Is this normal?

[sarahthegemini]

This is probably a dumb question but here goes. Buttercup has a bald patch on the top of her back area. She’s usually really fluffy there. I have a pic of it on my instagram (sh_peanutbuttercup) It’s the most recent photo on there. I’m concerned because overall she seems to be moulting less but this bald patch appeared a few days ago. Not only that but she feels really boney there? I can feel her spine on the patch really easily. She’s been a little overweight for a while, nothing too drastic but if she lost a bit it would be great (not a lot needed to be lost). In terms of diet, they’ve been off pellets for a couple of months but are now back on them. I just don’t know if it’s normal for her to feel boney without the fluff? I know she’ll feel somewhat more slender without the fur but how much is normal?

[Sirius&Luna]

Hmm, that does look like quite an extreme bald patch to be from moulting. I assume the skin underneath is normal? Can you weigh her for an idea of weight? I find it very difficult to know how much spine I should be feeling on my lot.

[sarahthegemini]

The skin looks absolutely fine to my eye. No redness or crust. She’s not itching. I know with buns you’re supposed to feel that their spine has a bit of padding but I don’t know whether that applies for a bald bunny!

She is impossible to weigh myself but I’ve just booked both buns to be looked at by the vet tomorrow. She was 2 and a half kgs at her last weigh in. I’m gunna discuss Peanut’s poops with him too.

[Asriel and Bombur]

I know with Bombur I can almost always feel his spine, and it is quite bony, but he’s also almost 5 pounds. So I know he’s definitely not underweight.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Asriel and Bombur on 8/15/2018 12:58 PM
I know with Bombur I can almost always feel his spine, and it is quite bony, but he’s also almost 5 pounds. So I know he’s definitely not underweight.

I can actually feel the bumps on her spine. I feel like it miiiight be normal w/o the fur there but I’m gunna get her checked out anyway.

[Sirius&Luna]

I can feel the individual bumps on their spines ?

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Sirius&Luna on 8/15/2018 2:11 PM
I can feel the individual bumps on their spines ?

Oh really? Hm perhaps I don’t have to worry about her weight. Just the mystery of how the bald patch came to be so suddenly.

[Sirius&Luna]

Especially at the top of Luna’s back near her neck, I can feel the little bumps quite clearly, and I know she’s a perfect weight. I wouldn’t worry about that too much, unless the vet tells you that she’s lost weight too.

[Q8bunny]

If no flakes (tell-tale sign of mites), I’m still holding to my monster moult patch theory.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I saw the pic on Insta and Bindi would look like that sometimes from moulting. He would look pretty rough sometimes.

[sarahthegemini]

So, the vet had a good look at Binkles and he was a little perplexed! He said there’s no signs whatsoever that she has mites other than the placement of the bald spot is typical for mites. But it looks a little extreme to be moult though not unreasonable. We decided to treat for mites anyway, just in case as he said mite treatment won’t be harmful even if it turns out to be unnecessary. We also decided to treat Pea for it too, just to be safe. And actually the vet examined Peanut and he saw a couple little flakes on the back of his neck. Mystery solved! Sort of. I showed him the photo of Buttercup’s bald patch yesterday as I am convinced her fur has filled in a bit, and he said “I find it hard to believe her fur would grow back in a day, but it does look better today…” 

Also, she has lost a little weight but not a concerning amount and it could very well be due to the heat and the fact that bunny’s pellets were stopped for over a month. 

[Q8bunny]

May September be a mystery-free month!

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Q8bunny on 8/17/2018 10:57 AM

May September be a mystery-free month!

Yes please! 

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