Could this be caused by ear mites (picture)

[P.O. in MO]

I noticed a couple of red spots on the ear of one of my does about a week ago. I have kept an eye on her and I have seen a couple more. I put mineral oil in her ears yesterday and today. I have been reading about ear mites today and from what I understand they start way down inside the ear and work their way up. When I look down into her ears with a flashlight all I see is healthy looking pink flesh as far as I can see. The only thing I can think of is I just trimmed her claws last week and maybe the rough edges have caused this when she scratches her ears. I have seen her shake her head occasionally as I have seen all my rabbits shake their heads occasionally. Not like something is really bothering them badly. I have screens on my windows but there are usually a few flies in my shed but they usually seem more interested in the manure pans than the rabbits. Any help appreciated.

 

[mysunwolf]

That does not look like ear mites to me. I think you're right when you guessed scratched by her nails (the injury on the bottom left looks especially like a scratch), or it could be flies (supposedly they are more attracted to white animals).

 

[P.O. in MO]

Thanks mysunwolf, anybody else seen anything like this. Flies are possible, but I have hardly any in there. Like I said, they seem more interested in the manure pans than the rabbits. And it is only the one rabbit.

 

[CDC]

I have a doe that has ear mites right now...I noticed the same thing on her ears a little while before I spotted the ear mite problem. Although I don't think that it was caused by the ear mites directly I wonder if it wasn't caused by her scratching due to ear mites that hadn't shown up yet.

 

[P.O. in MO]

A distinct possibility. I am going to keep up the mineral oil regimen to completion. It isn't that big a deal. This is a friendly doe and she comes to the cage door to be petted and I just squirt some in with an eyedropper. Got to be quick to start massaging it around before she tries to shake it out though. Thanks for the response CDC.

 

[CDC]

no problem. I wish my doe would be that easy. She sees me coming with the eye dropper and wants no part of it.

 

[mysunwolf]

CDC, do you have a photo of the ear mites? All the photos I've seen look awful and obvious, it would be nice to find one that showed a moderate infestation.

 

[CDC]

I can't seem to find a picture except for extreme cases either. I would take a picture of mine but I have been treating her and there really isn't any sign of them anymore. I will say that it is pretty obvious. If you start seeing scabs forming inside the ear at the base of the ear it is ear mites.