Bald spot on bunny’s back?

[lovely binkies]

Hi everyone!

So today I found a bald spot/sore kind of thing on the back of my miniature lop bunny’s back, just behind his shoulder. The skin is redder in the spot and it seems and feels dry. It’s also flaky, but it’s not falling off or anything. He’s been acting the way he normally does and it doesn’t seem like it’s bothering him, but I’m not sure what’s wrong. I’ve looked over his entire body and this is the only spot I’ve found it on. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

[Bam]

It looks like a sore. Could he have been bit by another pet?

Generally a dry flaky spot behind or between the shoulder-blades makes one suspect fur mites (cheyletiella mites), but this looks more like a wound that’s healing. I don’t suppose it’s in a place where he could’ve reached to scratch himself? Fur mites can cause intense itching (they don’t always). Does the skin feel thickened in that area?

You can rinse a wound with eye-wash for humans (saline). Fur mites are best treated with Revolution (selamectin) or Ivermectin. A vet will have to prescribe Revolution for you.

[lovely binkies]

We don’t have any other pets so the mites seem to be the only logical option. I don’t think he scratched it himself but he might’ve by accident

[Bam]

It is kind of typical of mites. Rabbits carry them from they are little babies, but their immune-defense keeps the numbers low. When the rabbit gets ill or stressed (rabbits are very, very easily stressed), the mites get a chance to multiply.

If you google cheyletiella mites you might find a picture that resembles your rabbit’s condition. I found a few good pix but the accompanying texts were questionable, so I don’t want to link to them. The best info-sources, Medirabbit and The House Rabbit Society have less good pics or none at all.

Whatever treatment you choose, do NOT use anything containing Fipronil (Frontline, Effipro, Sentry and others). It’s deadly toxic to rabbits.

Fur mites Medirabbit

skin problems HRS

[Benthebunny]

Like bam said, and I would like to add something. Before you use any mite problem, I would take him to the vet to confirm if he has mites, and ask your vet what products you can use.

[jerseygirl]

Has your rabbit had any injections recently? Vaccinations?

[Deleted User]

My rainbow bridge buck Gareth had a small bald patch with minor flaking skin on his back, no reason for it was found at the time.
Around a year later when he became poorly and started to lose the use of his hind legs one of the vets he saw suggested that he may have had a sore patch on his back which he was licking causing the bald patch.

Deffo worth getting checked out

[Author]

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