Can I Give My Bunny Dog Flea meds?

Can I Give My Bunny Dog Flea meds?

by Robert Hudson

Is your bunny suffering from fleas? Whatever you do, do not give your rabbit flea meds meant for dogs.

“People often get new bunnies for their families at Easter, so we thought it would be a perfect time to remind pet lovers about the dangers of using dog and cat medications on their rabbit,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline.

A common mistake many rabbit owners make is using dog or cat topical medication on their floppy-eared family member. One chemical commonly used in the form of sprays and ‘spot-ons’ is fipronil, which is extremely toxic to rabbits. Exposure can result in central nervous system signs including seizures and difficulty walking, as well as loss of appetite. In some cases, the exposure is fatal.”

Can I Give My Bunny Dog Flea meds?

Kristi Johnston, a rabbit owner and lover from Wilsonville, Oregon, found out the hard way what happens when you use over-the-counter flea and tick products on your hare.

“Our cat Luna gave Albus fleas, so we wanted to treat him,” Johnston explained. “We got the first product from our veterinarian, but it didn’t clear up the fleas completely, so I bought a new over-the-counter brand from the store. After a while, we could tell something was wrong. He wasn’t eating, and he started shaking.

We called the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline, and they advised us to immediately rinse and wipe him off and seek further treatment. We then took him to the Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Tualatin. They gave him several baths, intravenous fluids for hydration and medication for his seizures. They kept him hospitalized for 48 hours for treatment and observation. He made a full recovery and is back at home.”

Safe treatment

Because a rabbit has such a thick coat, it is difficult to see fleas. Thoroughly comb your bunny’s fur, and dip the comb in warm soapy water or alcohol to drown the fleas. Be sure to rinse the comb before applying it to your bunny again. In more severe cases, you can implement a rabbit-safe topical solution, which includes Advantage®, Revolution® (Stronghold® in Europe), or Program®. According to petMD Advantage and Revolution are safe for your Bunny.

About Pet Poison Helpline

Pet Poison Helpline, your trusted source for toxicology and pet health advice in times of potential emergency, is available 24 hours, seven days a week. “We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center.”