Balding bunnies????

[mommaebear]

I had 5 litters withing a little over a week, in a colony setting, and after about week 3 all the bunnies jumbled up and started jumping nests, then congregated into one giant litter. The Momma's were really good about fostering everyone. A few days ago I noticed that one of the bunnies from the litter that is 15 days old was starting to lose some fur, and balding. Normally they were the one litter that stayed in the nest, and the Momma went back to feed them often, but once they opened their eyes they joined all the rest. Anyways, one is getting quite hairless, and there is a second one now that's joined him a few days back. All the others in the giant litter have nice full healthy looking coats and so do the others in that one 15 day old litter and appear to be well fed and running around everywhere with everyone. I'm figureing they are just getting pushed out and not being fed enough because of the older kits. But incase it isn't and is contageous, what should I be looking out for? Is there a chance to get these guys back on track, or should I just cull or sell as snake feed now before they suffer anymore?

 

[MaggieJ]

It's quite possible that some of the other kits are nibbling on his fur. Are there other signs of problems (emaciation, dehydration etc.) that make you think the two kits are unhealthy?

Fur mites are another possibility, but I would expect more than two to be affected.

 

[mommaebear]

It started on the back behind the ears and spread back and to the sides. `What is left is all full length, doesn`t look nibbled. And it is clearly just two and the two skinny ones, they do seem smaller and skinnier but they have no fluff either, but even their heads look slimmer and they have fur on their head. Skin pinch is normal making me think not dehydrated.

 

[MaggieJ]

Not sure what is happening. Pictures would be helpful.

 

[eco2pia]

In any case, I have never heard of balding being a symptom of "failure to thrive". You seem to have something going on, whether they are being plucked by the other rabbits or have an illness or a genetic fault.

 

[arachyd]

The only things that come to mind are ringworm or maybe some kind of allergy.

 

[mommaebear]

Ok the bunnies are both well fed now being sectioned off and added to a younger litter. It is still just the 2 that are affected. I have a bunch of pics here of both or them. The very bald one is very lively and bright eyed, the other just seems a little sickly.

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll14 ... y168-1.jpg

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll14 ... y166-1.jpg

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll14 ... y165-1.jpg

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll14 ... y164-1.jpg

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll14 ... y162-1.jpg

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll14 ... y160-1.jpg

http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll14 ... y159-1.jpg

 

[eco2pia]

OK that is just weird. I just read something about balding bunnies....it is on here somewhere....there it is! http://www.petrabbitworld.com/hairless_rabbits.html it is about a genetic anomaly that occurs rarely in rabbits. If you can't find a pathological reason, this would be my next guess--that doesn't look like ringworm to me...

 

[mommaebear]

OK that is just weird. I just read something about balding bunnies....it is on here somewhere....there it is! http://www.petrabbitworld.com/hairless_rabbits.html it is about a genetic anomaly that occurs rarely in rabbits. If you can't find a pathological reason, this would be my next guess--that doesn't look like ringworm to me...

Well with the mix of everything I have going, it's one more interesting gene in my diverse pool, if that is infact what it is. They started with fur, but are losing it now, so they did develope normal for a while. Cool link <br /><br />__________ Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:18 pm __________<br /><br />And these bunnies are from a rex litter

 

[Jack]

mites, they usually start at the crown of the head and spread

But, if you have an aggressive bunny, the you loose fur where they mount (think breeding)
and some of the will also try to nurse off of sibs making racing stripes

 

[Miss M]

I have seen the genetic furless rabbit thing on the net, pretty weird!

My first thought was mites, but I'm not seeing any flakes on the skin or fur.

I can tell you that they can lose fur due to malnutrition. I have seen it on our two bunnies that missed several feedings from Mama. One more than the other. That one lost fur behind its ears, on its legs, on its belly, and in patches on its back. We started feeding it formula twice a day, and the fur started coming back in! He's eating pellets now, and is all furred out. Still a scruffy, scrappy little thing, but he's furred!

 

[ladysown]

me personally.. if the fur doesn't grow back on them (which would mean a case of over grooming) I'd cull them and not repeat the breeding. My tendency is to think a BAD case of overgrooming particularly if it only affects two kits. But give it some time to see.

Normally if they are hairless they start out that way, not become it over time from what I've read of hairless rabbits.

 

[JueLee]

Hmm.

My first thought on seeing those pics was thyroid problem. I've seen that once or twice in dogs. They lost hair in pretty much that pattern. They had other thyroid related health issues over time, too, that their owners had to medicate for. I would not keep those kits, and I would avoid repeating the breeding.

-- Jue

 

[KatzNetherlands]

Kind of hard to avoid the repeat breeding in a colony setting though isn't it??

Just wanted to say.... LOVE the ears!! My netherlands don't have that long of ears full grown! They are SOOO cute!

 

[ottersatin]

It appears to be over-grooming possibly
to the lack of enough fiber in their diet.
Do the have plenty of Grasshay available to them?
That's the only thing that comes to mind.
Ottersatin. ldtimer: :bunnyhop:

 

[JueLee]

Kind of hard to avoid the repeat breeding in a colony setting though isn't it??

She could remove that particular mother doe -- assuming she knows which one it is, of course . Or she could just replace the buck with a non-related animal.

To find out which doe it is, she could separate the buck, then catch each doe to breed on a known, staggered schedule for a few months until she finds the right one. Or, if she has enough space, she could separate all the does now since they are likely already re-bred, and see which has problems in this very next litter.

Personally, Mommaebear, I'd make the effort to figure it out. If it is a genetic issue, the sooner you weed it out, the fewer problems it can create down the road, both for you and for your customers.

-- Jue

 

[akane]

Did you ever solve this or did the kits grow back their fur? I have 1 kit out of a litter of 5 in the colony that started with a bald spot on his head and it is spreading around his face. His siblings are fine. At first I thought some type of urine scald or fumes from a dirty nestbox but they started leaving the nest right as their eyes opened and have been sleeping in different locations periodically. I removed and sterilized the nestbox anyway. Mine have 24/7 hay and they are treated with ivermectin regularly to prevent parasites and pests.

 

[hoodat]

Ottersatin you beat me to it. I was about to suggest overgrooming as a possibility. I've seen it in juvenile rabbits but never in ones that young.