Balding baby *picture heavy*

[oxrayfarm]

Hey all I need some help. I either have fur mite issue or a over grooming problem or .... ?

I have a litter of 9 kits about 5 weeks old. Standard Rex.

Free choice grass/alfalfa hay plus one scoop of grain mixture per rabbit. Fresh or dried greens/weeds all year long.

One baby (in pictures) is going bald on it's head and back. I don't see any major dandruff flakes but the pictures did capture some. Not a ton though and none on it's head. Only one other baby has any balding and it's very minor on top of it's head. Nothing like the pictured baby. This baby is one of the smallest in the litter.

Here's the baby:


Zoomed out picture of the back: the fur down the middle seems thinner than the rest of it's body.


Behind the ears and upper neck look clean and I saw no evidence of dandruff or baldness.


close up shoulders/back with flash:


Close up of shoulders/back without flash:


Close up of head:


Just another angle of head-to back:



Any help would be appreciated. I'd just like to hear what ya'll think and if I should be worried or not.

Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Are the kits weaned? If so, you may want to dose them with Ivermectin, if that is n option for you-- double the dose for internal parasites, to trat 'mange' type issues-- all mammals carry both demodex and sarcoptic-- demodex is not as ugly as sarcoptic-- but bothcan 'kill' and both can be triggered by weaning stress.

 

[oxrayfarm]

Are the kits weaned?

No not yet and nothing with diet, location, etc... has changed. I just happened to be cleaning out trays and noticed that I've got a bald headed baby. LOL. :shock:

 

[akane]

If it's only one kit I question it being parasites since they should all show them. It's possible but there's also been a couple cases now including my own with kits that have coat issues and bald spots with no obvious reason. All their litter mates are fine and there is no sign of parasites but they still have issues. I have one right now that I think I know the reason on. He didn't get fed quite well enough while first developing his coat and now has thin spots, nearly bald patches, some flaky skin... Everyone else who got fed well are normal. It seems to take a good month of eating plenty of solid food before it goes away. Although my last one got killed by a weasel before fully growing a normal coat so I'm just estimating how much longer it would have taken him. Also it seems most common in rex coated and rex crosses.

 

[Devon's Mom Lauren]

If its not mites then it is barbering by its litter mates. I do however, see white flakes as well as teeth marks in the fur. So probably both problems are occurring at the same time. He needs to be removed and isolated as 9 kits at 5 weeks, the competition starts to get fierce for food and space and also the pecking order just starting to be established. It is entirely possible to just have one kit with mites (at the moment) but chances are the others may have them to a lesser degree or because they are not getting barbered it doesn't show up as dramatically

 

[ladysown]

looks like that to me as well Lauren. I would separate the litters male/female. or biggest/smallest or keepers/not keepers. Whatever makes teh most sense. I'd dose everyone with some type of parasite medication and then see how they go.

 

[oxrayfarm]

So probably both problems are occurring at the same time.

I was afraid of that! But I figured better safe than sorry to ask around.

I would separate the litters male/female. or biggest/smallest

I went ahead and did that I've got the 4 biggest in their own cage and then in 2 days I'll take the rest of the small ones and put them in there own away from mom. I just wanted to make sure to wean the kits from her over a few days.

Question about ivermectin dosage. I checked all my local stores and no one has anything. So I've got to order it online. I've found two things Ivermectin injection: http://www.tractorsupply.com/livest...in-1-injection-for-cattle-swine-50-ml-2207551

Or Ivermectin Pour on: http://www.amazon.com/Durvet-Ivermectin-Pour-On-250ML/dp/B000HHOEIU

Obviously I'd rather get the pour on since it's half the price and I have a very small rabbitry. But if you all think the injection one is superior I'll go with it.

I've found through previous posts that the dosage for injectible ivermectin is .08 cc/lb but how should I treat with that. On the back between shoulder blades, in water, inject, or mouth dose? Keeping in mind I've got an over groomer would on the back be advisable?

Thanks so much everyone, this forum is filled with awesome people!

 

[Jessykah]

Did you say that is a standard Rex? Or is it a cross?