Skin/ Fur Change

[Cinnabon J Bunny]

Hi All,

New to the page and just wanted to share what I’ve noticed in the change in skin/fur of my Cinnabon J. Bunny’s fur. Recently discovered on the back side of my Holland lop. From the pictures below the skin is described as shortened thick dark brown hair mixed with mild scaly dots of red. No change in eating/ drinking habits or bowl movements. I was thinking it was from the rapid change in diet when I started using Kaytee Fiesta Rabbit Food but I was looking for other options. I have not gone to the vet yet because I’m monitoring the spot going back to just regular adult rabbit food. 

Any comments, questions, and concerns that would help us out I’d greatly appreciate it!

~Mar & Cinnabon J Bunny

[DanaNM]

Hi there, welcome

I went ahead and inserted your photos, you had attached them, but not inserted them.

The scaly bits with red make me think it’s probably mites. I doubt it’s from the food, but sometimes buns can have mites and no symptoms, and stress can cause them to flair up. There are other possibilities too, like a fungal infection, but based off the location I think that’s less likely.

Your vet can diagnose for sure. A common treatment is Revolution (it has other names outside the US), which is a topical treatment that you apply monthly. Be sure to never use anything containing fipronil on rabbits.

As side note, I wouldn’t recommend those Kaytee pellets, or any pellet that has a mixture of different pellet types and seeds in them. They encourage selective eating, and usually don’t have the best ingredients for buns. Look for one that is timothy based (or alfalfa if bun is under a year), and has at least 18% fiber content.If you are currently using the Kaytee, you can pick out the grains and cereal bits and just feed the actual pellet part while you slowly transition. You should transition slowly over the course of a month.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Asriel and Bombur]

It looks like a classic case of fur mites. Both of my boys had them at the same time, and Asriel’s looked just like this. If you’re in the states you’ll have to go through a vet to get the proper medicine for it, otherwise kitten Revolution should help clear it up.

Also, please don’t feed your bunny the fiesta food. It really isn’t bunny appropriate. Bunnies should not be fed seeds as it can really cause weight gain and digestive issues. Along with the seeds, the dried fruits can also lead to weight gain and digestive issues. It’s best to stick to a high quality pellet such as Oxbow or Burgess. Make sure you always gradually switch pellets to avoid any digestive upsets

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