Bald spots

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This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 3 months ago by Chilly's Mom.

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- 11/30/2009 at 2:55 PM
  Chilly's Mom
  Participant
  41 posts
  I just noticed that there’s a patch of fur about 1.5 inch round missing just under Chilly’s chin. It didn’t shed off; it’s just missing. She’s bald. I’ve heard of parrots pulling out their feathers out when they’re bored, do rabbits do that too? Chilly doesn’t seem like she should be bored because she has Dusty as a companion and they live in modest sized cages with hours of free roam time daily. Does she need to go to the vet?
- 12/01/2009 at 3:17 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Probably. Is it a really round spot? Is it directly under her mouth or more the dewlap area? Fur loss is usually due to mites or other parasites or fungal infections. A ringworm would leave a round spot too. She’s not pulling it out herself? Sometimes rabbits can go thru false pregnancy but this is normally unspayed rabbits, so I wouldn’t think it was this with Chilly. Some will pull fur if under some kind of stress. Also, it it possible Dusty and her had a scuffle?
  If the area seems wet it may be because she’s drooling due to teeth problems and then fur loss due to the saliva. Most likely its something like mites and easily treatable.
- 12/01/2009 at 2:22 PM
  Chilly's Mom
  Participant
  41 posts
  It is in the dewlap area. Chilly’s very stubborn in letting me hold her chin so I can inspect further. Chilly’s was spayed when she was really young, so I don’t think that could a possibility. Dusty and her do play rough sometimes, but it’s usually puff of Dusty’s fur. Not sure if it could be stress, but she seems happy to me. I’m guessing it could be mites since I did take her outside recently. If that’s the case, is it home remedy treatable?
- 12/01/2009 at 3:04 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  I’d go to the vet -it could really be anything Jersey pointed out-could aslo be ‘wet dewlap’ which I believe is an oppurutunistic microorganism-and it can get in when the dewlap is wet (from either being overweight or drooling) and all would need treatment.
  
  Keep us posted!
- 12/01/2009 at 5:37 PM
  MooBunnay
  Participant
  3087 posts
  Its hard even for vets to diagnose these things sometimes, so a vet visit is probably the way to go if the bald spot isn’t going away or is getting worse, that way they can do test or cultures or whatever they need to to determine what it is. If it was a one time thing, you would see the fur growing back pretty quickly – can you see the beginnings of fur growing back? You might have to get someone to hold her while you take a closer look. If the bald spot is getting bigger, or more red, then that is especially concerning, and would definitely merit a trip to the vet.
- 12/01/2009 at 6:21 PM
  KatnipCrzy
  Participant
  2981 posts
  I don’t think that self trauma to the haircoat is common in rabbits(excludng pregnancy and false pregnancy). Not to say that it is impossible- but not as common as in dogs or cats. And if the area is under the chin- if it is not an area that the bunny can physically reach with the tongue to groom- it is less likely self overgrooming. Cats can overgroom when they are stressed- and that can cause damage to the haircoat and skin. Scratching and causing damage is not typical sign of a “mental” reason for hairloss- scratching does not provide comfort to them that licking does. Could the other rabbit be grooming your bunny in that area?
- 12/02/2009 at 9:25 AM
  Chilly's Mom
  Participant
  41 posts
  Last night I was wrestling a rabbit. Chilly is usually very good about taking meds, being handled and carried that she’s more a of toy bunny. I tried laying her on her back but her feet wouldn’t stop kicking. After a few more minutes of coaxing I finally got her to cooperate. I was able to take a closer look at the missing patch of fur. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. It just lookis like someone pulling a large tuff of fur out from under her chin. The skin color is light pink, which is good because she’s an albino. I’m going to keep monitoring the spot and hope that fur starts coming back soon. There’s a little fluff as we speak now.
  
  Someone also suggested that she could be lacking enough fiber? I’m putting her on a more strict grass diet just to see if that will help too.
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