The post Rabbit Ear Health : How to Select and Use an Ear Cleaner appeared first on Vita Animal Health .
]]>Read on to learn the ins and outs of rabbit ear health, find tips for selecting the perfect ear cleaner and to discover the results of our recent owner survey.
Do rabbits clean their own ears?
Healthy rabbit ears do have a built-in self-cleaning mechanism, which is one of the reasons many owners overlook the manual cleaning process as an important step to maintaining rabbit ear health. Our recent rabbit owner survey revealed that 91% of owners agree that ear cleaning can help rabbits with ear issues. This is true, but what about rabbits with healthy ears? Should you clean their ears too?
The importance of ear cleaning in rabbits
While it isn’t always necessary to clean the ears of a healthy rabbit, it is important to monitor your rabbit’s ears for any signs of an issue, such as a build up of wax, a foul odour or unusual discharge.
This said, the use of an ear cleaner as a routine step in rabbit healthcare can improve rabbit ear health in the long run, reducing the chance of dirt or debris build up that could turn into a problem. This will also help to condition your rabbit to having their ear touched, which can make trips to the vets less stressful for the both of you.
How often should you be cleaning your rabbit’s ears?
It’s clear that it is important to clean your rabbit’s ears. But, how often should you be doing so? Depending on their breed and ear shape, rabbits require different frequencies of ear cleaning. For example, lop-eared rabbits are more prone to ear issues and may benefit from more regular cleaning. As a general rule of thumb, cleaning your rabbit’s ears at least once or twice a month will prevent any build up from occurring, and reduce the likelihood of an infection or other issues occurring that can impact their hearing or overall ear health.
What makes for a good rabbit ear cleaner?
70% of rabbit owners recognise the importance of looking for safe cleaners. Ensuring that the ear cleaner you choose to use is rabbit safe and provides a thorough clean is important to preserving the overall ear health. Cleaners such as Omniotic that feature anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties can serve as an excellent all-round cleaner.
Should you be using ear cleaning wipes?
When considering ear cleaning methods within our rabbit owner survey, 51% of owners reported that they use wipes to clean their rabbit’s ears.
Perhaps you are among these owners?
Is there anything wrong with this method?
Many people elect to purchase wipes for the convenience and ease of use. However, there are a few areas of consideration when using wipes.
- Technique: Cleaning a rabbit’s ears requires a gentle hand to preserve the structure of the inner ear and avoid damage. Using wipes forcefully increases the risk of discomfort or injury.
- Improper ingredients: Many wipes are a water-based method of cleaning, meaning that they are not antibacterial and fail to clean the ears effectively. Additionally, unless ears are dried thoroughly after cleaning with water-based wipes, the resulting moist environment could encourage bacterial growth.
- Inadequate depth of cleaning: Wipes often do not grant the level of cleaning that a solution-based option can provide, meaning that cleaning is less thorough and may have to be repeated more frequently.
What about homemade ear cleaners?
A massive 25% of all rabbit owners use a home prepared or homemade solution, such as saline, to clean their rabbit’s ears. Is this the optimum method?
While saline and other similar solutions are generally safe and gentle on rabbit ears, using an at home ear cleaner can be risky for many reasons. For one, home ear cleaners often don’t contain the level of antibacterial and cleansing ingredients required for a thorough clean.
Additionally, achieving the correct concentrations and blends of ingredients at home can be challenging. Inaccurate measurements can render the solution ineffective or, in some cases, too harsh for your rabbit’s sensitive ears. Home cleaners may also contain toxic ingredients, such as tea tree oil, which can do more harm than good.
Which ear cleaner should you use?
So, what is a better solution?
Our Omniotic ear cleaning solution is a fast-acting, highly effective solution-based ear cleaner that can be used on dogs, cats and rabbits, designed to remove earwax and debris from the outer ear using harmless anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral ingredients for complete rabbit ear health.
Join the 60%+ of rabbit owners who said they would want to use Omniotic and purchase yours today on our website or via Amazon.
Or, if you have any questions about the product, get in touch with a member of our team, who will gladly discuss the benefits with you.
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]]>The post Winter Pet Care : Top Tips for the Colder Month appeared first on Vita Animal Health .
]]>The weather can affect more than just mood, however. So, what can you do to help keep your pet in tip-top condition this winter?
1. Watch out for cuts and scrapes
Grit can be harsh on paws, and after a wet, muddy walk it’s easy to miss a small cut or scrape, leaving it irritated and prone to infection. Try to check your dog’s paws after walks, especially if there’s any sign of a problem.
