Why is my bunny shedding a lot and has a bald spot behind its ear?

A change in weather can cause increased shedding. Other causes include parasites, infection or stress. If the shedding persists and results in bald patches, have Fluffy examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating rabbits. Any treatment will depend on the diagnosis. In the meantime, clean the cage and provide fresh bedding. Make sure she isn't too hot or too cold. Look her over for redness, sores or dry skin.

Thanks for your question about Puku. I didn’t see what breed she is, but that could make a difference. For example, Angoras require grooming on a daily basis due to the large amounts of hair that they grow. It also can be temperature dependent - longer haired rabbits in warm climates will shed a great deal. Of course, there are also nutritional and medical conditions that can be related to hair loss as well. An ideal rabbit diet is made up of 80% grass based hays that are of high quality, one tablespoon of Timothy pellets per 5 lbs of body weight, and 1 cup of leafy greens per 5 pounds of body weight. Greens examples include red and green leaf lettuce, romaine, endive, escarole, cilantro, parsley, mint, dill, basil, and radicchio. I don’t recommend any fruits, seeds, milk products, or other carbohydrate treats for rabbits. I would recommend considering an examination for Puku. They can evaluate the skin and look at hairs under the microscope to ensure she doesn’t have any issues there. They may also recommend blood work to evaluate her systemic health. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for your question about Autumn, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. Rabbits can be quite varied in the way that they molt, and this may be a variation in Autumn's molt. There is also an infectious agent that can result in areas that look similar to what is occurring on Autumn's head. It is a fungal organism called dermatophytosis, or ring worm. There can be no redness, and no itching. Occasionally there is flaking like you mentioned, and often it can resolve and recur in cycles, similar to what you are describing happened to Autumn. Unfortunately, ring worm is zoonotic, which means that it can be passed from animals to humans. My recommendation would be to take Autumn to a veterinarian for evaluation. They can take samples of the hairs on Autumn's head and perform a fungal culture on them. They can also perform a thorough physical examination on Autumn to ensure that they don't find any abnormalities - the reason I bring this part up is that typically ringworm should not affect healthy individuals with a competent immune system. Until you can get Autumn to a veterinarian, I would recommend washing your hands after handling him. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and I wish you and Autumn the best.

Thanks for reaching out about Bun Bun. Would describe it as flakey skin or loose? Loose lends one to believe the skin is sloughing. Flakey skin could be due to parasites, an infection, skin inflammation (multiple causes). Another concern might be myxomatosis, which is usually transmitted via a mosquito bite.. Either way, a veterinary visit should be scheduled. Good luck.

Excessive shedding can be normal. Sometimes they shed more or less depending on the situation. The only time to be worried is if Oreo is scratching a lot or if you are seeing bald spots. Best wishes.

Thanks for your question about Poe, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. This photo looks like an appropriate amount of hair for a rabbit to shed, but most people don’t see it because rabbits are so good at grooming. Usually when it is seen, it indicates that the rabbit isn’t grooming appropriately, which may be the case for Poe too. I would recommend a veterinary visit for Poe, and would recommend considering radiographs (x-rays) and blood work. At his age he may have the start of arthritis or another disease that may affect his mobility or the way he feels. I hope that this gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Fluffy, Rabbits can have a molt where they will shed the hair almost like a dog would. However, if the coat appears abnormal or you feel like she is painful I would recommend taking her to a vet for a good exam. Rabbits can also get parasites, fungal disease and bacterial disease of the skin that can affect how the coat grows and might be causing some pain when the hair is removed. hope that helps