Please help! Dry skin and bald patches

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This topic has 11sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 7 months ago by Bam.

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- 11/04/2014 at 9:48 PM
  ElliottsMum
  Participant
  7 posts
  I have been using this forum for as long as I’ve had my little love bun, Elliott. But I have finally decided to become a member. About three weeks ago while at the vet i discovered a small dry patch of bald skin on Elliott, behind his ear. The vet did not seem very concerned(I have since switched vets.) Over time I watched the the spot grow as well as three additional dry spots. There is now a total of four and they all connect, accompanied by flaky skin. They start on the sides of his ears and connect on the back of his head. I will attach pictures from a few days ago. I saw the new vet today and she is just as baffled as I am. He was tested for fur and ear mites but nothing showed under the microscope. I have been putting mineral oil to at least help with the discomfort. He is scratching a lot so she also checked for fleas but again, nothing showed up. She also checked for few other things such a ring worm. I am now here in hopes someone may know what’s going on. As of last night he started making a strange sound that I’ve never heard before, almost a squeak in a way as well as grinding his teeth louder than normal. I have read that the loud grinding means pain but when he does it he is completely relaxed laying in his cage. I am a nervous mess and so worried about my Elliott. I don’t know what to do.. I hope someone may be able to help. He is a 1.5 yr old mini Rex and is neutered. He is my only house bun and I don’t take him outside.
  
  http://tinypic.com/r/2lctlja/8
  http://tinypic.com/r/11vmbli/8
  http://tinypic.com/r/kf37de/8
- 11/04/2014 at 11:33 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17242 posts
  I deleted your duplicate post and just approved this one since it had the picture links. =)
- 11/05/2014 at 12:26 PM
  ElliottsMum
  Participant
  7 posts
  Thank you! I hope someone can help me out!
- 11/05/2014 at 8:28 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17242 posts
  I looked at the pictures. It’s kinda hard to tell since the fur is all greasy from the mineral oil.
  
  I do feel I need to note that it isn’t unusual for rabbits to have thinner fur on the nap of their necks/at the base of their ears. This area can look even more sparse if they are shedding. Sometimes the skin gets a little flaky too when they are shedding large chunks of fur.
  
  Did you notice any irritation initially? Or did the fur just seem thin and his skin a bit flaky? I wonder if constantly applying the mineral oil to his skin is making it worse. Mineral oil coats the skin and traps moisture on the surface (it can even pull moisture from cells in the deeper layers of skin). It could be that the mineral oil is making his skin sore. That is just my guess though.
- 11/05/2014 at 9:01 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  My rabbit Kahlua is bald back there -weird lionhead genetics I think. Though since this isn’t normal for your bunny thats maybe a concern. You said you switched vets-has your new vet seen the spots?
  
  Welcome-glad you joined us!
- 11/05/2014 at 10:54 PM
  ElliottsMum
  Participant
  7 posts
  I only just recently(last two days) started putting the mineral oil on. The new vet did see them, my main reason for seeing her. I wouldn’t have thought much of the dry spot until I noticed how much more he had been scratching as well as multiple spots that now all connect. His regular mood has changed and I can tell he has discomfort. I would love to think that it is him just shedding but it has never happened before. The hair is now thinning on the back of his neck as well, below his ears. Would more picture be helpful? I went almost three weeks before putting anything on the spots. She has recommended trying revolution to possibly help and treat whatever is going on.
- 11/05/2014 at 10:56 PM
  ElliottsMum
  Participant
  7 posts
  Though it was small, the first spot was completely bald when I first noticed it.
- 11/06/2014 at 7:20 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  No I don’t think I could suggest anything from pictures -coupled with the other symptoms and the fact that its a new bald spot I would get back to the vet-or ideally another vet. It doesn’t sound like your vet really understands whats going on.
- 11/06/2014 at 7:52 PM
  ElliottsMum
  Participant
  7 posts
  I have seen two vets now. The first did not seemed concerned about the spots. I am much happier with the second vet that I am now seeing but she is not sure what is going on. She suggested we use revolution if it is either fleas or mites(even though the tests came up negative) It could possibly be ringworm but we’re trying this approach to see if it clears up or not.
  I have had a terrible time finding a vet who is experienced in buns in my town. There are no specialist in my area and the closest is about 80 miles away. And even though that is not too far I don’t want to put my bun through more stress. The one I am going to now actually has three rabbits at home as well as raised them when she was a kid. I emailed the closest specialist hoping he could help me out but I never received a response. I am not sure if a new vet is entirely necessary, especially since it has been so difficult finding someone who knows rabbits.
- 11/06/2014 at 8:00 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17242 posts
  Revolution certainly can’t hurt the situation. And if it doesn’t help, that will at least cross a few things off the list of possibilities.
- 09/06/2018 at 1:31 AM
  Calvinshmalvin
  Participant
  1 posts
  Hello all! Was this issue ever resolved? My poor bun has the exact same circumstances. A few patches of fur loss, dry skin, but no mites detected by the vet, and she doesn’t scratch etc… I’m considering a treatment of some medicine, as I see some have said that not all scrapings detect mites.
- 09/06/2018 at 3:05 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17033 posts
  Hi Calvinshmalvin!
  
  You can treat a bun with Revolution (selamectin) or ivermectin for suspected mites, even if a tape- or scrape-test comes back negative. If it helps it helps, and if it doesn’t, no harm is done. Many vets choose this route, because as you say, tests can give false negatives. Both selamectin and ivermectin are prescriptions drugs though, so you need a vet to prescribe them for you. Can you feel any raised “un-smooth” areas where the fur has fallen off? Fur mites typically give rise to (small) white-yellowish “scabs”.
  
  There are no rabbit-safe OTC compounds that will effectively kill mites. This is a warning we always issue when the subject of (suspected) skin parasites comes up: Never use any compound containing fipronil on a bunny. Fipronil is sold under a whole host of names, for example Frontline, Sentry, Effipro. It’s safe for cats and dogs but it’s deadly toxic to rabbits.
  
  There are however cases when a bald patch and dry skin isn’t caused by mites. Some buns molt in patches, and develop temporary bald spots. New hair should start to sprout within 10 days- 2 weeks though.
  
  This is a very old thread, and we ask our members to not revive old threads. If you want to create a topic about your rabbit’s skin problem, you can do that here: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/afv/post/aff/2/Default.aspx
  
  I will lock this thread later today. If you have any questions, you are very welcome to PM me or one of the other forum leaders =)
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