Bald patch on neck?

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This topic has 4sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 10 months ago by Cookie'sOwner.

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- 04/21/2018 at 6:21 PM
  Cookie'sOwner
  Participant
  12 posts
  Hi everyone!
  
  My rabbit seems to have a small bald patch on his neck. It doesn’t seem to be irritated, just furless. I haven’t been able to get a great look at it because you can’t see it if you’re just facing him, and he squirms away when I try to get close enough to see. I’ve seen things online that suggest that baldness on the neck may be caused by the area being wet from the rabbit drinking out of a water bowl. My bun uses a water bowl, and it’s definitely possible that the area on his neck gets wet when he drinks. I’ll be taking him to the vet in the next month for a checkup anyway so I’ll definitely mention it then, but for now, does this problem seem like it is because of the water bowl? If so, would switching him to a water bottle fix the issue?
  
  Thanks!!
- 04/21/2018 at 9:45 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17228 posts
  Is he young? What kind of fur does he have? Some bunnies are a bit sparse back there. Particularly when they are younger.
- 04/25/2018 at 10:27 PM
  Cookie'sOwner
  Participant
  12 posts
  He’s 4 years old and a Holland Lop, so he has rollback fur. Thanks for the response.
- 04/26/2018 at 9:08 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  Potentially. I think in a lot of cases, it’s less that the water is causing the fur loss, but more that the damp environment welcomes growth/development of topical bacterias, like fungal infections (ringworm). In other scenarios, it may be a result of overgrooming because that fur is often damp, so your rabbit is trying to mend the situation.
  
  If you observe the angle of entry your rabbit takes to drink from the water bowl, would keeping the water level lower/higher prevent neck fur from getting into the bowl?
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 04/26/2018 at 6:18 PM
  Cookie'sOwner
  Participant
  12 posts
  Interesting. I think what happens is that he dips his head down a bit to drink water and gets his mouth area wet, and then after he’s finished he tilts his head back up and the water drips down and it sort of gathers in the area that’s furless. It’s possible that getting a taller water bowl or water bottle might help the issue. Thanks.
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