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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #141: Rabbit Ear Mite Infestation

Exotic veterinary case - Medium - July 22, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. Morning cage-side observation finds a rabbit repeatedly shaking its head and scratching at the ears.
  2. Thick, flaky crusts have accumulated inside the ear canals.
  3. The rabbit is uncomfortable when the ears are handled.
  4. The debris is dry and layered rather than moist and purulent.
  5. Mite infestation is visible on examination of the ear material.
  6. Psoroptes cuniculi commonly causes painful crusting otitis in rabbits.

Diagnosis

Rabbit Ear Mite Infestation

This case is most consistent with Rabbit Ear Mite Infestation because the rabbit has painful crusting ear debris with visible mites. The most important clues are the dry laminated crusts and intense ear irritation, which make bacterial otitis less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this exotic case supports the provided diagnosis, Rabbit Ear Mite Infestation, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: Morning cage-side observation finds a rabbit repeatedly shaking its head and scratching at the ears.
  2. Clue 2: Thick, flaky crusts have accumulated inside the ear canals.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: The rabbit is uncomfortable when the ears are handled.
  2. Clue 4: The debris is dry and layered rather than moist and purulent.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: Mite infestation is visible on examination of the ear material.
  2. Clue 6: Psoroptes cuniculi commonly causes painful crusting otitis in rabbits.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this exotic case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Rabbit Ear Mite Infestation?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Rabbit Ear Mite Infestation?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.