Dermatitis – need help please

[Gina]

Hi everyone!  I have posted here a few times before and have a question that would require your expertise.

My bunny has dermatits again.  He has had it twice before.  I always keep his cage pretty clean but he likes to pee everywhere and I think he sits in it.  That, plus he’s 5, so he is getting older.

A while back when he had this, the vet gave us a special shampoo to wash with (Epi Soothe) and Silver Sulfadiazine Cream.  I don’t know if this is the best thing because the skin is damp and I wonder if I should be washing him so much.  I hope this goes away soon-  I hope he’s not too uncomfortable 

Any advice?

[jerseygirl]

Has the vet done a skin scraping to check for mites or bacterial infection?

So his fur is getting wet from urine?

[Gina]

Last time I brought him in, I don’t think they did a scraping.

Yes, the area seems perpetually wet.  I wasn’t sure if it was some kind of seepage or urine or what.

[jerseygirl]

Is he litter box trained? Do you have any sort of absorbant bedding lining his habitat to wick away the urine?

The silvedene cream is good I hear but I believe it’s not for prolonged use?  Bag balm is another good option.

Does he have fur loss in the wet area or just this dermatitis?  I agree, bathing might not be best & could even promote bacterial growth if he remains damp. Have you ever tried giving him a dry bath using corn starch?

[Gina]

How do you give a bath with corn-starch? Does that somehow clean the area? I would hate to put powder on if it would just iritate it more.

Ever since we added more bunnies in the same room, he has not been good with his litterbox. He is neutered but still pees everywhere.

I recently got a paper bedding that’s terrible. I used to use Yesterday’s news which was better at absorbing. I have to pick some up for him. Also, I switched him to his own cage where I put clean towels down for him so the area stays clean.
There appears to be some fur loss but no itching (like mites).

[jerseygirl]

Ever since we added more bunnies in the same room, he has not been good with his litterbox. He is neutered but still pees everywhere.

Ok, that does explain the peeing… My sympathy!

Fur mites don’t always cause itching. They’re pretty easy to treat with Revolution too.

Pure cornstarch takes away the excess moisture and can even freshen things up. You just put it in your hand, rub it into the fur then brush or comb it out. Does he have any broken skin in this area?

[RabbitPam]

I agree with the corn starch, which is natural and very good at wicking away moisture. Pure and unscented – the stuff you get in the baking supplies aisle in the grocery store. I also heard good things about Bag Balm lately.

He needs to get back into the litter pan, though. If you can lure him in with some fresh hay at one end, or even give him a treat a few times (not every time) to make it more appealing for him to go there, that might help him get back into the habit.

Otherwise, I would call the vet since it seems chronic and may need a different treatment now.

[Author]

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