How to check for fleas and under the rabbit as well as under its chin

[sedge101]

So I only just recently got my rabbit and previously we owned a cat, we let the cat outside and it just vanished but the cat did have fleas and they were a huge problem to say the least, me and my parents just couldn’t control the fleas no matter what we tried. However 2-3 months after our cat had been missing there was a significant decrease in the amount of fleas that were in our home. After sometime it felt like they were completely gone, no evidence of them ever being in our home, no biting, no nothing. And that’s when I thought it would be an ideal time to get a new pet.

So I got the rabbit a few days ago, maybe 4 or 5 and everything seems fine, however, there has been some itching and licking which doesn’t fill me up with confidence. When I got my rabbit I intended for it to only be in my room, since I knew for a fact my room had no fleas. But one day after I got back from school I saw that my rabbit wasn’t in its cage, it turned out that my dad had decided to take it into his room for some ‘company’. now, they claimed that they also haven’t been bit by a flea in a while, ensuring me that I had nothing to worry about, though I still got my rabbit out of the room as fast as possible.

And now I personally feel like my rabbit could potentially have fleas, every-time she itches or licks herself I get so paranoid and scared because I remember the pain and suffering that my cat had to go through but as far as I know its even more fatal for a rabbit to be contaminated with fleas since they have a very ‘sensitive immune system’ and can get very serious, life threatening diseases. On top of all of that Its generally not nice to be in a room filled with fleas for myself, its incredibly stressful and annoying (I speak with experience)

Since again, I have quite a bit of experience with fleas I know they have a tenancy to stay under the animal they’re feeding on, since its warmer and more convenient for them. But the only problem is my rabbit gets so shook when I even try to touch her chin let alone putting a flea comb there, she doesn’t bite me but I can see that shes very anxious and scared. I understand that maybe if I form a better bond with her that she may allow me to check her more thoroughly and really make sure there is nothing going on, but as you may know fleas rise in numbers insanely quickly which means I don’t have time, for all I know in a week there might be 100’s of fleas along with 1000’s of larvae. I don’t want to put my rabbit through torture by holding it against its fill since its probably going to make it more aggressive and defensive (keep in mind that it already is quite territorial for a 3 month rabbit.) 

I’m in a very difficult position at the minute and its quite hard to make a move, a lot of the solutions I have seem to be outweighed by the negative affects they will have. Any tips or help would be very much appreciated since I still am an amateur to rabbits. If any more information is needed let me know and sorry for the longish essay. 

[Bam]

You can use Revolution (selamectin) on a rabbit. It’s very bunny safe. There have been reports of fleas being resistent to selamectin in some parts of the world though, so if you don’t get the result you are hoping for, you might have to try Advantage (imidaclopride) – but that too is bunny safe. Revolution is prescription only in most countries except Australia. It’s a spot-on preparation, you treat 23 times with about 2-3 weeks in between. Advantage too is a spot on. Use dosage for kittens.

With cat fleas, you have to treat the environment. Thorough cleaning and possibly spray places where pupaes and larvae can hide. There are sprays containing permethrin, permethrin is not really considered safe to use on a bunny, but you should only treat the environment, then air the place out.

You can treat with Revolution on suspicion of fleas, ie even if you don’t happen to find actual fleas on the bun, which in your case seems tricky and stressful.

[Author]

Messages