Ear mite infestations cause typical changes to the ears; accumulation of a light brown crusty material that fills or nearly fills the external ear canal. The underlying tissues are usually very raw and irritated. In especially severe cases, lesions from the infestation may spread to adjacent areas of the head. The infestation may be treated with a topical preparation, although an injectable medication has proven highly successful in the treatment of this condition.
Cheyletiella Skin Mange ("Walking Dandruff") a parasitic infestation of the skin by the Cheyletiella mange mite can become a problem with rabbits. Very often large clumps of hair will detach. Also, noticeable are a dried scale and dandruff within the fur of the rabbit. Rabbits may or may not display increased scratching with this infestation. Treatment is relatively easy with an injectable drug along with a medicated shampoo to get rid of the mites and clear up any lesions.
Giardiasis is a very serious and potentially fatal disease of the intestines. Found mostly in young, recently purchased rabbits, Giardiasis must be treated very aggressively by a veterinarian with appropriate medication. Also vital to recovery is supportive care such as fluids, nutritional support, and heat. Rabbits infected with the Giardia parasite show very abnormal feces, dehydration, lethargy, and low body temperature. This is another reason that buying a rabbit from an unknown source (a pet store) is usually not a good idea. A visit to the veterinarians office shortly after acquiring your new pet for an examine including a fecal sample is a great idea.
Fleas can plague rabbits even if they share no space with a dog or cat. A few summers ago, I did find a few fleas on my rabbits. I do live in a city where fleas can be a problem. I got rid of them using a product called Advantage. The small cat formula works well with rabbits. Empty the vial on the back of the rabbits neck so they can't lick the medicine. Keep multiple rabbits seperated for 24 hours after treatment so they don't groom each other and lick off the medicine too. This treatment lasts for one month and is the best way to get rid of fleas. Other than that, any of the over the counter powders made for cats can also be used for rabbits. Manufacturers consider the fact that cats, like rabbits, constantly clean themselves, so these products should not be a problem. A flea collar should never be used on a rabbit.
Rabbits can become infected with Coccidiosis, a one celled parasite, by consuming food and/or water infected with contaminated feces. Symptoms may include diarrhea, loss of appetite, failure to gain weight, soft to watery feces, mucus and/or blood in the feces, soiled anal area, dehydration, and even death. Coccidiosis can be treated with sulfa antibiotics but it is sometimes difficult to obtain a cure. It is very important that this disease be prevented for obvious reasons.
Pinworm infections are rarely discovered unless routine fecal examinations are carried out. These worms live within the bowel and rarely cause the rabbit any distress. Pinworm elimination is a bit difficult because several treatments and intermittent fecal examinations are necessary. This parasite is not transmissible to people.