Know how to get rid of Ticks in Rabbits?. Ticks are external parasites that suck the blood of animals, and if not treated on time, it may lead your pet to worse conditions. Other animals also get affected by ticks if you haven’t got rid of them from your pet. These blood-sucking arachnids attach to all domestic pets to fulfill their nutrient requirements. Your pet, such as rabbits, cats, and dogs, won’t even know that tick is feeding on them. That’s why you need to be careful about this. You can use the tweezers to remove the tick from your rabbit, or you can consult the vet for other treatment options. This article will discuss how to get rid of ticks in rabbits. So, if you don’t want your rabbit to suffer from such conditions, then stay tuned and keep reading!
What are Ticks, and how do they affect animals?
Ticks are external parasite arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals such as birds, animals, and reptiles. It belongs to two major families, Ixodidae and Argasidae. Not only ticks such blood from the animals, but they also cause other diseases. You may find ticks wherever their host species occur. Apparently, migrating birds bring ticks with them on their way when they migrate from one place to another. You must know that the tick species vary depending on the migration season. Mites and nematodes feed on ticks and are a minor nutritional resource for birds.
Ticks feed on the animal’s blood, and if they don’t get rid of it soon, then the health of your pet may be affected. Remember, you shouldn’t neglect this because ticks can lay eggs and cause an infestation. That’s why if you own a pet, then you need to be aware of the consequences of not getting rid of ticks. If you think that you can’t deal with this, consulting the vet would be great. Not only rabbits but other animals are also prone to get ticks. You should keep your pets away from those animals who already have the ticks as they can catch your pets too.
What are the different types of ticks?
These blood-sucking insects belong to three different families, i.e., Ixodidae and Argasidae are also known as hard ticks and soft ticks. You must know that the ticks have four life cycle stages, i.e., egg, larva, nymph, and adult. You must keep your pets away from such parasites as they can jeopardize their health. Here are the three families of ticks you should know about –
Ixodidae
The bite of an Ixodid is typically painless and generally goes unnoticed. However, they stick to one place until they have enough blood and are ready to molt. The immature and adult ticks are prominent and project forward from the body. Ixodidae family of Ticks, eyes are closed to the sides of the scutum, and their large spiracles are located just behind the coxae of the four pairs of legs.
Argasidae
Argasidae is also known as soft ticks. They are oval or pear-shaped along with an anterior portion. In the Argasidae, eyes are on the sides of the body, and the spiracles open between legs 3 and 4. However, the male and female ticks from this family differ in the structure of the genital pore. Apparently, the mouth part of soft ticks isn’t visible if you see them from above because they are on the ventral surface.
Nuttalliellidae
Nuttalliellidae is different from both Ixodidae and Argasidae as they have a combination of gnathosoma and soft leathery skin. Other than that, it also has a different position of stigmata from both Ixodidae and Argasidae.
Can Rabbits get Ticks?
You shouldn’t be surprised if your rabbit gets ticks because ticks can affect any animal. Unfortunately, there isn’t any prevention either, but checking your pet daily can keep them away from such trouble. It would be better to keep your rabbit away from those animals who have ticks. As mentioned earlier, ticks would feed your rabbit’s blood, making them weak. However, they are also likely to get other health conditions as well. Some of the fatal diseases that ticks can spread are Myxomatosis, Lyme disease, Tularemia, and papillomatosis.
The body parts of Rabbits can get ticks
Generally, the ticks affect mainly four parts of the rabbit’s body, i.e., Dewlap, face, legs, and ears. To get rid of ticks, you need to pull them with the help of tweezers. You should always check your rabbit’s body regularly for ticks. Other than that, when you let your rabbit play outside, make sure they don’t contact the pets who already have ticks. The ticks are likely to catch your rabbit too. So, be attentive about it when you are introducing other pet animals to your rabbit.
Symptoms of Ticks on Rabbits
When ticks start feeding on your rabbit, they won’t go away unless you get rid of them yourself. They may seem small at first, but after feeding on your pet’s blood, they get a significant body filled with blood. When a rabbit gets ticks, it may experience muscle weakness and paralysis. As rabbits have long hair coats on their body, that’s when it becomes difficult to notice them. You must know that the ticks hide or bury themselves under your bunny’s fur. Regular grooming would help you to encounter them. Otherwise, it will affect the rabbit’s health badly.
How to get rid of Ticks in Rabbits?
We understand that seeing your rabbit struggling with such a weird situation isn’t fun. But negligence or contacting already affected pets can lead your rabbit to this condition. You don’t have to worry about anything, as you can remove the ticks with slight effort. It is crucial to check on your rabbit when they are outside and playing with other pets. Remember, if your rabbit has got ticks, then consulting the vet would be a good idea. They would let you know what you can do and anything that would help remove the ticks. However, most vets would recommend picking the ticks out of your rabbit. If you don’t know how to do that, read the following instructions.
