Symptoms include the visible presence of insects, scabs and accumulation of earwax.
The ears are swollen and red, the animal may often shake its head or scratch its ears
Step 4. Look out for buildup of earwax or fungal material
Another frequent ailment among these rodents is the excess of earwax or yeast that causes the ears to cover the ears with yellowish flakes or waxy substance. You can clean these secretions using the methods described in the second part of the article.
Your vet may prescribe a topical ointment if the problem persists
Warnings
- Always refer to your vet if you have any questions, concerns, or if the rabbit's health condition deteriorates.
- You should consider quarantining infected birds if you have more than one rabbit to avoid spreading mites or disease.
