Fleas are a nuisance to almost anyone who has a furry friend living with them. This is especially true if you have an indoor or outdoor animal, like a cat or dog, who loves rolling in the grass.
Unfortunately, cats and dogs are not the only ones susceptible to getting these pesky insects on them. Many others can get them, including (but not limited to) mice, ferrets, rats, and even rabbits!
Although we know it is frustrating to deal with, there are ways you can eliminate the fleas from your home premises. Here is a quick list of them below:
- Flea combs
- Clean your home and rabbit enclosure
- Use safe flea medications
- Food-grade diatomaceous earth
- Use certain herbs
- Clean your home with vinegar
- Sprinkle salt on the ground after vacuuming
This article will discuss how your rabbit got fleas, the tell-tale signs that your rabbit has them, and the best ways of getting rid of them. It is your ultimate guide to surviving fleas you may or may not have!
How Did Your Rabbit Get Fleas in the First Place?
It is extremely unfortunate when your rabbit gets fleas, but finding out how they got them in the first place will greatly help you know what you can do to prevent them from coming back.
1. Going Outside
Fleas are present in shady spots, tall grass, and debris. On top of this, you can find fleas hiding in weeds, wood piles, under bushes, leaf litter, and even near stand-alone water. Rabbits are naturally curious creatures, so if you allow them to be outside in your backyard, for example, then they might find a spot where fleas are hiding.
2. Other Pets in the Home
Suppose you have an indoor or outdoor animal, like a dog or cat. Dogs, in particular, need to use the restroom and release energy, so many dogs are outside for most of the day. Because of this, dogs (or cats) will come in with fleas, which can eventually infest your rabbits or other animals that might live indoors.
3. From Your Clothes
Fleas might want to ride on your clothing, which you might not notice much of, especially if you wear dark clothing, like socks. In this case, wearing white socks or lighter clothes would be wise to see if a flea or two is on you. Wearing lighter clothing would also be good for other pests like ticks.
4. Other Environments
If you take your rabbit to the vet, there may be a high chance that fleas will be hiding inside furniture, carpets, or other nook and cranny areas. On top of this, suppose you are going on vacation and need your rabbit to go to someone’s house or even a pet sitter facility for a while. In that case, your rabbit may have acquired fleas during their stay in one of those areas.
What Are Signs That Your Rabbit Has Fleas?
You can find out if your rabbit has fleas in many different ways. However, just by looking at them, it might be difficult to tell, mainly because fleas love to hide in places that are hard to find on their bodies, like under their belly or armpits.
1. You Find Flea Dirt
Flea dirt is essentially flea poop made up of digested blood and flea waste. This will be easily distinguishable as it looks like little tiny reddish-brown specks on their coat or skin. Many people mistake flea dirt for actual dirt.
Flea dirt is easier to distinguish if your rabbit has a lighter coat. However, if your rabbit has a darker coat, it would be best to get a flea comb to help you spot it much faster.
Alternatively, get a damp paper towel and gently wipe some of the specks off. If the paper towel turns reddish-brown, your animal has flea dirt.
2. Live Fleas
Suppose you are brushing your rabbit’s fur, and a random flea pops out of nowhere! Then, this is a clear indicator that your furry friend has fleas. Another thing to assume is that if you find a flea on one rabbit and have multiple animals with fur, they will need to be treated.
3. Constant Biting, Scratching & Itching
Rabbits that occasionally bite, itch, or scratch are okay. After all, every living creature has minor itches now and again.
However, checking your rabbit for fleas or other skin issues would be worth checking if itching becomes constant. Other things to look for are red bumps on the skin and scabs, or even watch for yourself if you are itching.
4. Hair Loss
When you notice patches of hair leaving your animal’s fur, this shows that your rabbit is overgrooming themselves. You might notice patches of fur coming off on their bellies, sides, arms, legs, etc. On top of this, you may also see some fur balls in the corner of their enclosure.
5. Anaemia
Lastly, rabbits could lose a lot of blood from fleas, mainly since fleas feed on the blood of mammals. Because of this, your rabbit can become anemic. Some signs include pale gums or look weak.
What Are the Best Ways to Treat Rabbits for Fleas?
As mentioned above, there are many great ways to treat your rabbits for fleas. However, if you cannot eliminate them using these methods, your next step is to visit a veterinarian who can prescribe some medication to your bunny.
Still, we did much research before writing this article to ensure you got all the information needed to keep them away from your home.
1. Use a Flea Comb
Flea combs are an extremely effective product because they allow you to comb out all of the hair and see what exactly is on it, like an adult flea or even their eggs on the hair. Make sure to comb most behind your rabbit’s ears, neck, tail, belly, and other thick or prime spots.
If you see a flea, it is essential to act fast, as they immediately attempt to jump off. Because of this, it is necessary to use warm, soapy water to ensure you dip the comb in it so the fleas can die. Also, make sure you are combing their hair in a well-lit area so you can see everything you are doing.
2. Clean Your Home and Rabbits Enclosure
It is a given to clean your home, but having fleas will provide you with more incentive. Ensure you eliminate any clutter on the floor, like stacked magazines, newspapers, books, and even clothes that may have been sitting on the floor or your bed for some time.
Also, it is wise to clean your bed sheets often to ensure no eggs will randomly hatch, causing more chaos in your home (regarding flea infestations.) This is especially true if you allow your animals to roam freely, especially your rabbits, who can hang out on your bed whenever they please.
In addition, make sure your rabbit’s enclosure is completely cleaned out, as the fleas and their little eggs will inevitably be where they live. If you do not clean their environment, the fleas will return once the medication wears off, causing more stress on you and your rabbit in the long run.
3. Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth
Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is extremely safe to use for any of your animals who have fleas. It would be wise to do this outside to let the dust get in their fur, but all you have to do is spread the diatomaceous earth all over their bellies and back and allow them to roam around a bit to let the dust settle on their skin.
Once the dust settles, fleas in contact with the diatomaceous earth will dehydrate and die. If you continuously have this problem or have many animals, we recommend getting a 10-pound bag.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle diatomaceous earth on your carpets. As long as it remains dry, it should effectively dehydrate the fleas’ exoskeleton, helping the flea population decrease.
4. Use Herbs to Repel Fleas
Many herbs can repel fleas. However, it is crucial to note that although these keep fleas away, they will not eradicate the problem. Still, herbs will inevitably help keep them away. Use herbs such as sage, rosemary, mint, lavender, lemongrass, etc. A good idea is to plant some of these herbs near the entrances of your house. However, if this is not an option, invest in some essential oils and put it in a spray bottle with vinegar, water, and a little soap.
5. Clean Your Home With Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the best ways to eliminate fleas (and other insects), especially when cleaning. The acidity in vinegar helps dissolve the flea’s outer protective shell and eventually causes it to dehydrate and die.
The pungent smell will irritate the fleas, and they will not want to come near it. Since fleas like hiding in carpets and other upholstery items, it is wise to spray the vinegar on there. However, test the vinegar on a small portion of your couch or bed to ensure it does not bleach the items.
If you are unsure how to use vinegar to get rid of fleas, here are our two recommendations:
- For upholstery items, we recommend spraying one cup of water, one cup of vinegar, and one teaspoon of salt in a spray bottle.
- For pets in your home, mix equal parts of water, vinegar, and lemon juice in a spray bottle, then spray your pet’s fur and bedding.
- Clean your rabbit’s cage with vinegar, as it is non-toxic.
Note: It is essential to dilute vinegar to ensure no burns or irritation does not occur.
6. Sprinkle Salt on the Ground After Vacuuming
In addition to vinegar and DE, salt also causes the exoskeleton of fleas to dehydrate and die. It acts as a desiccant, absorbing all flea (or other insect) moisture. Because fleas need moisture to survive, putting salt in your carpets after vacuuming is essential.
You can sprinkle salt on carpets, furniture, or other areas where you feel fleas are present in your home. However, salt will not provide a long-term solution to your problem, so this might not be your best choice if you have a heavy flea infestation.
7. Medication
If push comes to shove and you cannot keep the fleas away despite your best efforts, we recommend going to the vet and getting your rabbit-prescribed medication. Unfortunately, not many medications work for rabbits, so getting something veterinary-recommended is the wisest decision.
What Should You Not Do When Treating Rabbits for Fleas?
Although there are many ways to treat your rabbits for fleas, some are not good due to the harm they could cause. Let’s discuss them below.
1. Do Not Use a Flea Collar on Your Rabbit
Flea collars may work on other animals, but they will not work with rabbits. The collar’s dosage is too high for rabbits, and it can cause significant adverse side effects.
On top of this, having anything wrapped around your rabbit’s neck is entirely unsafe, mainly because they have a different anatomy than cats and dogs and may injure themselves more easily.
2. Keep Away From Any Flea Powders
Many flea powders contain harmful ingredients your rabbit cannot have near them. Many of these ingredients include (but are not limited to) eucalyptus, pennyroyal, and pyrethrin.
Many of these flea powders are labeled as natural but, unfortunately, are not fully. Because flea powders are meant to go on your animal’s furs, your bunny would ingest it due to grooming themselves, which is poisonous to them.
On the other hand, a few flea powders might be safe for your rabbit, but it entirely depends on their ingredients. In that case, it is wise to speak to your vet to see what options you have in terms of powders.
3. Never Bathe Your Rabbit in Flea Shampoos or Baths
Rabbits should not be given a bath due to the potential of gaining hypothermia or skin infections. However, flea baths are dangerous due to the ingredients the shampoo itself might contain. It is wise to go with a completely different flea treatment option instead.
How to Prevent Your Rabbit From Getting Fleas Again
You can do many things to prevent your rabbit from getting fleas again. Here are some excellent things to keep in mind:
- Keep your rabbit away from other animals: If you have other animals in your home that go outdoors, especially dogs who need to use the restroom, we recommend keeping your rabbits in a different room or keeping your indoor/outdoor animals away from your rabbits.
- Remain indoors: Fleas do not come inside the house except on infrequent occasions (as mentioned above). Because of this, they cannot contact house rabbits because they lack outdoor time.
- Treat other household animals with flea treatments regularly: Whether you give your other animals a bath using a flea shampoo, give them a pill or tablet, or put any other topical medication on, it is wise to ensure they get treated regularly for fleas to prevent your entire home from becoming infested with them.
- Wash clothes and hands after coming home: Fleas pretend they are nomads, especially on your clothing. Because of this, it is wise to immediately change clothing once you get home or come inside, especially if you have been working in the yard all day. Make sure to put it in a plastic bag and immediately place your outside clothes in the washer to drastically lessen any potential fleas’ contact with your rabbits or other animals.
- Annually treat your home for fleas: It would be wise to treat it regularly with a product that effectively eliminates them.
Conclusion
To summarize everything in a nutshell, having fleas is not fun. Thankfully, you can get rid of them on your rabbit once and for all by doing a few simple yet effective things around your home!
We hope you learned something new. If you have any questions regarding rabbits, please feel free to check out our other articles for all the information you need! We wish you the best in getting rid of these pesky insects once and for all!
