Why is my male rabbit yanking out his own fur on his back???

Question

dear readers,

my name is lauren and i am twelve years old. It all started a week ago when i noticed my rabbits fur all wet and hard. Then yesterday, I was getting his food bowl out and i notice a big spot of baldness. He still had a few hairs still atached but the rest was skin. i picked him up and sure enough he was bald almost his whole back. Please readers help me understand what is wrong with my rabbit.

love,

lauren

Answer 1

diet, not enough fresh veges

parasites - mites..

is it an outside bunny?? read up on FLY STRIKE - keep his bottom clean... basically a dirty bottom attracts flies - who lay eggs, the maggots ENTER the bunnies body.. eventually killing it..

get your pet to a vet to be safe.

Answer 2

Hi Lauren, are you 100% sure it is a male?

If it is a female then they do this to line a nest when they become broody and it is nothing to worry about.

Worst case scenario is that your poor little rabbit has mites/mange and is itching which is causing him/her to pull the fur out. Is the skin underneath irritated or dry/scurfy looking? Is your rabbit twitching and jumping around for what would appear to be no reason? These are all signs of mange and a vet MUST be consulted.

It could also be stress from lack of stimulation. Is your rabbit let out of his hutch daily to run around in a garden or run and given LOTS of attention? Rabbits are very intelligent and if not mentally stimulated can do this, the next stage would be to turn aggressive.

Most likely cause is that he is a she lining her nest.

Good luck