Is there a vet in the house? My rabbit's fur is coming loose....

Question

My rabbit has two different shades of fur, he's natural shade is a dark grey and then he has patches of light grey and if you just pet him or tug at the light grey it'll come out in chunks. Is this natural? Is something wrong with him. He's only 2 yrs old, so I don't know if it's old age or something. Please serious answers only. Thanks.

Answer 1

They shed regularly then molt.  

Answer 2

I don't think you have anything to worry over. It is natural for rabbits to "moult". However if it is coming out in clumps and his skin is being exposed it would not harm you to take him to your local vet for the once over.

Answer 3

That's natural as long as there is fur in underneath the pieces that pull out. If there's just bare skin underneath when the chunks of hair come out, I'd be worried about a skin condition and you would want to take him into the vet.  Rabbits shed excessively, and molt a few times a year.  If you brush your bunny every day, it won't come out in chunks so much and your bunny will be more comfortable without all that dead fur stuck on.  I recommend a cat brush called the Zoom Groom for short-haired breeds, it has big soft rubber teeth that really do a good job of getting hair out and are very gentle.  My bunnies love it!  It's definitely not age-related, rabbits can and will easily live to 10 years old or more with proper care.  

Answer 4

Does it come out in chunks to the skin, or is there still more fur under there? If there's more fur, it's likely just shedding. They usually shed twice a year, which can come out in big clumps. If you see the skin underneath it could be something more serious.

If you are worried and there is skin underneath, you need to take him in to see a vet. Even a vet on Y!A would not want to diagnose your rabbit without actually examining him.

Hope he's alright!