My rabbit has a bald lump at vaccine site. Is this a normal reaction?

Looks like Bolinha is having a mild skin reaction perhaps to the vaccine, if it was injected in this area. This isn't considered normal but it is a reaction and it is best to notify your vet that this occurred. A pre-medicaiton can be given before this vaccine is given in the future to help avoid this from happening again. Unfortunately the hair may not grow back, but as long as he is not having any other symptoms (lethargy, not eating, vomiting) then he should be ok. An antihistamine injection through the vet can help stop the skin reaction fr continuing. Best of luck with Bolinha and I hope everything goes well.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Belle is SOOO cute! I have had a lump form at the site of the Rabies vaccine in some of my patients as well. It is a local pyogranulomatous reaction that is non-painful. It is harmless and will go away. It can take a month or more in some animals. You do not need to do anything expect monitor it. I hope this helps and I wish you and Belle the best!

The most common reason for hair loss in rabbits is skin parasites like mites. If he only has one spot I would not be overly worried just now. Just monitor him and if you notice more spots showing up or he is scratching/itching then you need to get him to a vet for an exam.

This could be a skin reaction to a sting or bite, or a cyst or a little abscess or in fact a small tumor or wart. I suggest you observe the spot weekly, and if it changes in size or color or if it starts to hurt or the skin around it turns red, then you should have it examined by your veterinarian. If it stays the same or gets smaller, then it is likely nothing you have to worry about and you can show it to your vet the during the next routine visit.

This kind of lump/growth needs to be ideally assessed by your veterinarian to have a definitive and specific answer. Usually there are two ways your vet can do that a part from examining it directly during physical examination. A biopsy can be taken under local or general anesthetic, otherwise a smaller sample through a fine needle can be aspirated (this technique is called FNA= fine needle aspiration). Differentials include skin cysts, infections, benign or more sinister type of tumors. 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.

That is a very common occurrence after vaccination. The vaccine can cause a localized reaction and it should resolve on its own within a month. If it persists, seems larger, or bothers him that have your vet take a look at it.

The best thing is to gently feel the lump and figure out how big it is ( for example, as big as a cherry pit, or measure it if you can. Write this down and then measure it again a week later. If it has grown, you should take your rabbit to a veterinarian as it could be a tumor or a cyst or an abscess. If it does not grow and does not ooze nor the skin starts to turn red, then I would not worry about it, and only show it to your vet the next time you take Albie in for an exam or vaccinations.