bald spots???

[Samantha1357]

I have 3 bunnies,5 months old, that are doing some heavy shedding. This morning I took them outside in their pen and brushed them. There was SO much fur coming off it looks like it snowed bunny fur in my backyard. I dont think I created the bald spots, I used the furminator and my four paws grooming glove which is what I always use. There is nothing on the skin where the bald spots were…and it wasnt bald before brushing. Did i do something wrong? is this normal? 

[CharleyBunn]

Im not sure, but this may be molting. You could look up some pictures and see if it looks the same. I know mites can also cause fur loss, but I think there is usually some sort of irritation or a lot of scratching and grooming taking place. Mange and hot spots can also cause fur loss, but you’d most likely see a lot of irritation or weeping from the area and know something was wrong. And some females will pull their own hair out when nesting or having a false pregnancy.

Because of all this shedding fur, make sure they are eating plenty of hay right now. They have to pass all that hair they lick while grooming and can’t throw up fur balls like cats.

[CharleyBunn]

Im not sure, but this may be molting. You could look up some pictures and see if it looks the same. I know mites can also cause fur loss, but I think there is usually some sort of irritation or a lot of scratching and grooming taking place. Mange and hot spots can also cause fur loss, but you’d most likely see a lot of irritation or weeping from the area and know something was wrong. And some females will pull their own hair out when nesting or having a false pregnancy.

Because of all this shedding fur, make sure they are eating plenty of hay right now. They have to pass all that hair they lick while grooming and can’t throw up fur balls like cats.

[CharleyBunn]

Im not sure, but this may be molting. You could look up some pictures and see if it looks the same. I know mites can also cause fur loss, but I think there is usually some sort of irritation or a lot of scratching and grooming taking place. Mange and hot spots can also cause fur loss, but you’d most likely see a lot of irritation or weeping from the area and know something was wrong. And some females will pull their own hair out when nesting or having a false pregnancy.

Because of all this shedding fur, make sure they are eating plenty of hay right now. They have to pass all that hair they lick while grooming and can’t throw up fur balls like cats.

[bmt87]

I’m going through the same thing right now.  Lola is shedding like CRAZY and getting bals spots that I know aren’t caused by mites.  I freaked at first because the bald spots were so big and it was scary seeing pink bunny skin but I’m happy to report 2 weeks later I can tell that she is growing back fur in those spots.

Just be really careful with the furmirator as to not pull out too much fur.  i use the hairbuster and there is just so much coming off right now that i just try not to pull and that’s kind of my indicator of being safe and not taking too much or stuff that isn’t already loose and shedding.

Hang in there!  Shedding is NO fun.  I can’t believe what I am vacuuming up every day and I can’t imagine with 3 buns!

[Samantha1357]

I have two other buns (not with these 3) but they are a bit younger so I guess I should expect the shedding soon from them….the furminator isnt even whats taking the most fur out, its the glove and its just coming off loose and flying everywhere. Is there something else you would recommend? I dont like a soft bristle as it does nothing for the lion head/angora mix I have and the slicker hurts them. I realized today they were going through a heavy shed when their entire cage (but they arent locked in it they have a room) was coated in white fur and all their toys were coated. Usually brushing is a fight between me and the buns so today I took them outside for the first time(didnt want all that fur floating in their room, ick) and we didnt have any fighting. they were enjoying romping around in the grass in their pen and digging in the dirt.

Do you brush every day during a heavy shed? I read I think on the house rabbit society that youre supposed to.

[Roberta]

Before you use the glove wet your hands slightly and gently stroke down his coat. This will lift some of the loose stuff and it will stick to your hands rather than floating. it will also help it stick to the glove when you use that.

[CharleyBunn]

I have read several people on here say they prefer to use the wet hand method Roberta recommended and yes I believe it is done at least once a day. My rabbit is only a few months old and never molted, so I haven’t any personal experience to offer better advice, but here is a link w/ some helpful info

http://www.verlannahill.com/molting.htm

[Samantha1357]

I used the wet hand thing but because their fur is so long it really didnt come out into the glove just make a terrible sound (like nails on a chalkboard squeak) and wouldnt take any hair out. So i dried them and continued it dry

[bmt87]

The wet hand technique really doesn’t work for me either. Lola has medium/long hair (she’s part lionhead) and it just takes the top layer off and makes a mess – which I would guess is what you would be dealing with your lion head. Honestly, the only thing that works for us is the slicker and hairbuster. The furminator for short hair animals doesn’t even work because i think her hair is too long. Even if they hate it – I would try sticking with the slicker. just don’t press down – their skin is super thin. lola acts like i am killing her and i get the thumps and bunny butt afterwards – and i honestly think that’s why she likes my boyfriend more than me right now because i’m the evil witch that clips her nails and brushes her – but when I see the poops clumped together with fur I know I HAVE to keep up with it even if she acts like I’m killing her because her hating the brush and then hating me for a little afterwards is better than a tummy full of hair and another $300 vet visit because of it. I seriously brush her EVERYDAY right now because of the shedding and I highly recommend it if your buns are losing that much hair right now. Closely monitor their poos too – if they are strung together that means they are ingesting a lot and it *could* (emphasis on could) cause a lot of tummy troubles.

Hang in there! Long hair buns and shedding are no fun!

[Samantha1357]

Brushed them again today, oh my gosh! I feel bad for my neighbors, the fur flying everywhere is CRAZY. I was in a tornado of bunny fur! My mother came and held them for me so I could really brush them well. They have small bald spots everywhere, but i know its shedding not mites or fleas. The furminator works well fur their back ends as it is so dense. The glove works amazing on the rest of the body. Slicker doesnt get the fur out on these guys. What is a hair buster?

[bmt87]

They used to sell it on BinkyBunny but I bought mine at the local House Rabbit Society – it is seriously a god send. I put a link with a picture of one below so you know what to look for if you want to get one. I heard the company went out of business but I have no idea. I’d cry if I ever lost mine because it’s 100 times easier and more efficient than the furminator.

http://www.nexternal.com/binkybunny/images/HairBuster1MAIN12.jpg

I feel ya on the hair cyclone. The worse is when I do it in the house and then when I vacuum and accidentally hit the fur pile with the vacuum vent before I get to suck it all up and it literally flies EVERYWHERE. D’oh!

[Samantha1357]

http://www.bunnygear.com

is this the right one?

[bmt87]

yep!

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