Controlling Parasites in Your Rabbit Herd

Parasites are a common everyday problem in the rabbit population. Both internally and externally, our little furry friends are plagued with a host of parasitic buddies that we usually don't see and fail to deal with. Many times, the only indication that there may be a problem is our observance that an animal just isn't gaining as it should, has occasional runny stools, or has a coat that just doesn't come into prime.

To complicate matters, even when we do try to keep our herds on routine worming schedules the parasites can actually become resistant to the meds used and just go into hiding for awhile, only to reappear. In addition, not every medication works on every type of parasite, so you have to know what you're dealing with.

The best way to assess whether you have a problem or not is to collect fecal samples from around the rabbitry and take them to the vet for analysis. Then and only then will you know exactly what is going on, if anything, and get the correct information, medications, and dosages to deal with it. It's not very expensive and it's well worth the peace of mind.

So, what kinds of buggers are we up against, and what can we do? And (deeply disturbing...) can they give them to us!!!???

The information presented in the tables below is from research through books and the web, communications with professionals, and personal experience.

Use this information at your own risk! I am not a veterinarian, I have no veterinary training, and make no endorsement for suggested medications and dosages. I accept no liability for their usage. ALWAYS consult your veterinarian first.

Where Do I Buy Wormers?: Go to our LINKS page and view the Rabbit Equipment Suppliers catalogs

How Do I Convert These Dosages for My Rabbit?:

Link to Dr. Chark's Drug Dosage Calculator for Rabbits, and Measures and Conversions Table: http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rx/drugcalc.html

Common Name	Signs/Symptoms	Most Commonly Reported Medication	Can They Pass to People?
Rabbit Pinworms	very common -- failure to gain weight, loss of weight. May contribute to "Waster Syndrome" of baby rabbits. May see "grains of rice" in feces.	Piperazine 17% solution. (brand name Wazine 17) -- about 4/10 of a tsp. per 2 - 3 lb. rabbit. Repeat in 10 days. Not considered safe for rabbits under 2 lbs. rotate (every few months) with: Fenbendazole: for 5 days (Fenbendazole is sold as horse paste wormer and comes in a tube. The dosage is difficult/impossible to measure accurately. Just consider that one tube of horse wormer will treat a 1200 pound horse... so rabbits get VERY little. This med would be available from your vet in accurate dosage.) Also used: Mebendazole (20-50 mg/kg, one treatment) and Oxibendazole (15 mg/kg, repeated after 14 days) Ivermectin (.44 mg/kg) is said to kill adult pinworms, but not ova. One or more follow-up treatments at ten day intervals are said to be necessary to control pinworm infestation with ivermectin. (Caution!** Ivermectin can kill the rabbit in high doses. Be sure you are measuring correctly.)	Potentially but uncommon. Be sure to wash hands and change clothes, especially after cleaning cages.

Roundworms including whipworms and stomach worms	uncommon -- failure to gain, loss of weight. May see segments in feces.	The type of med used depends on the type of worm. Piperazine 17% Solution (Wazine 17) -- 220 mg/kg -- repeat in 14 days Possibly Ivermectin: 0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg. Use caution! Ivermectin can kill the rabbit in very high doses (per instance: 200-400 mg/kg is a lethal dose. Make sure you are measuring correctly!) Also used for Roundworms in rabbits: Fenbendazole (10-20 mg/kg, repeated after 10-14 days) Menbendazole (20-50 mg/kg)	Potentially but uncommon -- larval form could be dangerous to children

Tapeworms	uncommon -- related to having dogs in the rabbitry -- the rabbit is an intermediate host. Loss of weight.	Praziquantel: 5-10 mg/kg, subcutaneously, to be repeated after 10 days.	Most likely to get tapeworms from contaminated dog feces, not rabbits.


Common Name	Signs/Symptoms	Most Commonly Reported Medication	Can It Pass to People?

Coccidia	Pot belly, slowed growth, loss of weight, rough hair coat, diarrhea. Coccidia are commonly present in all rabbits' systems. When the immune system is compromised, coccidia can flourish and multiply.. Subsequent dehydration and secondary bacterial infection are main causes of death.	Sulfamethozine, Trimethoprim (from vet) Sulfaquinoxaline (at rabbit supply companies), at the rate of 0.04% in the drinking water for two weeks. Also used: Sulfadimethoxine (brand name Albon) You can find the generic form at the farm store. These meds may also be used: Salinomycin, Diclazuril, Toltrazil	Coccidia is a species-specific protozoa. The rabbit variety will not cross to humans.