If you notice a shallow cut or scrape, make sure to rinse it thoroughly with plain water and gently pat it dry. Applying an antiseptic wound healing cream for pets, such as Omnimatrix, can help to soothe the area and support skin’s natural healing.
To find out more, check out our blog on wound care in dogs.
2. Stay safe on nighttime walks
With the sun still setting in mid-afternoon, walks in the dark are a necessity for many dog owners. It’s important to keep both your dog and yourself safe by keeping them on lead and picking high visibility clothing, collars and harnesses.
3.Take care of stiff joints
Just like humans, pets with stiff or sore joints can suffer more in cold weather. Our pets are usually pretty stoic and tend to hide the signs, but if you’ve noticed them slowing down, sleeping more or seeming stiff in the mornings, this could be a sign of underlying joint disease.
The good news is there are steps you can take to support them. For pets with joint disease, avoiding slippery surfaces is a must – whether that’s hard floors inside or icy pavements outdoors. Making sure they have a warm place to sleep can also help, and they’ll definitely appreciate it!
You can also support your pet’s joints with a targeted nutritional supplement such as Omnicondro, which contains market-leading concentrations of glucosamine and chondroitin to promote healthy cartilage and antioxidants to support and stabilise collagen.
For maximal joint care and full body support, why not add in Omniomega, our popular omega-3 supplement that helps to support the orthopaedic, neurological, renal and cardiovascular systems.
4. Look after winter skin
Dry skin can be another thing we share with our pets in winter. While it may be wet and unpleasant outside, the cold air can still be drying to skin, while central heating can also contribute to skin dehydration. Repeatedly getting paws wet and salty outside can cause irritation too.
While some pets cope well, pets with allergies or sensitive skin can become itchy and uncomfortable as their skin dries out or may develop sore paws in response to grit and salt.
If your pet’s skin seems drier or more irritated than normal, there are some things you can try to help. Rinsing then thoroughly drying paws after walks is vital to wash off any salt. You can also try bathing any irritated areas in a gentle oatmeal bath to soothe sore skin.
Another way to support your pet’s coat and skin is to give them the nutritional support they need to help strengthen their skin barrier, which is essential to keep moisture trapped within the skin. Omega-3s in particular have been shown to support the skin barrier.
To provide your pet with complete skin support, check out Omnicutis. This fast-acting supplement contains market-leading concentrations of Omega-3 in addition to zinc and biotin to promote healthy skin, hair and nails and support your pet’s immune system.
5. Don’t forget their ears!
It’s not just paws that get wet in winter. If your dog comes back from their walks with soggy ears, they could be at increased risk of an ear infection. Ear infections can be painful and unpleasant to treat, so prevention is always better than cure. Cleaning dirty ears with a safe, gentle, antibacterial cleaner such as Omniotic can clear wax and debris and help to reduce the risk of infection.
If you’re concerned about your pet’s health this winter, it’s always worth seeing your vet; however, by taking some simple steps at home you can help to keep your pet out of trouble and in tip-top health, ready for the brighter days to come.
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]]>The post Rabbit Ear Health appeared first on Vita Animal Health .
]]>In this blog we’ll take a look at how you can spot the signs of ear disease, some common causes of bunny ear infections, and steps you can take to keep your rabbits’ ears healthy.
What are the signs of ear disease in rabbits?
Signs of ear disease in rabbits can be very variable depending on the type of ear disease, its severity and the individual rabbit.
Rabbit ear infection symptoms include:
- Head shaking
- Ear scratching or overgrooming
- Discharge from the ears
- Crusting around the ears
- Swelling at the base of the ear
- Reaction to touching the ears
- Behavioural changes (e.g. increased affection, grumpiness, reduced binkying)
- Reduced appetite
- Head tilt
- Facial asymmetry
- Reduced hearing
The signs you might see depend on the type of ear infection your rabbit has. For some ear infections, symptoms can be minimal or even absent. However, ear disease can worsen if left untreated, so it’s important to see a vet if you think your rabbit is showing any sign of ear disease.
Which rabbits are at risk of an ear infection?
Many factors are involved in the development of ear disease in rabbits, and any rabbit can be affected. It’s also important to note that some rabbits can have ear disease without an infectious cause, due to excess wax, for example.
Rabbits with lop ears, including lop-eared breeds like the Dwarf Lop and English Lop, are at significantly higher risk of infection than rabbits with upright ears. In the standard ear, three pieces of cartilage interlock to hold the ear up. In lop-eared rabbits, there’s a gap between two of these cartilages that allows the ear to fold over and effectively close off the ear canal.
