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Hair Loss in Rabbits
If you note any change in your rabbit's usual behaviour, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian in your area that treats rabbits. Veterinarians who have focused their practice on this and other related species are best placed to field any case-specific questions.
Many causes of rabbit skin problems produce similar clinical signs, so professional evaluation is important.
Some causes of hair pulling and skin irritation/itchiness (pruritis) in rabbits include:
- Pregnancy "NORMAL" behaviour
- Cheyletiella fur mites - usually associated with a scaly dermatitis with moderate hair loss
- Ringworm or dermatomycosis (a fungal agent) - usually associated with localized dry, scaling lesions
- Poor husbandry including: rough floor surface, contact irritation (use
of harsh cleaners for the rabbit hutch or cage), moisture induced
dermatitis associated with colonization by Staphyloccocus aureus
bacteria; leading to conditions such as "sore hock" (necrotizing
plantar pododermatitis) and suppurative and necrotizing dermatitis, or
infection with Pasteurella multocida bacteria; leading to mucopurulent
dermatitis
- nutritional problems such as poor quality or low fibre diets (cause
diarrhea and thus increased moisture in fur and around hutch)
- Stress barbering - local or diffuse (widespread) distribution of lesions
- Fleas
- Psoroptes ear mites (rarely, these parasites spread to other areas of the fur apart from the ears, such as thighs or legs)
- Idiopathic (cause not identified)
Some possible treatment options that might be prescribed include:
- Trim back nails very short
- Treat specific cause
- Keep hutch or cage clean and dry and minimize stress
A rabbit will not normally pull large patches of hair out except during
nest building, in pregnancy. This situation would be considered a
normal nesting behaviour and would require no treatment.
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Source:
Reprinted with kind permission from Animal Health Care
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