Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 7/2/2009

Question
Hello,

Thank you taking the time to help Rocky and I. I am a animail lover and Rocky is my first rabbit. He is a french lop who loves me as much as I love him. He lives inmy garage in a great house with lots of play time!!! He is the king!!!!! Last year raocky went through the same thing when the summer time came he had a really long molt and lost a ton of fur, you could feel his bones, well here we are this year and the same thing is going on. I noticed he had a red spot on the back of his neck, only one spot.....  I am concerend!!! Whenu brush his there is sometime little white specs. I said that it is when he is molting does this only happen.. I really dont think he has mites.... But I do worry because I love him so much... The red spot does flake off like a little scab and then came back!!! There was not bug on him..Someone said to but mineral oil on the spot but I didnt want to do anyting until I asked. Sometime taking him to the vet can be very stressful for both of us!!! I just got done with a foot surgery and can not go to the vet..... Is this normal during moltin itchy, loosing hair and looking spotty..... Sorry to have such a long question but Rocky is my love.. Please advise...

Answer
Dear Michele,

If Rocky is your love, then you'll want to do the right thing and get him to an experienced rabbit vet who can have a look at both his skin (it sounds like fur mites) and his teeth (molar spurs are very common in lops, and can interfere with eating, causing weight loss).

Please find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and read more about fur loss and itching here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

and dental problems here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

Please do the right thing and get him to a good vet for proper care.  He relies on you for that.  He can't do it himself.

Dana