Just like humans, rabbits produce constant low levels of ear wax to keep their ears clean and healthy, but this system relies on the wax migrating out of the ear successfully. In lop-eared bunnies, the wax often becomes trapped and accumulates. This can result in swelling at the base of the ear, inflammation and infection.
Other risk factors for rabbit ear infections include age, with older rabbits potentially having slightly higher risk, respiratory tract infections and even dental disease. In the case of ear mites, exposure to either an infected rabbit or items that have been in close contact with one is also important.
What actually causes a rabbit ear infection?
Mites are a common cause of rabbit ear infections and typically cause itchiness, scratching, head shaking, discharge and crusting around the outside of the ear canal. These are contagious and can easily spread from rabbit to rabbit, either directly or on objects like clothing.
In lop-eared rabbits, accumulation of excess wax is a relatively common cause of ear disease, but this built-up wax often also allows secondary infections to develop.
Rabbit ear infections are usually caused by bacteria and/or yeast and may affect just the outer part of the ear or the middle part too. Infections that affect the middle ear may cause symptoms like a head tilt, facial asymmetry or poor balance.
Ear infections caused by respiratory or dental disease typically affect the middle ear, so signs like scratching and discharge are less common. Some rabbits may not show any signs at all.
Occasionally, rabbit ear infections or ear disease can be due to other causes, including foreign objects like grass seeds, trauma, or, rarely, a growth affecting the ear canal.
How to prevent a rabbit ear infection
Regular veterinary health checks are important for all rabbits and can help to ensure the early signs of a bunny’s ear infection aren’t missed. If you suspect an ear infection, it’s important to see your vet as soon as possible.
Doing your best to avoid exposure to mites is one important step to minimise the risk of infection, but what else can you do? Using a rabbit ear cleaner can also help to prevent bunny ear infections.
If you’ve been told your rabbit has excess wax or you think they could benefit from a rabbit ear cleaner, you may be wondering where to start. Cleaning rabbit ears doesn’t have to be daunting, but there are a few tips and tricks to get it right.
- Pick a high-quality rabbit ear cleaner
It’s important to use an ear cleaner that’s been proved to be safe in rabbits’ delicate ears. Other things to look out for include a comfortable applicator, gentle formulation and antibacterial ingredients to help keep your rabbit’s ears healthy. Omniotic, our gentle antibacterial ear cleaner, is tried and trusted by vets to help keep rabbits’ ears clean.
2. How to clean their ears
How do you go about cleaning rabbit ears? Position your rabbit in a sitting position with their head in a neutral position. Gently lift your bunny’s ears one at a time so you can see the entrance to their ear canal, and fill this with cleaner. Massage around the base of the ear gently for 30-60 seconds before wiping any excess out with some cotton wool.
3. How often should you use a rabbit ear cleaner?
Cleaning rabbit ears can help to clear excess wax and reduce the risk of infection, but you don’t want to overdo it. If your vet has diagnosed an ear issue, they may recommend cleaning daily. For more routine cleaning, weekly or fortnightly use can help to prevent bunny ear infections and keep their ears clean and healthy.
Keen to start cleaning your rabbits’ ears? Check out our rabbit-safe, tried and tested advanced ear cleaner, Omniotic. Suitable for routine cleaning, the gentle but effective formula can help to keep your rabbits’ ears clean and clear and stop ear infections before they begin.
Find more pet advice here…
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]]>The post Supplements for Cats appeared first on Vita Animal Health .
]]>What are supplements for cats?
Supplements are products which are given in addition to a cat’s normal diet. Both vets and members of the Pet Food Institute say if your cat is generally healthy, a good quality balanced cat food should contain all your cat needs to lead a full, healthy life. Giving your cat more vitamins or minerals could cause more harm than good, and it’s important to follow veterinary advice.When should I give my cat a supplement?
