Inner/middle ear infection – how often would a rabbit shake his head?

[Quartz]

I took my bun to a vet a month ago for flaky rear ears which he scratched at periodically.  The vet suspected that the flake pattern looked like mites, so I got a prescription for 3 doses of Revolution.  The vet said that normally those kinds of mites are not itchy, so it might be something else that’s causing my bun to scratch his ears.  

Recently, about a week and a half ago, my bun’s been increasingly wary of things in the evenings.  His hearing seems to be present, and eyesight, so I can write that off to new smells from somewhere or sounds or who knows what.  But what also concerns me is that he’s started shaking his ears every once in a while, like turning his head side to side quickly in a quick back and forth shake.  I don’t know if it’s a symptom of ear infection or just excitement or irritation.  I suspect another vet visit is going to happen if I see any worsening.

The flaking has not really been helped by 2 doses of Revolution so far, so it’s possible that’s just eczema.  But I don’t know how to explain the ear shaking.

My question is: if a rabbit has an inner ear infection–would he shake his head frequently once symptoms appear?  Or infrequently?  Mine only does it every once in a while.  I’ve also read stuff about involuntary eye movement and tilt, and there’s nothing like that present.  He’s well-coordinated, no asymmetry in normal positions of his head/face that I can notice.  He doesn’t tooth-chatter to indicate discomfort.  He only does tooth-purring when I pet him, which he’s still fine with.

He’s actually been molting a lot, and for the past two days my significant other has been helping me hold him, while I brush out oodles of loose fur from his sides and bum.

[Benthebunny]

Could there be a hair in his ear from moulting?

[Kim]

Quartz,

This maybe an odd question but how is your bunny walking? Is he up and playing normal an walking straight and doing binkies? Or is he falling over on to one side? Basically walking around like he is drunk? IF that is the case, he MAY have ear mites, Psoroptes cuniculi, and MAY need antibiotics and an ear drop.

I am going through this right now with my bunny

[Q8bunny]

With an ear infection the vet should be able to use an otoscope to spot discharge (either wet or crusty). I’d visit vet again. Two doses of Revolution means two months – your bun got slammed with the stuff so the mites itching should have resolved somewhat. Moulting can cause hairs to enter the ears and tickle but I’m guessing your bun’s moult hasn’t gone on that long?? Or has he? Diaper rash cream (the plain stuff) is often great for flaky bun skin. But I’d still see the vet. Good luck with the itchy antennas to your little guy.

[Quartz]

Posted By Kim on 9/27/2016 9:35 PM
Quartz,

This maybe an odd question but how is your bunny walking? Is he up and playing normal an walking straight and doing binkies? Or is he falling over on to one side? Basically walking around like he is drunk? IF that is the case, he MAY have ear mites, Psoroptes cuniculi, and MAY need antibiotics and an ear drop.

I am going through this right now with my bunny

He’s still well-coordinated, absolutely nothing off in his movement patterns. He does his speedy morning zooms well, bending around tight corners with ease.

[Quartz]

Posted By Q8bunny on 9/27/2016 9:38 PM
With an ear infection the vet should be able to use an otoscope to spot discharge (either wet or crusty). I’d visit vet again. Two doses of Revolution means two months – your bun got slammed with the stuff so the mites itching should have resolved somewhat. Moulting can cause hairs to enter the ears and tickle but I’m guessing your bun’s moult hasn’t gone on that long?? Or has he? Diaper rash cream (the plain stuff) is often great for flaky bun skin. But I’d still see the vet. Good luck with the itchy antennas to your little guy.

Thank you for the cream suggestion–I’ll try that soon after his third Revolution dose. The vet did look into his ears and said they looked clean inside. He did not take any samples for microscope analysis, just visual examination. At that time it was an annual physical exam and I had expressed concerns about his flaky ears, which is when I got the Revolution doses. During his exam everything but the flaky skin was completely normal.

He’s been molting for a few weeks now–his back has molted, and it’s just his sides and bum that are majorly molting now. It’s been a gradual process with the molting line moving progressively down. I can pluck out oodles of loose fur.

The rear of his ears have been flaky since I adopted him months ago (and a very little fine flakey bit around some of the front ear edges, barely there). Never any scabs or reddening, just big flakes of skin. I tried massaging them off gently with a soft tooth brush and followed with a damp cotton towel wipe, which made his scaly areas slightly better. Not sure if I should do it again.

[Kim]

Thats good to hear that he is not walking and falling.

(((((Quartz)))))

[LBJ10]

A bunny with an ear infection may not shake their head at all. Each bun is different and each infection is different. Bunnies are very good at walling off infections. Sometimes they can have a pretty bad one for a long time with no noticeable symptoms because the infection is encapsulated.

[Author]

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