Choose a pair of fine-tipped tweezers
The first thing you need to do is find fine-tipped tweezers to pick the ticks out of the rabbit. Fine-tipped tweezers are really good for this purpose. If you can’t find these types of tweezers, you can always go for the device that is especially for removing the ticks. Avoid picking them from your fingers as it won’t be possible. Tweezers would help you to remove the tick from its head.
Grab the tick by its head
After choosing the right device to pick off the ticks, you should pick it by its head instead of picking the tick from the body. As you know, ticks suck blood from the animal’s body, and from that part, they are sticking to your rabbit. So, it would be more appropriate to grab it from its head rather than the body. While removing the ticks, their body can even break in half, and it will leave the head of the tick stuck in the rabbit’s skin. You should still grab the head and remove it from the body at any cost.
Pull the tick out
When you pick the tick from its head now, you need to pull it out carefully. You need to make sure that you don’t hurt your pet in between the process. Grab the tick from the head and then pull it straight out. Remember, pulling it from the middle side would make the process more hectic. So, you should pull it off straight. Don’t leave any part of the ticks on your rabbit’s skin. Thoroughly check your rabbit’s body and pull out all the ticks from it.
Kill the tick
The next thing you need to do is kill the tick you have just pulled off the rabbit. Keeping it alive wouldn’t be safe as your rabbit may get again. That’s why you need to use something that would instantly kill all the ticks you have removed from the rabbit. While doing this, you can also prepare a jar of rubbing alcohol. Shift the ticks you are removing from the rabbit into that jar. Remember, putting these ticks in water or flushing down wouldn’t be enough. That’s why you need to use alcohol to kill them.
Clean the area
Once you get rid of ticks from your rabbit’s body, now you need to clean the area where the ticks were attached. For the same, you can use any effective disinfectant. If you don’t know what to use, you can always ask the vet. They would suggest some valuable tips you should remember while dealing with ticks. When you remove the ticks, the area becomes red and inflamed. You should also check your rabbit regularly if there are any other symptoms of health issues caused by ticks. Other than that, if the inflammation lasts for more than a week, then you need to consult the vet immediately.
Check for ticks every day
Removing and killing the ticks isn’t enough. You need to check your rabbit regularly. If your rabbit can get the ticks once, they might get it again if you don’t pay enough attention. Carefully inspect your rabbit every day to see if any ticks are still there. Here are some things that would help do so –
- Rabbits are likely to get ticks on their face, ears, legs, and even dewlaps. So, you need to check these body parts almost daily. However, rabbits are more likely to get ticks on their face and ears.
- When you check the ticks, you need to hold the rabbit in your lap. Don’t make them uncomfortable otherwise, they will try to run off your lap.
- To check in the fur, you can use the flea comb to help you get under the fur gently.
Do ticks lead your Rabbit to other health diseases?
The ticks are necessary to remove from your rabbit’s body; otherwise, they will raise various health issues. Even a slight change in your rabbit’s health is concerning. If your rabbit gets ticks, you can remove the ticks using tweezers or any other device exclusively designed for this purpose. We have mentioned the instructions earlier to remove ticks from rabbits, and you can take a look by scrolling back up. Not doing anything can develop the following diseases in your rabbits.
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a disease commonly seen in rabbits. Unfortunately, myxomatosis can kill the rabbit within 14 days, and that’s why I get it treated on time. Apparently, this disease results from the myxoma virus, and there is no cure for this deadly disease. The symptoms of myxomatosis are as follows-
- Loss of appetite
- Discharge from the eyes and nose
- Lethargy
- Respiratory issues
- Swelling and ulcers
- Swelling around eyes
When you recognize any of these symptoms, you should take the help of a vet. Sometimes, if you notice early symptoms, you can save your pet. Get your rabbit’s annual health check-up plan as it will keep you updated when your rabbit faces any dangerous condition.
Tularemia
It is a rare infectious disease, also known as Rabbit Fever or deer fly fever. This condition originated in wild rabbits but domestic or pet rabbits are also at risk. You must know that it attacks the skin, eyes, lymph, and lungs. Not only rabbits but other animals and humans can also get infected from Teluremia. To keep your rabbit away from such health condition, you should know about the signs and symptoms of Tularemia –
- Excessive body temperature or High Fever.
- Dull and filthy fur
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Lethargy and muscle weakness
- Abscesses and ulcers where ticks attached
Pay enough attention to your rabbit’s health and keep it clean. Sometimes, most diseases affect the pet because of improper grooming and uncleanliness. That’s why we suggest you be more attentive towards your rabbit’s health and avoid letting it go outside if you aren’t there to supervise.
