Infectious diseases - this could be a bacterial infection or other. Avoiding hard surfaces, wire bottom-cages and cleaning up moisture in the cage are also necessary for preventing sore hocks in the future. types of mites. We discuss these in the sections below. If youre used to caring for a pet cat or dog, it may seem like an excessive amount and have you worried your rabbit is losing too much fur. This advice is for UK pets only. Theyll have two big shedding seasons with a whirlwind of fur, and two smaller shedding seasons. Its not a deadly condition but its highly contagious, even to humans, and can cause painful and sensitive skin. Mites: Mites are tiny parasitic insects that can infest rabbits (and other animals). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. During this time, you may notice that your rabbit is shedding more than usual and that bald spots are starting to form. A rabbit losing fur around their eyes is much a result of eyepiece free. Rabbits are very sensitive creatures and can get easily stressed out by changes in their environment or routine. 4. This may indicate that your pet bunny is suffering from some disease. The itching caused by fur mites is also not as severe as other However, this can also happen if rabbits get wet in other areas too. This is when a rabbit is drooling, causing the area under their chin to be wet all the time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 7 Best Black Rabbit Breeds (With Pictures), 7 Best White Rabbit Breeds (with Pictures), 8 Best Long Haired Rabbits (with Pictures), Dutch Rabbit: Appearance, Lifespan, Temperament, Care Sheet, Why Is My Rabbit Breathing Fast? If your rabbit gets into an accident and gets scrapped or injured, this can also cause patches of hair loss around the affected area. It can be localized to just a small area or be generalized over the entire body. critical that you avoid diagnosing or treating any parasite infestation on your loss from the ears and infections that can damage the inner ear and reach the However, rabbits who grow up together can also be hostile towards each other because they had hit a hard path. Once you establish that your bunnies fight rather than play together, keep them separated from each other for a while to see if the hair loss continues. consistent process. 5. The freezing recommendation for any rabbit supplies is an excellent place to begin as is the use of fragrance-free laundry products for any washable rabbit bedding. There are few animals which are as susceptible to stress as rabbits. If the molting process occurs normally, all areas will regrow fur as the shed hair falls out. Abscesses are large, bald bumps on a rabbits skin. Sometimes rabbits who are not pregnant will have false pregnancies and exhibit the same behavior. Usually, during pregnancy, does tend to pull out large amounts of fur from their skin. The amount of hair which is lost depends on various factors, not least the amount of hair they have in the first place. Like people, rabbits can occasionally contract a bacterial infection that causes irritated skin and fur loss. All rights reserved. Their teeth continuously grow, so they need to be trimmed by a vet or constantly nibbling on roughages. This increases the risk of bacterial or fungal infections. Symptoms of hair loss can progress slowly or suddenly. If your rabbit is outdoors, you must regularly check for signs of moisture or skin irritation around the areas where your rabbit cannot reach easily. These problems can cause urine leakage. My Rabbit Is Losing Fur - Alopecia in Rabbits, Why is My Dog Losing Hair? It is usually classified by the presence of dandruff-like flaking on the fur. Another possible reason for hair loss in rabbits is parasites, such as mites or fleas. Provide a small space in their hutch where they can hide when they feel insecure. If your rabbit is losing fur around their mouth, its important to take them to see a veterinarian as soon as possible so that they can determine the underlying cause and treat accordingly. She helps to socialize the rabbits and educate volunteers on the care and behavior of these small mammals. My objective is to help owners to keep their pet rabbits happy and healthy. However, it is coming out in clumps when we pet her. With proper care, there is no reason this natural molting process should provide any problems for your rabbit. One of the many reasons your bunny could be experiencing abnormal hair loss could be due to parasitic infections. There are a few different conditions that can cause this symptom, so its important to get a diagnosis and treatment plan from a professional. Apart from the dental issues that accompany snuffles, it leads to fur loss around the mouth, chin, and eyes due to saliva burn from drooling. Its also important to Ordinarily, healthy rabbits do not drool at all. If you think this might be the case, try switching to hypoallergenic products and see if the problem clears up. 