permanent hair loss 2009 vet checked

[bunnytowne]

Has anyone ever heard of this?  

Cotton since 2009 has had some hair loss its symmetrical.  Around his cheeks.  His ears.  The back of his neck/shouleders. 

The vet checked him in 2009 and again 2014.  Its not getting worse.  Except for once when he was stressed.  He was checked for mites, and all the other stuff vets check for I forget what all.  A scraping was done.  I spent a lot of $ for all the tests.  Thats ok I am not complaining of course.  Everything came back negative.  

Conclusion.  An endocrine disorder.   Possibly thyroid.  Since there is no documented records of normal thyroid or endocrine levels in a rabbit its not treatable at this time.  Thats the only thing the vets can figure.  Every year when he goes in to get his yearly checkup photos are taken for his file to do a comparison to see if its getting worse or not.  If it was a fungus it would be way worse by now.  so we doubt its that.  I mean by 8 years later he would have been bald by now.   I dont want to go thru the stress of a lye dye I think its called to kill fungus.  His skin is healthy pink not scaly.  HE doesn’t scratch at the bald spots it doesn’t appear to bother him at all.  

Now I do know  old timers here may remember his bout with bunny treponematosis.  Took a year and I thought at the end thats what it was but  1 vet said no no no blah blah blah.  Well I waited.  Then took him back for more cream for his lip then a different vet saw him and said ok lets try this for treponematosis.  And it was cured.  So I wonder if it could be from that.  Towards the end of the problem some hair started to fall out in these areas.  

I dont know.  The hair loss isnt due to treponematosis that is not a symptom of it.  Cotton has always gotten weird stuff.  Always.  These 2 conditions are weird for him.  lol.  Otherwise he is a normal healthy little fellow. 

The vet and I aren’t too worried about the hair loss since its not spreading and over all he looks healthy and the skin looks healthy. Its not bothering him.  IT doesn’t bother me that its there.  Well I wish hair was there it would look better but to me thats not a reason not to love and pet and care for and spoil him.  

[Azerane]

That’s a very peculiar condition. Although I don’t know a great deal about thyroid problems in rabbits, I do know that hair loss can be symptoms of them, the same with certain cancers too. It’s good that your vet takes yearly pictures of the bald patches to check to see if it’s consistent. I’m not sure what else to suggest otherwise. If it’s not bothersome and there doesn’t seem to be other issues there’s not much more you can do I don’t think.

[LBJ10]

Yes, symmetrical hair loss in those areas always makes me worry about thymoma. Although hormone disorders are rare, they can occur in rabbits. I remember reading something about adrenal problems in neutered males may cause hair loss? Where did I see that?

[jerseygirl]

Cotton certainly likes to throw up some mysterious symptoms doesn’t he! I remember well the time with his lip scabs & the Treponematosis. (Old timer here *waves* lol)
We’ve referred to his case a bit on the forums since.

Are you still able to see the vet that finally correctly diagnosed him back then?

The only thing I found that sounds similar is a small except about Alopecia Areata. There seems little information…

A condition resembling alopecia areata has been described in rabbits. Affected animals present with one or more areas of noninflammatory annular alopecia, especially on the black-furred areas of the pinna. Spontaneous recovery is accompanied with regrowth of white fur. ~Muller and Kirks Small Animal Dermatology 7th addition – William Miller Craig Griffin Karen Campbell

The only other thing I’d suspect is ringworm but it sounds as if you’ve investigated that.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By LBJ10 on 1/07/2017 10:46 PM
Yes, symmetrical hair loss in those areas always makes me worry about thymoma. Although hormone disorders are rare, they can occur in rabbits. I remember reading something about adrenal problems in neutered males may cause hair loss? Where did I see that?

I really do believe some neutered males develop imbalances in the senior years. Rumball certainly started displaying hormonal behaviours from about age 6. The adrenal connection seems a difficult thing to test for, I’m told.

[bunnytowne]

Thank you. I will look into the thyloma. Hi jersey girl.
Yes his lip. And he does see the vet who correctly diagnosed him. He had already been neutered when i bought him from a pet store at 2 months old poor baby. He chose me of all the people who came in and help him. He was calm with me the staff said n fussed with others lol. Oh yes he gets some weird stuff. Thank you for your ideas n help. I had checked into apoplexa i think its spelled. I scourex the internet a few years back on his issue. Didnt find much except mites etc. If it was ringworm he would be in terfible shape by now. Or cancer. He has had this since 09. 8 years now

[jerseygirl]

Just premature balding then, BT.
Not to worry, we know how gorgeous he is.

Love the new avatar!

[LBJ10]

If it’s been going on for this long, it would suggest (at least to me) that is could be hormone-related.

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