Rabies and Parasitic Diseases of Rabbits. Merck Veterinary Manual.

Why Do Rabbits itch and scratch?
The extreme itching and scratching of an animal occurs when it is pruritic. In a bunnie, it may be as a result of fur, skin, or ear parasites; parched skin; allergies; or infections. Regardless of the cause, it is necessary to take it as quickly as possible to take a good care of the bunnies health and state of mind.

Fur Mites
Cheyletiella parasitivorax are a microscopic mite, which lives on the fur of the rabbits.2 Cheyletiella mites are blood sucking parasites that bite your rabbit so as to feed, which makes it scratch and itch.

Fur mites or walking dandruff is a mite that seems to crawl on dead fur of rabbits creating the sense of moving cell skin. They might begin in a small space on your rabbit but when not treated, these creatures can get everywhere on the fur of the animal, into the living surroundings and to other rabbits and pets.

Although your rabbit may never leave your house, it will still be exposed to food or bedding that you may be carrying to your house and a fur mite.

Lice
Lice also infest rabbits although this is not as prevalent as with other parasites. They are species specific hence humans and other nonrabbit pets are unable to get them.

Fleas
Most individuals do not believe that rabbits are capable of acquiring fleas but this is true since they are blood sucking parasites which bite rabbits therefore making them itchy and scratch their skin.

Female fleas deposit as many as 50 eggs per day and hence although you may only see one or two adult fleas on your rabbit they have likely already deposited hundreds of eggs already. Humans are also bitten by the fleas, although female fleas can normally not lay viable eggs when the only food source is human blood.

The inside rabbits are able to acquire the flea just like outside rabbits. There are other pets in the house that can have your rabbit infested with fleas as well as the ability to be brought in through outdoor tracking. Fleas also have their ways of entering into houses, just like other insects, ants.

Fleece and flea dirt will be located with the help of a flea comb. Flea dirt is the cylindrical feces which becomes red, when it is rubbed with wet cotton swab. It is also an excellent method of telling the difference between the digested blood and the normal dirt of the environment.

Dry Skin
The skin of your rabbit might get very dry and thus itch and scratch. Very low humidity rooms, dusty air, poor diets and bathing your rabbit more frequently or using the wrong kind of shampoos can all lead to dry skin in your pet. When you can establish the cause of the dry skin, then you should do the same thing in reversing it. In the meantime, request your veterinarian to prescribe a spray material that can be sprayed on your rabbit to alleviate his anxiety.

Ear Mites
Psoroptes cuniculi are ear mites which lead to itching and scratching.4 They can be transmitted rabbit-to-rabbit, and so you must wash hands after handling a rabbit which has itchy ears. You can find hair loss in the area of the ears and/or scabs or the ears of the rabbit can be particularly dirty. An ear mite infestation is also shown by a head tilt, flopped ear and head shaking which does not always apply to both ears. In case you observe any of these symptoms, seek the services of the veterinarian with your rabbit.

Allergies
Just as humans, there are rabbits who are allergic to some substances which make them itch and scratch. Most of these allergies tend to be environmental and never food-based, and thus, to make your rabbit feel at home, you may adjust the bedding, litter, cleaning solutions, and air cleaners.

Some of the typical allergens seen in the environment are the dust in some litters or in the hay of the rabbit, and laundry softeners and laundry detergents used on the blankets.

Other parasites that can cause an allergic reaction to rabbits include the fur mites and fleas. This will make it even more annoying to your pet to an infestation of these pests.

Skin Irritants
Besides allergies, rabbits can be irritated by some products, in particular, those that do not target rabbits. Sprays, air fresheners, conditioners, shampoos, and others could all irritate your rabbit. In case you apply the new product, e.g. shampoo, and the following day your rabbit is itching, it might have been that the product was too harsh on the skin of your rabbit. This tends to be the situation with dog products that are applied on rabbits.

Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection and its causes are two-fold (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis): it causes loss of hair, itch, and red ringworm lesions in rabbits.5 Ringworm can also be contracted by people through a rabbit.

Direct contact with an infected rabbit is the primary cause of both ringworm and mites and fleas, as well as new rabbits.5 When a new rabbit enters your house, you should keep it isolated until you are certain that it does not have a disease. Rabbits are also exposed to contracting of the ringworm in the infected environment and brushes that were in contact with the infected rabbit.

Skin Infections
This can be in the form of urine scald and faeces that have stayed in long contact with the skin of your rabbit and overall unhygienic conditions and it could result in your rabbit leading to a skin infection. The infected part turns red and inflamed and extremely itchy, this should be treated immediately.

Treatment
The mode of treatment of itching and scratching in a rabbit relies on the cause. Nonetheless, several issues are addressed in the same way.

Fur mites are extremely viral to other rabbits. When you have other pets in your home and your rabbit has been identified to have Cheyletiella mites, ensure that you do not transfer these parasites to the other pets. 1Wash your hands after touching your rabbit and dispose the food and bedding in its cage.
In the case of fur and ear mites, lice, and fleas, freeze up all the unused food and bedding which you may have bought at a pet store or online. The parasites may enter your house through such items and therefore it is also a good idea in ensuring an infestation is avoided by freezing them before use.
In the event that your exotics vet discovers that your rabbit has mites, runaway most likely she will prescribe your rabbit Selamectin that will make the extermination but not harm your rabbit. Most of the OTC products are normally not safe to rabbits and one is advised to consult his/her veterinarian before taking such products.
In case fleas or flea dirt appear on your rabbit, you will need to treat your rabbit and all the rest of your furry pets with a safe drug, just like in case of fur mites.6 You will also have to treat the environment. There are rabbit owners who apply boric acid powder to their carpeting and other flea sprays and bombs purchased at pet stores. When you decide to treat the room with such products, make sure that your rabbit is not in the room at least 24 hours.
You can wash the blankets of your rabbit using fragrance-free baby fabric softeners and laundry detergents that are used to wash baby and sensitive skin. Should the symptoms persist, consider other potential allergens in the environment of your rabbit like dust or pollen through an open window around spring or summer and attempt to rectify them.
Topical ointments or oral medication that is prescribed by your exotics vet are normally applied or used to treat ringworm.
Prescription drugs are normally needed in skin infections. There is also an anti-itch spray that is safe to apply on rabbits, but unless the root cause of the issue is dealt with the spray only is of short-term effectiveness.
How to eliminate itching and scratching.
The itchiness of your rabbit is often avoided by ensuring that the surroundings of the rabbit are clean. Freezing any rabbit supplies with a recommendation is a perfect point to start and so is the use of fragrance free laundry products on any washable rabbit bedding.

In addition to these, make sure that the cage of your rabbit is clean as much as possible. Daily and weekly maintenance can greatly contribute to health of your pet as well as trying to avoid a lot of skin infections. In washing your rabbit, be sure that you only use rabbit-specific products.

You should also check the fur of your rabbit on a regular basis. This will assist you to easily notice any form of abnormalities and initiate treatment measures instantly which can before long stop an infestation, ear or skin issue to escalate.

Meanwhile, also protect any other pets in the house, e.g. flea preventatives, regularly. Be careful with exposing your rabbit to other animals that may transmit any of these problems also, particularly when it is kept outside or even when it is allowed to go outside.

In case you feel that your pet is unwell, call the vet. When it comes to health-related questions, you must always consult your veterinarian because this individual has seen your pet and is well aware of his or her health history and can offer the best recommendations regarding your pet.