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Our 1-2 year old Netherland Dwarf bunny is losing hair on his back (all the way to the skin) and under his chin. It looks like it's starting to grow back on his back, but I've never had a bunny do this before. What could be the cause?
Optional Information: Pet's Gender: Male Pet's Age: 1 Type of Animal: Rabbit Name of Animal: Bogey Already Tried: nothing
Hello,
Is there any crustiness where the air loss is?
Any scratching or redness?
Do you see any flaking?
Any small specks on the skin or in the hair?
Joan
No crustiness, some redness
No flaking
No small specks
He was housed with another male bunny until I separated them a few days ago.
Rabbits at various times of the year will blow their coat. It happens about every 3 months. The complete shed can last 2-3 weeks. We usually will see the hair from the back go as well as under the chin and other parts of the body.
If there is something wrong when loosing hair there are usually sores, crustiness or flakey dry skin. These can be a result of mites, lice, hormonal imbalance, fungal infections or a bacterial infection.
From your description with none of the items I mentioned, this sounds like Bogey is blowing his winter coat and getting in his summer coat. You can read more about hair loss here: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html
I would at this point keep an eye on Bogey and make sure the hair is coming back in normally and that non of the issues I have described occur. If all seems normal I would not be concerened, but if any of the problems I mentioned should occur, then seeing a rabbit Vet, will be very important. You can find Rabbit Vets here: http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html
Since Bogey was in with another rabbot there may have even been some barbering from the other Rabbit.
Experience: Vet Tech for 30+yrs. Small Animals and Fish