Rabbits are sensitive pets and have delicate skin. A wild rabbit is more likely to survive a fur infestation than a domesticated bunny. The most common issue with furry animals is an attack by mites or fleas, which can be discomforting, painful, and in the case of rabbits, fatal.
Bunnies have fragile fur that can clutter and get dirty beyond compare. It can then attract various severe diseases for a poor rabbit. These little furry creatures spend most of their time in the hay, and it is a genuine concern if they can get fleas from hay.
A rabbit can get fleas from the hay only if the hay has been in contact with another animal that has fleas. It happens mostly to outdoor bunnies as their hay is accessible to unclean animals like rats, etc. However, domesticated rabbits rarely get fleas if you keep them, other pets, and your home clean.
Getting fleas from hay is rare for a pet rabbit as its owner will take care of bringing clean hay into the house. However, there can be accidents where your hay can get fleas.
If you have other pets with fleas, they can infest your rabbit’s hay or your rabbit’s fur with direct contact. Fleas are fatal for your rabbit if you do not treat your bunny immediately. Keep reading to learn how to take care of a bunny with fleas.
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How Can Your Rabbit Contract Fleas?
Rabbits are small animals with plenty of fur on their skin. They are perfect for fleas to lay eggs, bite, and grow.
Fleas do not care whether it is a dog, cat, or rabbit when jumping onto a delicious-looking living being. These insects can even haunt you if you do not prevent your rabbits from catching fleas.
Here are some common ways domesticated rabbits can catch fleas:
Outdoor Time
When you get a rabbit as a pet, you will notice it loves to hop and oom around your house. Providing your rabbit with the best place for physical activity is to let it play in the backyard.
However, the yard is an open place with various harmful insects. Your rabbits can contract fleas during playtime outdoors. However, keeping your yard clean and parasite-free can prevent it.
Hitchhiking
The most common way your pet rabbit can get fleas is because fleas are great hitchhikers.
These tiny ruthless parasites can get attached to your clothing and enter your house without a clue. Furthermore, fleas can jump high and far. A flea can enter your house through an open door and find your rabbit’s silky smooth fur to lay eggs.
Other Pets
Another way your pet rabbit can catch fleas is through their furry friends. If you have other animals at home, like dogs or cats, that have a flea infestation, chances are high that your bunny will be a victim too.
As mentioned before, fleas can jump far and high. The inconvenient, unwanted house guests can jump from your other family pets to your poor bunny and cause severe discomfort.
Fleas Carry Fatal Viruses for Your Rabbit
Fleas are a dangerous ordeal for your poor bunny rabbit. Bunnies are fragile creatures and can face fatality concerns when not treated for anything causing them harm.
When it comes to fleas, these pesty beings carry deadly viruses for your rabbit that can kill your bunny if not treated immediately.
Fleas carry two lethal viruses for your rabbit:
Myxomatosis
Myxo can be spread through fleas and cause tumor-like substances on your poor precious bunny’s face and limbs. It is a painful experience for your bunny and can kill your furry friend within days.
This virus is 99% fatal for bunnies and has no vaccination yet. The good thing is that myxo cannot attack humans so you will be safe. However, your rabbit will not be.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
RHD can reach your rabbit via a flea infestation. Your rabbit will have a red nose due to bleeding, loss of appetite, fever, and respiratory and nervous system issues.
RHD is a fatal disease and can kill your bunny within hours or days. Your bunny will not get well on its own accord, so do not wait. Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your bunny of having fleas.
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Signs of Flea Infestation in Your Precious Furry Friend
As soon as your pet rabbit contracts fleas, it will show frantic signs as the parasites will discomfort your furry baby. However, there is a chance your rabbit will not show any signs of a flea infestation. You must check for odd behaviors and unusual skin appearance in your rabbit to know if fleas are bothering your furry buddy.
Here are common signs of a flea infestation in a rabbit:
Your Rabbit Will Bite Its Skin
As self-groomers, rabbits lick and nibble their fur all the time. It might be challenging to notice if your rabbit is itching or just grooming itself.
However, rabbits rarely bite themselves as a grooming ritual. If you observe your precious furry friend biting its skin, your rabbit is itching like crazy and needs to see the vet.
Presence of Flea Dirt
Flea eggs are hard to spot due to their size and color. However, fleas leave dirt and dry blood on the fur of animals, which is easier to spot.
If you see an unclean spot on your rabbit’s fur, wipe it off with a wet tissue. If the dirt spot turns reddish, your rabbit has fleas.
Live Fleas
You can see live fleas in your rabbit’s fur if you look for them. You can stroke your rabbit’s fur backward to part it and observe the skin. The area around the spine and neck are the perfect spots to look for fleas.
Anemia
Fleas are blood suckers and can cause blood loss in bunnies. If your rabbit has a heavy flea infestation, it can develop anemia, which can be fatal. Your precious furry baby has anemia due to ruthless fleas if your rabbit is weaker than usual and has pale gums.
Hair Loss
Your rabbit will lose its fur in patches if it has contracted fleas due to the constant itchiness and biting. Your rabbit’s appearance will look unclean and moth-ridden. Furthermore, it may also look like your rabbit has dandruff caused by scaling.
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How To Prevent Your Rabbit from Getting Fleas?
Preventing fleas in your rabbit can be tricky, as fleas are almost invisible to the naked eye. However, there are a few things that you can do to minimize your bunny rabbit’s chance of catching fleas.
You can use flea sprays and bug bombs to make your house flea-free. Furthermore, if you have carpets, you can apply boric acid on the surface to prevent fleas.
When you do these treatments for your house, ensure your bunny stays away from the sprayed areas for at least 24 hours, as these chemicals can be toxic for your rabbit and cause respiratory and other health issues.
Treatment for A Flea-Infested Poor Bunny
Most commonly, fleas attack dogs and cats, as there is more skin to cover and easy accessibility to the animal. So, naturally, people made treatment supplements for these animals.
Rabbits do not have many treatment medicines for fleas as they are unlikely to get flea infestation. However, on the off chance of a flea attack, you can give your bunny topical cat medications, mild ones like Advantage and Revolution.
It is best to administer any topic flea medication in the presence of a vet. Self-medication can further harm your bunny as you lack knowledge of animals. If you notice your bunny fighting off fleas, take it to the vet immediately.
Fleas lay plenty of eggs. So, you must keep taking your rabbit to the vet until the last egg has hatched and your vet has removed it from your poor furry baby’s skin.
Final Words
Whenever your pet gets sick, it is best not to intervene and take your furry friend to the vet. Professionals have a better idea of what they are doing than regular people. If you delay your visit to the vet, your rabbit will succumb to the flea infestation and die.
It will be a painful ordeal for your and your poor rabbit. As a pet owner, you are responsible for providing your bunny with a happy and healthy life. You must make the best decisions for your rabbit, even if it means frequent vet visits.
Bunnies are voiceless creatures and depend on you for everything they need. Give your precious furry friend loads of love, attention, and care. It is all these cute bunnies need from their owners.