Papillomatosis
Another disease your rabbit is likely to get is the presence of ticks and found in cottontail rabbits. You must know that Papillomatosis can create cancerous growths. Additionally, papillomatosis has two different variations, i.e., Cottontail rabbit papilloma and Oral Papillomatosis.
The Cottontail Rabbit Papillomatosis manifests as warts throughout the body and can become cancerous. Later, it may turn into malevolent tumors. Other variants, Oral Papilloma, cause tough nodules to grow on the tongue and mouth. But these are rarely painful and can correct themselves.
Can a Rabbit spread ticks among other Rabbits?
Yes, ticks spread among other animals by passing bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The disease control center stated that ticks would have to attach to the skin for at least 36-48 hours or more to transmit the disease. You must know that when the adult ticks feed on their final host, they will nest or begin mating.
How to prevent ticks in Rabbits?
We have mentioned earlier ticks can also lead to the deadly disease. That’s why it is necessary to keep it away from getting ticks. If your rabbit has already got the ticks, then you can use the instructions we have mentioned earlier to remove them. Keeping a pet and taking care of it needs undivided attention. Ticks suck the blood of rabbits, and it continues for a long time, then it will make your rabbit weak. Whenever you encounter your rabbit has ticks, you should remove them immediately. If you cannot do so, you can go to the veterinary clinic. They would certainly help you to remove the ticks.
Things you should remember if your rabbit got ticks
Generally, the ticks won’t be deadly unless you remove them on time. Once they stay attached for a long time, it may start spreading. After removing the ticks, you need to regularly check your rabbit to ensure that your pet doesn’t get it again. To reduce the risk of infestation, you should kill the ticks removed from the rabbit. Here are some things that would help you prevent ticks in your rabbits.
Location
Sometimes, owners leave their pets to wander around, but you shouldn’t leave yours alone. To keep your rabbit away from such insects, you should supervise them all the time whenever they are out. Keep your pets away from those who are already affected by ticks. There are chances that your rabbit might get it too. Keep your rabbit clean and focus on their grooming. Along with that, don’t let your rabbit go to dirty places where there is a stack of garbage.
Stay calm
Sometimes, owners get too worried about their pets when they get ticks. You shouldn’t be worried about anything and need to handle the condition calmly. If you have problems or confusion, consulting the vet would be very helpful. Otherwise, you can remove the ticks from your rabbit’s body by using the instructions we have illustrated earlier. Don’t forget to kill the ticks instantly after removing them, or else the ticks would again get attached to your rabbit. As you know, ticks feed on the blood of an animal, but it also makes them weak.
Prevention is the top priority
Proper grooming and regular checking is the prevention tip for ticks. Otherwise, if the rabbit stays unclean, it may get sick over time. Rabbits also remove their ticks, but they can’t reach all parts. So, you need to help your pet get rid of these ticks. It would be best to make all possible efforts to keep the rabbit away from the ticks at any cost. Ticks also lead to various other infectious diseases, which can kill your rabbit.
Early removal is the key
The best thing you can do is check your rabbit daily if they have got any ticks from outside. Otherwise, your rabbit may suffer from it one day or the other. You shouldn’t avoid your pet’s health because you may lose your pet if you neglect it. If you recognize the symptoms earlier, it would be easy to get rid of ticks. So, if your rabbit plays outside for a long time, then you should check it daily. They get ticks mostly on ears, face, legs, and even on their dewlap. If you can’t check them thoroughly, you can at least check these body parts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1) Do rabbits remove ticks themselves?
Rabbits don’t even know when and where they get the ticks, but you should know that it’s crucial to remove them quickly. That’s why you should inspect the body of your pet closely. Your rabbit can get ticks anywhere on their body, and sometimes they pull the ticks on their own. But you should help them anyway to ensure that there aren’t any left.
Q.2) Do rabbits need tick medicine?
There is no specific medicine for the ticks in medicine, but consulting the vet wouldn’t hurt anybody. Consult the vet and explain the whole situation to them to find a reliable solution.
Q.3) Do I need to worry about ticks in winter?
Ticks won’t go away just because of winters, and your rabbits should be away from ticks even in too cold or too hot weather. However, it also depends on the species and their life cycle. But we suggest you be attentive in all types of weather.
Final Words
That was all about how to get rid of ticks in rabbits. I hope you find this article informative and helpful. However, if you have any suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section. We have discussed the ticks, their type, and how badly they affect the animals. As we learned that ticks are transferable, and that’s why you should keep your pet animals away from those who already have ticks. Please leave your valuable view as they help us to do better. Besides, we would be happy to hear from our fellow readers.
