Your guide to rabbit fleas and other parasites

While rabbits are less likely to get fleas than cats or dogs, it’s still possible. Fleas don’t just result in skin irritation – they can also cause a range of other health conditions.

Here’s how to check for rabbit fleas and other parasites, as well as the best flea medication for rabbits.

Fleas on rabbits are less common than in dogs and cats, but they can sometimes become an issue. Most fleas on rabbits come from: 

• Wild rabbits 
• Other pets with fleas
• People accidentally bringing flea eggs, pupae or larvae into your home or your rabbits’ hutch on their clothing or shoes

Fleas can transmit myxomatosis, a viral infection that’s often fatal. To stop the spread of this disease, flea prevention for rabbits is very important.

Rabbit fleas are extremely small, so they can be hard to spot. Signs your rabbits have fleas include:

• Dandruff
• Scratching 
• Nibbling or biting their skin
• Areas of redness or hair loss 
• Black specks of ‘flea dirt’ in their coats

As flea infestations get worse, you might be able to spot fleas moving through your rabbit’s coat. They’ll typically be easier to spot in rabbit breeds with white coats, such as the New Zealand White. 

Rabbits with a large flea infestation can also suffer from anaemia, which causes pale gums and weakness.

If you think your rabbits have fleas:

• Take a piece of a kitchen towel and dampen it slightly
• Groom your rabbits with a fine-tooth comb
• Tap the comb over the kitchen towel 
• Watch for any tiny black specks
• Wait a few minutes to see if they leave red-brown patches on the kitchen towel

These small black specks are flea droppings, sometimes called ‘flea dirt’. If you see them, it’s a sign your rabbits have fleas and will need treatment.

When it comes to flea control for rabbits, treatment should always be recommended by a vet. The most common option is a spot-on treatment designed specifically for rabbits. Sometimes these are designed to treat worms at the same time. 

Speak to your vet and ask which brand of rabbit flea and worm treatment they suggest. If you have rabbit insurance with Petplan, you can also use our Pet Expert Chat feature to connect with veterinary professionals and ask questions at any time.

Some flea treatments designed for dogs and cats contain fipronil, which is highly toxic to rabbits and should never be used on them. Always use a flea treatment specifically for rabbits. 

If you’ve recently used a flea treatment containing fipronil on any other household pets, keep them away from your rabbits until the treatment is fully dry, and your vet confirms it’s safe. 

When treating rabbits for fleas, it’s also important to clean your rabbit’s hutch and enclosure to remove flea eggs, pupae and larvae to prevent reinfestation.

In addition to fleas, here are some other common external parasites on rabbits.

These tiny parasites can cause irritation, dandruff and itching. Rabbit ear mites are also common, especially in lop-eared breeds like the Holland Lop and English Lop. Mites can be controlled using a spot-on treatment or an injection prescribed by your vet.

These can sometimes be found in long grass or may drop off your dog after a walk, then attach to your rabbit. To remove them, you’ll need to use a specific removal tool, or speak to your vet for advice.

These insects are common in warm, damp weather. Remove any standing water in plant pots or buckets near your rabbits’ hutch, so mosquitoes can’t easily breed.

Like fleas, mites and mosquitoes can also transmit myxomatosis, so if you see signs of these parasites, mite and flea protection for rabbits is essential.