A healthy cat eating a balanced, complete cat food should not require additional supplements. Supplements may be recommended if your cat is sick. They can be used to support health if your cat is suffering from conditions such as joint pain, skin disease, gut problems and liver disease. Some supplements may also be recommended to calm your cat during periods of stress. It’s important to remember that you can harm your cat by giving her too many supplements. Before buying a supplement, ask your vet which kind is best suited for your cat’s life stage and medical condition.How to choose a supplement for your cat
Cats of different ages and lifestyles have very different needs. It is important to choose supplements recommended by vets, as many are untested and unproven. Your vet will recommend a product with reliable quality and which follows the guidelines set out by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Do not use different supplements together, as they may contain the same or similar ingredients, which may result in toxicity. Alternatively, they may contain ingredients which are not compatible with each other.Types of Cat Supplements
Vitamins and minerals: There are many single or multivitamin products available for cats. However, most cat foods contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals that a cat needs so these supplements are not generally recommended. Essential fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are usually recommended to help maintain skin and coat health. They also support a cat’s immune system, liver, eyes, brain and joints. An additional benefit of Omega-3s may be in boosting heart health and fighting high cholesterol. Probiotics: Probiotics are supplements of “good” bacteria that help improve digestive health. They contain microorganisms such as Lactobacillus, which help to control the overgrowth of “bad” bacteria in the large intestine. Liver supplements: These may be recommended to support liver health, as liver disease is not uncommon in cats. They usually contain a combination of anti-oxidants (such as silymarin from milk thistle) and vitamins, which can be depleted in liver disease. Calming supplements: These often contain a combination of amino acids which support the production of serotonin, which has a calming effect. These are often in combination with vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids to help support brain health.What are nutraceuticals for cats?
Nutraceuticals comprise of foods, or extracts from foods, that confer medicinal benefits. Some of the most common include:- Glucosamine – to support joint mobility.
- Chondroitin – to support healthy bones and joints. It is often found with glucosamine.
- Milk thistle – to remove toxins from the liver. It may be recommended for cats with liver disease.
Are there any cat Supplements I shouldn’t give?
It is important to be understand that natural does not always mean safe or effective. There are many naturally occurring plant toxins, and many vitamins and minerals taken in excess can have toxic effects. Unfortunately, there are supplements available which can actually do more harm than good. Always check the label and ask your vet if a product is safe before giving it to your cat. Here are some of the most common ones to avoid:- Onion and garlic (plants of the allium family): destroy red blood cells, leading to anaemia
- Calcium: too much can be toxic (only use in pregnant or lactating queens under veterinary supervision)
- Vitamin D: too much can be toxic leading neurological signs, calcium deposits and weak bones
- Vitamin C: too much can cause overly acidic urine, which can lead to urine crystal formation
- Vitamin A: too much can cause bones to fuse, leading to reduced mobility
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]]>The post Vita’s A to Z of Pet Health appeared first on Vita Animal Health .
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The post Vita’s A to Z of Pet Health appeared first on Vita Animal Health .
]]>Vita Animal Health Launches Omniotic to Provide a Flexible New Solution to Ear Cleaning
Vita Animal Health has launched a new ear cleaner for use in dogs, cats and rabbits. Omniotic combines debris removal with anti-infectious agents and is suitable for every-day use. A unique soft, flexible tip makes the product easy to use for owners and vets alike, supporting ear health in a variety of species.
The product is sold as 120ml bottles and the transparent flexible tip is comfortable even in stenosed, tender ear canals. It can be used for regular cleaning to maintain a healthy ear canal, especially in predisposed breeds such as spaniels and lop-eared rabbits where ear conformation increases the risk of ear disease. Omniotic can also be safely used alongside ear treatments. The ability to use in rabbits is particularly important to allow ear cleaning alongside other topical antibacterial and antifungal agents. Rabbits ear canals are less prone to inflammation and stenosis, and topical treatment can be very effective in this species.
Ear disease is a common presentation for dogs, cat and rabbits and cleaning to remove debris and support ear canal health is a frequent veterinary recommendation to owners. Omniotic combines a trio of ingredients to remove ear wax and debris, including a non-irritating detergent, a solvent in aqueous and oily media, and an emulsifier of oily and organic debris.
In addition to removing wax and debris, Omniotic contains Octoxynol-9, lactic acid, salicylic acid and parabens, which together have anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. As it also contains EDTA the pH is buffered so it can be used alongside antibiotics or anti-fungal medications without neutralising their effects. Essential oils support the body’s inflammatory system and skin health while giving a pleasant odour.
Tara Evans, RVN and sales manager says “Omniotic is an ear cleaner for dogs, cats and rabbits which combines features to meet the needs of owners and vets at the same time. The feedback from our customers is very positive; they are finding the soft, flexible applicator tip is easy to use and well tolerated. The unique combination of ingredients and the multi-species use means Omniotic can be used to support ear health across a wide variety of indications”.
For more information on the product and for the latest promotional offers, contact Tara Evans, via email [email protected], telephone 01256 591032, or visit www.vitaanimalhealth.com
The post Omniotic Press Release appeared first on Vita Animal Health .
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