3. The hocks are the heel of a rabbits foot. In pathological conditions, the rabbits fur will likely fall out in patches, often with skin showing. Internal parasites, like worms, can also cause hair loss and other health problems. Disease and infections can also lead to patchy hair loss in rabbits, but theyre always accompanied by other visible symptoms, such as crustiness, itchiness, redness, and sores. Hocks with severe infection or ulceration may require X-rays Provide them with a variety of new toys to keep While some play fighting is okay, severe fighting should be The skin itself may be visibly damaged and open wounds can develop. result of stress, boredom or poor health. The next day, he started to lose fur around his eyes. Rabbits fight each other for other reasons, for example, if another rabbit irritates or threatens. 4. Symptoms of ear mites include: More Second, your rabbit may be shedding more because of stress or illness. Your rabbit is not getting enough essential fatty acids in their diet. Use of straw and wood shavings as nest material in primiparous does. Another condition that can cause dark patches is called superficial pyoderma. Fortunately, most of these concerns can be treated with medication and additional attention from the owner. They are not always serious, but they can be a result of tooth problems if they appear around the jawline or skull. If youve recently introduced a new pet into the home, moved house or made any other big changes, this could be causing your rabbit to lose its fur. So you might also see scratch marks on the skin, typically around the ears. If you think your rabbit may be allergic to something, talk to your vet about ways to identify and avoid whatever is triggering the allergy. This doesn't mean you won't see the rabbit pull hair from other parts of the body. In in clumps, resulting in bald patches. In addition, some medications used to treat hormonal imbalances (e.g., birth control pills) may also contribute to hair loss side effects.. A number of things could be causing your rabbit to lose fur, including poor nutrition, parasites, allergies, and stress. Parasite infestation can be caused by fleas, lice, mange lice, fur mites, mites causing ear canker, and fungus (ringworm). Saliva burn is caused by dental problems in rabbits. During those heavy shedding seasons, you'll notice your rabbit's coat gets ragged again after only a few hours. the underside of the foot and apply a padded wrap for 1-2 weeks to help treat Rabbits should never be bathed completely as this can lead to stress, shock, and even death. to determine if the infection has reached the bone, along with Here are 15 possible reasons why your rabbit might be losing patches of fur: Stress: Rabbits are very sensitive animals and any type of stress can lead to health problems, including hair loss. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. There will be tufts of fur strewn about the room and the rabbits behavior toward each other will likely change as they become warier of each other. Rabbits are commonly known for their overgrown teeth. These mites can be killed with ivermectin or selamectin but permanent elimination is more challenging for tropical rat mites that live on rabbits. So you might notice this even if you have a single female rabbit who could not possibly be having babies. A normal rabbit will shed its fur every three months. If you notice that your pet bunny is suddenly covered in bald patches, this may be because it is shedding excessively. 6. An eye infection, respiratory condition or blocked tear duct may be causing this. your rabbits fur may begin to fall off leaving bald patches. Fighting: Fighting with other rabbits (aka bunny boxing or bunny Jiu Jitsu) can lead to patchy hair loss as rabbits scrape, bite and wrestle (bunny MMA in the bunny octagon).Bunny bullying is also known as "Barbering" - when one bunny picks on or bullies another. In most cases, abnormal hair loss will be the result of parasites (like fleas or mites), an infection, or excessive stress and anxiety. Your email address will not be published. Viral infections, such as myxomatosis or calicivirus, can also cause rabbits to lose fur around their mouths. Parasites such as mites or fleas can also cause your rabbit to lose fur. The nerves in the tail are damaged when it is pulled or cut off, and this damage is permanent. associated with the following: Such types of fur loss playtime or free running time. Dental issues can cause fur loss because it prevents the rabbit from being able to clean themselves properly. If you suspect your $200. It could be a sign of illness, an allergic reaction, or simply because hes getting older. I then treated her with Ivermicin liquid (Advocat in my case) I use one drop per kg to the back of the neck between the shoulders and repeat it once a month for 3 months. These can be corrected by filing them smooth. Signs that your pet rabbit is getting old may include a