If we have a rabbit as a pet, we will know that they are quite delicate animals. In the case of rabbits, having a floppy ear can mean a lot. In general, lowering the ear means that for some reason they have discomfort, itching or pain in that area
In this article on our site, we want to tell you about the main reasons why a rabbit shows its floppy ears. Among them, there are different diseases that have to be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian with experience in this species. If you want to know more, keep reading this article on why my rabbit has a floppy ear
Symptoms of a sick rabbit
If we want to know if our rabbit may be sick, it is possible that even before the necessary visit to the vet for a thorough check-up, we ourselves at home can detect somesymptoms of illness or discomfort in rabbits that can give us very valuable information. Some of these symptoms are:
- Apathy, lack of movement and dynamism: the rabbit does not want to move, appears dull, without energy or desire or predisposition to do stuff.
- Starvation and lack of appetite: if we detect that the rabbit has severely altered its intake or has directly stopped eating, it may be due to some pathology that causes pain or discomfort.
- Imbalances in defecation: Whether it is excess, which we would talk about diarrhea, or lack or absence of excretions, which may indicate an intestinal arrest, that is, we would be facing a case of constipation in rabbits. We have to be alert.
- Alterations in respiratory rhythm: if we see that our rabbit is hyperventilating, with strong and very frequent breaths or that it is very difficult for him to breathe normally.
- Skin abnormalities: presence of bruises, wounds, chafing, lumps or eczema on the skin of any part of the body.
- Abnormal temperature: Fever or hypothermia.
- Watery or red eyes: with or without discharge.
- Floppy ear: One or both ears are always down or the head is tilted to one side.
- Avoid supporting your legs: Regarding postural symptoms, details such as avoiding supporting any of your legs can also alarm us.
In this other article, we explain what are the most common diseases of rabbits.
My rabbit has one droopy ear and the other doesn't - Causes
Within the diseases that have ears and rabbit ears as their symptom or objective, we find a wide variety of pathologies:
- Otitis: This is the most common cause of a droopy ear in a rabbit. It is an ear infection that can be due to different factors, which we will analyze better in the following section, dedicated specifically to otitis.
- Shope's sarcoma: One of these is the virus that causes Shope's sarcoma. This virus causes intradermal nodulations to develop that usually appear first on the ears and extremities.
- Ringworm: Ringworm also affects the hearing he alth of rabbits. This disease is caused by the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes, especially its granulated variety. Being a disease caused by fungi, different antifungals are used in its treatment.
Other causes of floppy ear in rabbits
On the other hand, the possibility should not be ignored that due to a blow, pull or mishandling the animal, has produced a skin or fibrillar lesion affecting the ears. Rabbit ears are extremely delicate, and it is relatively easy for injuries and pain to arise from traumas, so it is very important to take care of their handling.
Types of otitis in rabbits
Otitis is the most common condition in rabbits, being the main cause of their showing droopy ears. But there are different types, since the term otitis refers to almost any infection that occurs in the ear tract. Below, we list the most common causes of this otitis in rabbits:
Rabbit ear mites
In this case, the mite that most frequently causes problems in lagomorphs is Psoroptes cuniculi. This mite infects the inside of the rabbit's ears, causing a condition similar to scabies, as it produces a brown secretion that hardens and forms a crust, which which causes the rabbit to scratch and have wounds.
Mites are treated in the same way as mange in rabbits, with drugs such as ivermectin or selamectin, which are parasiticides frequently used in cats and dogs.
Infection of bacterial origin
In these cases, otitis is caused by different bacteria, including Pasteurella multicida. This bacterium, for example, also affects the nose and the pharynx, coming from there or infecting them after the ears. If left untreated, bacterial otitis can even become chronic.
Infection due to the presence of foreign bodies
If a foreign body has entered the animal's ear, such as a spike, for example, this area is usually inflamed and if the body does not remove the inflammation does not disappear. This swelling will be accompanied by itching, discomfort and/or pain. If the infection is advanced, we should not hesitate to go to the vet as soon as possible.
Fungi in rabbits
Especially when environmental conditions include high humidity and a warm temperature, fungus is most likely to grow in the obscure auditory tract. This can be prevented by trying to keep the ear fairly dry and preventing earwax build-up. To prevent this from happening, in this other article we explain how to clean a rabbit's ears?
Allergies in rabbits
These can be environmental, food or even drugs. In these cases, the immune reaction can also show up in other parts of the animal's body.
