Ear Mites in Rabbits: Symptoms and Treatment

Ear mites are one of the most common parasitic infestations affecting domestic rabbits. Caused by the mite Psoroptes cuniculi, this condition is highly contagious between rabbits and causes significant pain and distress if left untreated. The good news is that it is easily diagnosed and straightforwardly treated with modern veterinary antiparasitic treatments.

What Is Psoroptes cuniculi?

Psoroptes cuniculi is a large, surface-dwelling mite that lives on the surface of the skin and in the ear canal of affected rabbits. Unlike some mites that burrow into the skin, Psoroptes lives on the surface — it pierces the skin to feed on lymphatic fluid and cellular debris, triggering intense inflammatory and immune responses in the skin.

The mite’s entire life cycle (egg → larva → nymph → adult) takes approximately 21 days and occurs entirely on the host rabbit or in the immediate environment.

How Do Rabbits Get Ear Mites?

Ear mites are spread through:

• Direct contact between rabbits — infested rabbits pass mites during grooming, sleeping together, and close proximity
• Indirect contact via the environment — mites can survive off the host for several days in bedding, hay, and hutch materials
• From mother to kits — the most common route of initial infestation in young rabbits

Importantly, Psoroptes cuniculi does NOT infest humans or dogs, but it can potentially infest cats temporarily, and all rabbits in a shared household must be treated simultaneously to prevent reinfection.

Symptoms: What to Look For

Classic Signs of Ear Mite Infestation

• Intense scratching of the ears — the rabbit scratches at their ears repeatedly and vigorously with their hind feet
• Head shaking — frequent, persistent shaking of the head
• Thick, crusty discharge in the ears — the most characteristic sign; the ear canal and the inner ear flap fill with thick, dry, dark brown, yellowish, or greyish crusts (also called “ear canker”)
• Pain responses — flinching or crying when the ears are touched; holding the head tilted

Progression if Untreated

• Mite infestation spreads from the ears down the neck, face, and even to the legs as the rabbit scratches and then grooms other areas
• Secondary bacterial infection of the damaged skin (otitis externa and otitis media)
• Potential inner ear damage if the infection reaches the middle ear — causing permanent head tilt, balance problems, and hearing loss

What Does Normal Ear Wax Look Like?

It’s important to distinguish between normal ear wax and mite-related discharge:

• Normal ear wax: Light tan to golden-brown, minimal in quantity, slightly waxy texture, found only in the outer visible part of the ear canal
• Ear mite crusts: Much thicker, darker (dark brown, grey, or yellow-brown), present in larger quantities, can extend over the entire inner ear flap, and are associated with inflammation and redness

When in doubt, have your vet examine the ear — they can use an otoscope and, if needed, a microscope to confirm the presence of mites.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is typically made through:

• Visual examination with an otoscope — the vet can see the mites moving in the ear canal
• Microscopy — a small scraping of the ear discharge is examined under a microscope to confirm mites and eggs

Treatment

Modern treatment for Psoroptes cuniculi is highly effective. The most commonly used treatments are:

Selamectin (Revolution / Stronghold)

A prescription topical antiparasitic applied to the skin at the back of the neck. This is widely considered the treatment of choice for rabbit ear mites — it is highly effective, easy to administer, and safe. It requires 2 applications, typically 4 weeks apart, to cover the full mite lifecycle.

Ivermectin

Available as a topical or injectable form. Effective against Psoroptes, though less convenient than selamectin. Must be prescribed by a vet — dosing in rabbits differs from other species.

Imidacloprid/Moxidectin (Advocate)

Another topical option that has shown effectiveness against ear mites in rabbits.

IMPORTANT: Never use any flea treatment intended for dogs or cats on a rabbit without explicit veterinary prescription. Many common dog/cat products (including some Frontline formulations) are toxic to rabbits. Always consult your vet.

Why You Must NOT Remove the Crusts Yourself

One of the most common mistakes owners make is attempting to remove the thick mite crusts from the ear themselves. Do not do this. The crusts are embedded in inflamed, damaged skin. Forcing their removal causes:

• Severe pain to the rabbit
• Bleeding from raw skin under the crusts
• Risk of introducing further bacterial infection into the broken skin

Once treatment is administered, the crusts will soften and loosen naturally over 2–4 weeks and can be gently removed as they separate on their own. Your vet may apply a small amount of olive oil or veterinary ear cleaner to soften them.

Environmental Decontamination

Since mites can survive temporarily in the environment, thoroughly clean and disinfect the rabbit’s enclosure during treatment:

• Remove and replace all bedding and hay
• Clean all surfaces with a rabbit-safe disinfectant (F10, diluted Milton)
• Wash all fleece mats, blankets, and soft furnishings on a hot cycle
• Repeat environmental cleaning after the second treatment dose

Regular Ear Checks: Catching It Early

Weekly ear checks as part of your grooming routine allow you to catch early infestations before they become severe. Gently fold back each ear and look inside using good lighting. You’re looking for any buildup of dark or unusual material, redness, or evidence of scratching.

The RabbitCare App (free on Android) includes weekly health check reminders that prompt you to check both ears, eyes, and the perineal area — helping you catch problems before they escalate.

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References & Sources

1. RWAF — “Ear Mites in Rabbits” — rabbitwelfare.co.uk
2. PDSA — “Rabbit Mites” — pdsa.org.uk
3. Meredith, A. & Lord, B. (Eds.) (2014) — BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine, BSAVA
4. Varga, M. (2014) — Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2nd ed., Elsevier
5. Harcourt-Brown, F. (2002) — Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, Butterworth-Heinemann