Oh No! My Rabbit Has Fleas - Everything You Need To Know

Fleas. Ugh, hearing the word almost just makes you cringe doesn’t it? Especially when you think about them being on your pet rabbit or in your home. Can rabbits even get fleas? How do you care for them if they do? What do you need to worry about as a rabbit owner? We know you’ve got questions about these gross little insects and we have answers. Keep reading to know everything you need to know if your rabbit has fleas.

What Exactly Is A Flea?

A flea is a small jumping insect that lives off of the blood of an animal, such as your rabbit. Often times once they find a host [an animal] they jump onto them and then continue to live on them and in their fur, while feeding off of their blood. Sounds pretty gross when you really get into it, right? Well, it is! And these little insects may not only be sucking your pets blood and causing them pain/itching but can also bring about other problems like certain illnesses or diseases. In very severe cases fleas can cause death.

Do Rabbits Get Fleas?

Yes! They sure do. And guess what? Fleas are no joke. Rabbits are more susceptible to getting fleas if they go outside or if there are other rabbits in the house. This is why you should be educated on how to deal with them and help prevent your pet rabbit from suffering from these vicious little creatures.

Prevention & Treatment

A regular cleaning of your home (vacuuming/steam cleaning) will help to reduce the occurrence of fleas, you can also flea bombs or other insect sprays. Just make sure to remember that when you clean your home or use a flea bomb or spray to keep your rabbits away for a good length of time or what is stated on the bottle. If you think your rabbit has fleas are some flea medicines that are ok for your pet rabbit to use but it’s best to get it prescribed by your vet.

IMPORTANT: Do not give your rabbit a flea dip bath, it can be deadly for them and cause them to go into distress.

For more in depth information on what to watch out for in your rabbit and how they can get fleas, check out this helpful article below.

Fleas Infecting the Body in Rabbit

Posted by PetMD

Fleas and Flea Infestation in Rabbits

Flea infestation occurs as the result of the common flea inhabiting the body of the rabbit and reproducing. The occurrence varies with weather conditions, and clinical signs will depend on each animal’s individual reaction to the infestation.

Because fleas feed on blood, heavy infestations may cause anemia (low hemoglobin in the blood due to loss of blood), especially in young rabbits. Rabbits can also develop a hypersensitive reaction to fleabite, with excessive scratching and itching that can sometimes lead to lesions on the skin's surface and skin infections.

Symptoms and Types

• Self-biting or chewing
• Excessive scratching, licking
• Visible bite marks or evidence of fleas (e.g., larvae, flea dirt, etc.)
• Hair loss
• Scaling on the skin
• Pale mucous membranes, increased heart rate (in anemic animals)
• Secondary bacterial infections (sometimes seen)

Causes

Fleas are more common in some climates and during particular seasons, but they can affect rabbits year-round. Moreover, fleas can jump from one pet to another, such as from dogs or cats.

Diagnosis

Although flea infestation can be easily apparent by the presence of the insects on your rabbit's body, your veterinarian may want to differentiate the insects from ear mites, skin mites, or other parasites. If your rabbit has symptoms of severe itching (biting, licking, scratching at self), your veterinarian will also want to differentiate the reaction from other allergic reactions, infections, or reactions to injections, if any have recently been given.

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