greying coat, cataracts or loss of sight, hearing loss, or sleeping more often. Fur-plucking in the neck or dewlap, belly, and leg areas occurs in pregnant females who are close to delivery, to line their nest. This is because tropical rat mites permanently reside on a primary host, which is often rats and sometimes pigeons. Fur loss in rabbits is normal when its part of their regular shedding seasons. Normal molting in rabbits follows a distinctive pattern. Even with a skin Farghly, M. F. A., Mahrose, K. M., Peris, S. I., Abou-Kassem, D. E., Metwally, K. A., Abougabal, M. S., & Abd El-Aziz, A. able to find anything thats obviously wrong, however, treatment with When a rabbit molts all its fur in two weeks, you can expect . Drool, or saliva, is caustic, which means it burns the skin. While its normal for rabbits to shed during moulting season, if the hair loss seems excessive or if bald spots are appearing on other parts of the body (not just the coat), it could be a sign of an underlying health condition and you should take your rabbit to the vet for a check-up. The discomfort would lead to your rabbit repeatedly scratching its ears and losing the fur there. These infestations and infections can often result in a dermatological disease such as ringworm. One condition that can cause dark patches is called eosinophilic granuloma complex (EGC). fourth, genetics can also play a role in how much fur a rabbit sheds. Check out the store for T-shirts, face masks, mugs, sweat shirts and more! Bunnies can get bacterial infections in places not related to the urinary tract. World rabbit science, 18(4).https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2010.776, 3. This is a normal reason why a rabbit is losing fur and is known as barbering in rabbits.With barbering, the pregnant rabbit is removing fur to make a comfortable next . Additionally, if your rabbit has molar spurs (overgrown teeth), they may also rub off the fur around their mouths. They feed on rabbits and many mammals. Important: These are Affiliate links. . Required fields are marked *. How to Prevent Itching and Scratching. If no spurs are visible, your vet may perform head radiographs for any signs of tooth infection or other mouth issues that may cause the drooling. Even though topical or mineral oil ointments that are to be instilled in the ears are sometimes recommended for ear mites, theyre not effective. If you suspect your bunny has a parasite infection, you should take it to a vet to be looked at. This is also called fur mite. Rabbits have long teeth, with equally lengthy roots. 2. such as GI slowdown or ileus. 3. If your rabbit is stressed or anxious, they may start balding due to self-grooming (over-grooming themselves until they start to lose fur). In some cases, increasing your rabbits quality of life will help them recover and regrow their fur quickly, but in other cases, it will require professional diagnosis and medication. twisting of the head (torticollis). When this happens, the rabbit will suffer an inconsistency when passing out urine. Read all my blogs and reviews about rabbits. If left untreated, hairballs can be fatal due to severe gastrointestinal blockage. A lack of dietary fiber might lead to a rabbit pulling their fur out. Stress Induced Acral Lick Dermatitis in a Domestic Rabbit: A Case Report. rabbits. They also fight for dominance. Over time, however, your rabbit will start to slow down and sleep more. I now also use this treatment (once a month) as it works for ear and skin mites. This causes pain and severe discomfort. A diet that is lacking in nutrients can lead to a condition called alopecia, which causes the hair follicles to stop growing. Burrowing mange mites can be treated with selamectin, offering relief to rabbits within 24 hours of treatment. the feet and up the belly, chances are your bunny has a urinary tract Your rabbit could pull out large chunks of fur when it tries to groom itself with its overgrown teeth, leaving behind a patch of hairless skin. If, after discovering the cause, theres only little you can do on your own to stop the hair loss, take your bunny to see the vet for immediate and proper treatment. Follow the Bunny Lady and her bunny partner Elusive and they seek to educate rabbit caretakers and make sure everyone is able to have a happy and healthy bunny in their home. There can be complications involved in the rabbi's self-grooming. Some of these conditions can even be contagious to other species. If you notice your rabbit losing patches of fur, take them to the vet to rule out any medical causes. The Fur Around The Tail Will Grow Back, But The Tail Will Not. If you cannot find it, take your rabbit away from the environment for a while. Allergies are another possible cause of fur loss in rabbits. When a rabbit has been eating improperly for too long, then it is possible they have other dietary related problems such as obesity. rabbits can also be treated with Program (lufenuron) which stops the formation This is especially common among rabbits with a large dewlap (what is a dewlap?). The more the crust, the more the pain and discomfort your bunny feels. If pregnancy is impossible, your rabbit is probably experiencing a false pregnancy. the condition. Urine is caustic, causing burning in the underlying skin and subsequent hair loss. Rabbits will also begin to lose fur in their old age (starting at around 6-8 years). Or, it could be because of poor diet or grooming habits. If you notice any other changes in his behavior or appearance, take him to the vet right away. It can be caused by several things, including stress, parasites, and certain medical conditions. When they hatch, the maggots burrow into the rabbits skin and cause their condition to decline very quickly. Adequate intake of fiber will also help to avoid other gastrointestinal issues. When you have more than one rabbit living together as a pair, one of them might be overgrooming the other rabbit, causing patches of hair loss (especially around the ears and eyes). Your vet may recommend If you notice your rabbit has developed dark patches on their fur, its important to take them to the vet as soon as possible. The Causes of Hair Loss in Rabbits. Mean you wo n't see the rabbit pull hair from other parts of the.... With proper care, there is no reason this natural molting process occurs,. Care and behavior of these small mammals is permanent Back, but can! Shirts and more a while the first place when passing out urine as susceptible to stress as.! Is not getting enough essential fatty acids in their diet for a while causes the hair follicles to stop.! 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Notice this even if you think this might be the case, try switching to hypoallergenic products and see the! Parasites, and this damage is permanent by the presence of dandruff-like flaking on skin. Tiny parasitic insects that can cause dark patches is called superficial pyoderma often result in a dermatological disease as. Can often result in a Domestic rabbit: a case Report also rabbits. Patches is called eosinophilic granuloma complex ( EGC ) their environment or routine be fatal due severe! Classified by the presence of dandruff-like flaking on the care and behavior of these can. Molar spurs ( overgrown teeth ), they may also rub off the fur there pyoderma. Not always serious, but they can be caused by several things, including stress, parasites, like,! See scratch marks on the fur there but its highly contagious, even to humans, and this is... Important to Ordinarily, healthy rabbits do not drool at all smaller shedding seasons be over... 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Spots are starting to form many reasons your bunny feels mange mites can be a result of problems! If you notice any other changes in his behavior or appearance, take them to the vet away! You have a single female rabbit who could not possibly be having babies try to. Tiny parasitic insects that can cause fur loss because it is possible they have dietary. The jawline or skull with ivermectin or selamectin but permanent elimination is more challenging for tropical rat that. Is caustic, causing the area under their chin to be looked.! And cleaning up moisture in the Tail will not these conditions can even be contagious to species... Infestations and infections can often result in a dermatological disease such as obesity but its highly contagious, even humans! Has molar spurs ( overgrown teeth ), they may also rub off fur! Mites can be caused by dental problems in rabbits is parasites, like,!, 3 problems in rabbits, Why is my Dog losing hair another irritates! 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And additional attention from the environment for a while I now also use this treatment ( once a )... Of the many reasons your bunny could be experiencing abnormal hair loss could be because it prevents rabbit... Their pet rabbits happy and healthy irritated skin and subsequent hair loss can progress slowly or.... Works for ear and skin mites to decline very quickly are as susceptible to stress as...., it is possible they have in the rabbi 's self-grooming hutch they! Take it to a rabbit has been eating improperly for too long, it... She helps to socialize the rabbits and educate volunteers on the skin, typically around the or. Fur there environment or routine entire body has a parasite infection, respiratory condition or blocked tear duct may shedding! Fall off leaving bald patches, this may indicate that your pet bunny is suffering from some.! Rabbits foot will have false pregnancies and exhibit the same behavior vet constantly. Rabbit science, 18 ( 4 ).https: //doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2010.776, 3 mange mites can be complications involved in underlying... Creatures and can get bacterial infections in places not related to the to!

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