My rabbit has a red nose, hair loss, scab, and a growth. What's wrong?

If he was having a lot of nasal discharge that drained around his nose this can explain the hair loss there. Typically the discharge can also land on the front legs and irritate the skin there too. Of course other possibilities such as mites and skin infections are also possible. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by a veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for caring for this bunny and for using Pet Coach.

Hello! This picture does look suspicious for vent disease or possibly ringworm. Vent disease is usually treated with Penicillin, but it doesn't look like it's gotten any better. It may not cured because of using too low of a dose, which can lead to antibiotic resistance and a more difficult infection to treat. This may require that a different antibiotic or a higher dose of the same one is used. If the infection is ringworm, which is another round skin lesion that commonly affects rabbit's faces and is contagious, it will only respond to anti-fungal medication, so antibiotics will not be useful. Ringworm can spread to people as well, but is fairly easily treated. Sometimes, skin mites can cause small lesions of baldness like this. We generally use puppy/kitten Revolution (flea product that also treats mites) on rabbits when we are suspicious of this. It is a very safe product, so an easy treatment to try. I would recommend a vet visit to be totally sure of what you're treating and what doses to use. I think that will get them the quickest recovery. I don't know of any fatal diseases in rabbits that present like this, so rest easy! I hope you find this helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria but mites and fungal infections are possible as well). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I can't tell exactly from the picture where the scabs are, but if Akira has a wet or snotty nose or is sneezing he may have respiratory disease, and this is a cause for concern. He could be pawing at his nose trying to get rid of nasal discharge and causing the scratches. If not, and there is no snotty nose or sneezing, and he lives in a wire cage, he could be scraping it on that, or have a bacterial infection that needs looked at by a rabbit vet. Mites or some other kind of infection are a possibility as well.

Thanks for reaching out about Cinnabun and including a photo. The crust on the nose and ears could be mites, and that could cause the skin to be dry also. Having a veterinarian examine him could help rule in/out other possible causes including bacterial. Good luck.

Poor Oreo! Problems such as rubbing up against objects, allergies to food or environment, or infections of the skin from bacteria, yeast or fungus may all cause hair loss on the face and nose. If you can't figure out the cause, it is best to take Oreo into a vet for care to take a possible sample of the area. Looking in her environment for things she could be rubbing up against and removing/changing them may also help if a medical reason isn't found. A good balanced diet can also help if the skin flaking and hair loss is due to a nutrition deficit or allergy.

Thanks for reaching out about Chloe and including pictures. By the photos, it is difficult to identify the discharge, but yellow nasal discharge is often an indication of a nasal infection. Try cleaning with a warm wet cloth, and monitor for sneezing and continued discharge. If discharge continues, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.