How to Clean Your Rabbit's Ears

A rabbit's ears are very sensitive. If there is any buildup in them, it can breed mites and bacteria. In theory, cleaning your rabbit's ears is very easy; it only requires a simple solution and application. However, the process can be quite difficult. If the rabbit is uncomfortable, scared, or sore, she may bite, kick, or scratch to get free. This can harm you and the rabbit. You must develop trust with your pet and use the appropriate materials and methods to properly clean your rabbit's ears.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Preparing the Rabbit

  1. Cleaning a rabbit's ears, especially if there is any sort of buildup, can be a painful or scary experience. It is important to build a good, friendly rapport with your rabbit so you can keep her calm. [1]
    • Before cleaning, get her out of her cage and play with her.
    • Get her used to your touch. Softly pet her, working your way up to petting her head and her ears. This will get her used to your touch so there is minimal risk of surprising her.
    • Hold her to get her used to being held/contained.
    • Rabbits generally do not like to be high off the ground, so avoid picking her up and carrying her around.
  2. Rabbits can hurt themselves if they are scared. Often, their first instinct is to run or to get away. For this reason, it is very important to have a firm grasp on your rabbit when doing any sort of procedure. When preparing to clean your rabbit's ears, consider:
    • Have someone your rabbit trusts hold her while cleaning her ears.
    • While your rabbit is on the table, curve your arm around the rabbit, keeping it in place but not holding her down. You can lean your upper body above the rabbit to stop her from jumping, but do not push down on the rabbit. This will mostly certainly cause the rabbit to startle and try and run. [2]
    • If your rabbit trusts you, and is calm, she might stay put on the table. You may only need to hold the ear still when cleaning it.
    • If your rabbit is too upset, consider cleaning her ears at a later time to avoid injury or additional stress.
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  3. Rabbit's ears are very, very sensitive. Always remember to be gentle when handling your rabbit and your rabbit's ear.
    • When cleaning her ears, you will want to grasp each ear gently, usually between your index finger and your thumb.
  4. If your rabbit is kicking, thumping, biting, scratching, or screaming, your rabbit is too stressed to work with. Gently place her back in her cage or hutch until she calms down. Retry the process of preparing your rabbit when she is in a calmer state. [3]
    • Additional signs of stress include freezing, hunching with her ears against her body, being aggressive, being restless, hiding, or breathing heavily.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning the Ears

  1. Once your rabbit is in a comfortable and safe environment, gently grasp her ear between your thumb and index fingers. You will want to grasp the ear in the middle to avoid the extra sensitive tip and canal.
    • In this initial step, your goal is to observe blockage or irritation. You can use a small penlight to look in the canal.
    • You can also very gently manipulate the ear to observe the inside flesh of the ear.
  2. If there is notable buildup, such as wax or mite debris, you can gently remove the larger pieces. If the debris is stuck in the ear or flesh, avoid pulling or picking.
    • Never push debris. This can push the debris into the canal or further into the ear and cause infection.
  3. Once you have removed loose debris, you now need to apply a solution to the ear. There are many home remedies and commercial products to use. Always make sure you read the label, and talk to your vet, to see what is safe for your rabbit. Three homemade solutions include:
    • Honey method: Use a teaspoon of honey to two teaspoons of warm (not hot!) water. Use two or three drops of mixture at a time and massage liquid into ear. Use twice a day for three days and then switch to once per day. Ears should be clean in about a week.
    • Peroxide method: Dampen a cotton ball or cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide and wipe the inside of the ear. Do this twice a day until ears begin to clear. Watch your rabbit's ears as this might dry them out; if so, massage mineral, vegetable, or olive oil into your rabbit's ears after application to avoid cracking or dry skin.
    • Olive oil method:Massage about a half of an ounce of oil in your rabbit's ears twice a day until ears are clean. [4] [5]
    • Note that homemade remedies are anecdotal and have not been evaluated for efficacy. It's safer to choose a commercial product formulated for rabbits, or even one made for cats.
  4. Once the solution begins to do its job, debris may become loose. Gently wipe debris out of your rabbit's ear by taking a paper towel or soft cloth and wiping from the inside of the ear outside. Never wipe from the outside to the inside as this might not remove debris and may cause further infection.
  5. Mites, debris, and infections are caused by a number of things. However, it is important to keep the hutch clean to avoid reinfestation.
    • Wipe down your rabbit's hutch with a cleaning solution while your rabbit is not in its cage.
    • Remember to frequently clean her water and food dishes as well.
    • Always remove soiled bedding material.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Recognizing Illnesses and Symptoms

  1. [6] A rabbit's ear will vary depending on age and breed. However, in general, healthy ears should be clean. They should be light pink in color. In some rabbit breeds, you may be able to see veins running through the ear.
  2. Ear infection symptoms include head scratching, head tilting, loss of appetite, discharge, and pain. [7] An ear infection can be very serious and should be treated by a vet.
    • If infection causes yeast pustules (red raised bumps with a whitish head) you can clean your rabbit's' ears with the above methods. [8] However, you should still see your vet for antibiotics to take care of the infection.
  3. Ear mites (ear canker) are common among rabbits and are very easy to identify. Symptoms include visible mites, scabs, and waxy buildup.
    • Your rabbit's ear may look red and swollen. She might frequently shake her head or scratch at her ears.
  4. Another common illness in rabbits is a buildup of wax or yeast in the ear. This may look like yellowish scales or wax. You can clean this out using the above methods.
    • Your vet may also prescribe a topical ointment if this problem persists.
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      Warning

      • Always see your vet if you have questions, concerns, or if your rabbit's condition worsens.
      • You should consider quarantining infected rabbits from your herd to avoid the spread of mites or disease.

      What You'll Need

      • Tweezers
      • Honey
      • Hydrogen Peroxide
      • Olive or Vegetable oil
      • Towel (paper or cloth)
      • Cotton Balls
      • Pen light/flashlight

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-11/ear.html
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFGLQZif53s
      3. ↑ http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/welfare-of-rabbits-the-need-to-be-able-to-exhibit-normal-behaviour-patterns
      4. ↑ http://www.getridofthings.com/pets/get-rid-of-ear-mites/
      5. ↑ http://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/10/30/ear-mites-causes-and-remedys/
      6. ↑ http://www.netvet.co.uk/rabbits/ears.htm
      7. ↑ http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm
      8. ↑ http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/dermatology/common-skin-infections/

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Nori Hepler

        Sep 16, 2016

        "Good guidelines provided, and our vet approved what we did to clean our rabbit's ears."
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