Rabbit’s ears changing colour/pattern

[Taiga]

I have recently noticed that my black tort mini rex’s ears have been changing colour really quickly. I’ve noticed them changing a little bit (usually just slightly darker or lighter, or having the darker ‘points’ come down further) when he’s molted in the past, but these changes are much bigger, and he isn’t even molting right now!
He has four darker ‘spots’ that have appeared on his ears; the top two were there before, but much smaller and lighter, while the bottom two are completely new and appeared over the course of ten days. (Pictures below)

I’m not sure if this is anything to be worried about, it just seems odd that the spots are showing up so quickly, especially because he isn’t shedding right now. If anyone has any advice or ideas as to why this happening (or anything else to share!) I would really appreciate it 🙂

 

10 days ago; The upper spots are pretty small and light, lower spots not even visible.

 

 

Geronimo’s ears 4 days ago; the spots are a little smaller, and aren’t connected by a line yet.

 

Geronimo’s ears yesterday.

[Bam]

Your bun has a lovely color!

Unless the skin under the fur spots is compromised in some way, color changes are not associated with any sort of health problem. Rabbits don’t have continuous hair growth like we do, and their hairs can be banded in more than one color. The wool is also different in color from the outer hairs, unless its an all white rabbit (all black rabbits tend to have surprisingly light grey wool).

This means that the fur will appear to change colors while new individual hairs are growing out. That new growth occurs in patches is very common with rabbits. They can shed in patches too, in some cases so that bald spots form and the bun (temporarily) looks positively moth eaten -but it’s still all normal.

Some buns have a temperature-sensitive genes that make the dark hairs darker when they grow out when its cold and the new growth lighter during the warm season. (I dont think thats whats going on with your bun, its just an example of how interesting rabbit fur coloring can be).

Geronimo’s fur is very shiny, which is one of the things a vet looks for when assessing the health of a bun. (Not all buns have a fur type that can be very glossy, so dull fur doesn’t always signify poor health).

 

[LBJ10]

I agree with Bam. It just looks like patches of fur growing in.

[Author]

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