Excessive hairloss and bald spots. What is this?

[Awk]

So to make a long story short, I have two bunnies, mixed breeds, both relatively small. The youngest is 6 months and weighs +- 900g, and the other one is 2.5 years old and about 1.7 kg, so theres a bit of a size diff, but they love each other like crazy. They cuddle, groom each others fur, and live outside during the summer in a large cage with a minimum of 6 m2 to roam outside on. Hey always have clean water and hey available and lots of green grass and dandelion leaves.

Yesterday I noticed that the smallest of my two lovelies had lost/or ripped out so much fur she had bald spots on the chest, sides and thighs. The skin looks peaceful, no inflammation or redness and there are no scabs or scars anywhere to be seen on it. I've called the vet and have an appointment on friday since both the bunnies are eating and pooping like normal it wasn't considered and emergency matter.

Anyways, I'm crazy worried. I've never seen this extreme hair loss on a bunny before. She is excessively cleaning her fur, and it seems to me like she is pulling it out herself and is making a nest, and before anyone ask, no, she is not spayed or neutered yet. But this much fur pulled out for the nest doesn't seem normal to me, but maybe I'm just paranoid? I was also on the thought that it might be mites, but there are no dandruff and the other bunny is unaffected.

I've attached pictures of what she looks like today(sorry they are upside down).

So if anyone has an idea what might be wrong with her, or anything I should do while I wait for the vet apt, I would be very grateful, i've already brushed her down so she won't swallow loose fur while cleaning, but the fur thats left on her is very much attached to her, no shedding=/

Thanks for any and all help!

 

[Nancy McClelland]

I've only had experience with ringworm and I don't see it there. Might just be over grooming but probably best to let the vet take a look.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Could be molting although that is a lot of hair in each spot; especially from the initial photo though, that's what I think right off. I suppose there could be something like mites or mange going on, although I'd think you'd probably be seeing quite a bit of scratching and the bunny biting at itself.

 

[Azerane]

Are your rabbits out together, is it possible that your other rabbits is also contributing and pulling at the hair as well? It certainly is quite a bit of hair loss. It could be a false pregnancy, but I suppose some sort of underlying skin condition could be to blame too.

 

[Awk]

Thanks for the response so far=)

My rabbits share cage outside yes, and the bigger rabbit mostly grooms the little ones' face around her eyes and nose, not the rest of her body usually. I'll guess I have to wait for friday and keep observing in the mean time.

 

[JBun]

It sounds like she is just having a false pregnancy, especially since she is building a nest with her fur. Sometimes they will pull out a bunch of fur. One of my rabbits, before she was spayed, would have them, but she would go more for the hay to build her nest instead of ripping out very much fur. But whitelops bunny, Ellie, does the same thing as your bun, and rips out a bunch of belly fur until she is bald.

 

[woahlookitsme]

That definitely looks like a doe who is trying to make a nest. They will pull fur from the sides and belly area. Is the boy fixed and how long ago? If so then it does look like a false pregnancy

 

[Awk]

Two girls, no boys in this cage anymore=( I'm not sure the little one has even seen a male from the same species before... But if its a false pregnancy thing, I'll get her fixed as soon as I can. I can't have her go rip out her fur like that, makes me feel like a bad mummy for not having it done earlier

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Bunnies are so funny. Bonnie used to figure 8 around my feet and make nests in boxes with shredded newspaper and she was neutered. Gets even better. If I was in the room and Nancy came in, she'd screech and attack Nancy's legs--only one of us thought it was funny.

 

[Ilovemyrabbit]

I'm not good at bunny sicknesses but I agree with the others, could be from a false pregnancy.