E. Cunniculi	Poor appetite, head tilt, wasting, seizures, hindquarter paralysis. General neurological dysfunction leading to death. Passed through the urine of infected animals.	There is presently no agreed upon treatment for E.C. Some success has been reported in treating early stage cases with Ivermectin, and some studies have been completed using Fenbendazole. Strict sanitation and culling of suspected carriers is in order to control spread of the disease. See Barbi Brown's article on E.C. on the LINKS table below. I personally have had some luck in treating (what I suspected to be) E.C. when caught in the very early stages, using Ivomec. E. van Praag, Ph.D., (MediRabbit site) informed me that she has assisted in in-vivo tests where the E. cuniculi parasites "grew nicely" in the presence of Ivermectin in various concentrations, so she does not believe in treating the condition with Ivermectin. She believes the physical effect is due to the presence of unnoticed ear mites, or self-healing of inner ear infection. She does support the use of Fenbendazole and Oxibendazole.	I have been informed that E.C. has been found to affect humans, and in the past has been a problem with immuno-depressed persons (AIDS).


*Common Name*	*Signs/Symptoms*	*Commonly Reported Treatment*	*Can it pass to Humans?*

Fur mites	Dandruff, flaking, sores -- especially on the neck and back of the rabbit. Positive I.D. through skin scrapings under microscope.	Ivermectin (Brand name Ivomec, pig wormer) 0.4 mg/kg, 3 times, 10 - 14 days apart. (one reported dosage = 1/10 of one cc of a 1% solution -- repeat at 10 days and again at 30 days.) (Another reports using 1/10 of one cc per pound of body weight, no repeat.) (Caution! Ivermectin can kill the rabbit in high dosages. *Please consult your vet for accurate and safe dosage) Also used: Moxidectin*	Yes! Use Caution.

Mange Mites	Scratching, licking, fur loss, crusty scabs.	Ivermectin 0.4 mg/kg, 3 times, 14 days apart	Yes! Use caution.

Ear Mites	Shaking head, head tilt, scabs in ears, scratching ears.	Ivermectin 0.4 mg/kg, 3 times, 10 -14 days apart. Also used: Cat ear mite medicine... follow directions for drops into the ears. Also used: Selamectin, 18 mg/kg, repeated after 30 days	?

Bot Fly / Warbles	Lump under skin. On inspection you will see a hole in the center where the larvae entered.	Clip fur from area, sterilize with rubbing alcohol or iodine. Remove larvae with tweezers (may have to make a small incision to grasp the larvae). Treat with antibiotics to guard against secondary infection. Deeper infestation will require anesthesia and surgical removal.	Rare instances have been reported, but directly from the flies -- not from other animals.

Ticks	Scratching. Sighting ticks on the rabbit.	Remove with forceps, treat with Ivermectin: 0.4 mg/kg Some sources suggest Pyrethrin based powders or sprays.	Yes.

Fleas	Scratching, fur loss, loss of weight. Sighting fleas, especially around ears, nose, eyes.	Three meds that have been cited: Selamectin, 18 mg/kg, one dosage, may be repeated in 30 days. Imidaclopramid, one dosage, may be repeated in 30 days. Lufenuron, 10 mg/kg, one dosage, may be repeated in 30 days. Some sources recommend Pyrethrin based powders or sprays. Do NOT use Frontline -- rabbit deaths have been reported. NEVER use a flea collar!	Yes.

*Rabbit Diseases>Parasitic Diseases* (Graphic) MU College of Vet Med	E.C.: Cause of Unexplained Neurologic Disease? by Jeffrey Jenkins, DVM, on the Dr. Exotic site
*Fur Loss and Skin Problems in Rabbits* by Dana Krempel on the House Rabbit Society of Miami site	*Barbi Brown's article on Wry Neck and E.C.* on her site, Barbi Brown's Bunnies
	Common Mites of Rabbits and Their Treatment by Esther van Praag, Ph.D., on the MediRabbit site.