Flea prevention and treatment are important for all pets. But for rabbits, this can be more difficult. Topical treatments can work, but are now always available depending on where you live. Treating other animals, your home, and yard for fleas are the best flea prevention methods. For flea treatment, tick baths using dish soap is one of the better methods. Consulting a veterinarian for either flea prevention or treatment is another tested and true method to keep your rabbit healthy.
1. Give Your Rabbit Dish Soap Baths
Caring for a pet rabbit is different than other pets, but flea treatment is still a must. Unfortunately, it’s much easier to prevent fleas than to treat them. But if you do find fleas on your rabbit, the safest method of treatment is a flea bath using dish soap and a flea comb. Dawn, the dish soap brand, is safe for topical use on rabbits and other small mammals. Do not use flea shampoos for cats or dogs, as these contain ingredients that could harm your rabbit.
Rabbits shouldn’t ordinarily be given baths since they strip their skin of essential oils, much like cats. Baths are also a very stressful experience for rabbits, who are less hardy than other mammals when dealing with prolonged periods of anxiety. However, a flea bath is marginally less stressful for rabbits than a traditional bath.
Place your rabbit in a bathtub or large sink with a towel down for traction. Fill a bowl with the dish soap and warm water; the water should be bubbly or sudsy. Dip a flea comb into the water, making sure to gather some of the bubbles and soap. Comb your rabbit from head to tail, including the neck and behind the ears.
Continue dipping the flea comb in the soapy water before and after brushing your rabbit. The soapy water should kill any fleas that comb off the comb. After, rinse your rabbit with warm water to remove the suds. Towel dry your rabbit and, if necessary, use a blow dryer to prevent colds or chills.
If there are only a few fleas, one or two baths should work. If there is evidence of an infestation, you may need to give your rabbit baths for several days. Make sure to treat your rabbit’s enclosure so that your bun is returned to a flea-free environment.
2. Use a Topical Treatment (If Available)
Topical flea treatments are a liquid placed on your rabbit’s skin (between the shoulders) that kills fleas throughout their lifecycle. Unfortunately, topical treatments are not widely tested or approved for rabbits. Additionally, many topical treatments that are safe for dogs and cats contain ingredients that are dangerous for rabbits. Side effects of using an unsafe topical treatment could include seizures and even death.
The availability of topical flea treatments safe for rabbits varies by country. Revolution, which also known as Stronghold, is available in the United Kingdom. Advantage by Bayer (not Advantage II) is also available in select countries. Topical treatments in the U.S. are more difficult to source, especially over-the-counter.
Flea collars, another topical treatment option, are similarly unsafe for rabbits. The treatment dosage will likely be too high for a rabbit, even if you use a collar for cats. Additionally, given how delicate a rabbit’s neck is, collars in general are not recommended.
3. Treat Other Animals in the Home
Proactively treating the other animals in your home is one of the best ways to keep your rabbit safe from fleas. There are many over-the-counter and prescription flea treatment options for dogs and cats, two of the most common pets. Topical and oral options are also available.
One of the primarily ways that fleas reach your rabbit is by hitching a ride on other animals. Your dog, for example, could pick up fleas in the yard, on a walk, or even a trip to the pet store. If possible, other pets should be treated for fleas regardless since fleas can carry diseases can cause illnesses such as rashes and anemia. Fleas can also shorten your rabbit’s natural lifespan.
However, treating other animals in the home is not always possible. Birds and reptiles are two examples of pets that cannot be easily treated for fleas. If your other pets cannot be proactively treated for fleas, then refer to the next section for home treatment options.
4. Regularly Treat Your Home and Yard
Proactively treating your home and yard to prevent fleas is one of the best methods to protect your rabbit. Typically, treatment should be applied annually. You’ll need to make sure to treat both your rabbit’s enclosure (indoor and/or outdoor) and the surrounding environment (your house and yard). This is important since many rabbit enrichment activities involve indoor and outdoor spaces. Treating all spaces prevents the fleas from temporarily moving and then returning to your rabbit.
In your home, vacuuming and washing fabrics regularly both help prevent fleas. Fleas primarily prefer to burrow down into carpets and rugs, but can also hide in bedding, curtains, and even stuffed toys. Using flea bombs or an ozone generator are two more aggressive treatment options, but all animals must be removed from the house first.
There are many commercial flea treatment options for your yard, but these can be dangerous for rabbits that have outdoor runs. Instead, try ringing your rabbit’s outdoor enclosure with diatomaceous earth. Alternatively, vinegar (apple cider or regular) and neem oil are reportedly effective at driving away fleas and are still safe for rabbits to be around in diluted quantities.
Make sure to check the ingredients of anything you use in your home or yard. Ingredients such as permethrin, amitraz, pennyroyal, fipronil, selamectin, pyrethroids, and pyrethrin can be dangerous and should be avoided. Essential oils are similarly dangerous and should be avoided.
Whatever treatment method you use, make sure it does not come into contact with your rabbit, either topically or through ingestion. For example, flea powders, which are a popular treatment method, could be licked off a carpet and harm your rabbit.
5. Consult Your Veterinarian
If you find fleas on your rabbit, consult a veterinarian as a precaution. A veterinarian can examine your rabbit and identify any negative side effects. If necessary, a vet can also recommend treatment options. This can be especially useful if your rabbit is suffering from an infestation, which could cause more serious symptoms. If topical flea treatments are available in your country, your vet will also be able to recommend or prescribe them.
The treatment methods mentioned in this article may not be suitable for very young or very old rabbits. This makes a vet’s insight even more important. Similarly, if your rabbit has an pre-existing conditions, you will need to consult a vet before treatment. Vets can also tell the difference between fleas, ticks, and mites, in case you are unsure.
Rabbits count as exotic pets, so make sure to find an exotic veterinarian near you. Becoming established with an exotic vet and taking your rabbit in for annual wellness checks are best practices for rabbit care. Having an established vet practice will also help your rabbit if you need to quickly make an appointment.
