My rabbit's huge dewlap has a hole. Is it infected or overweight?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I think your question got cut off, but I believe the neck fat you are referring to is the "dewlap", which is normal in female bunnies. This is where they can pull out extra fur to help make a nest if they were to have babies. It is perfectly normal. However, obese bunnies or ones with a very large dewlap may have difficulty eating and grooming themselves. They may also be more prone to skin infections of the area, so it is important to help your bunny with grooming the dewlap if she is having difficulty doing so herself. I hope this helps, and that Fluffy is doing well!

Hi there. It would be easier for me to help you if you could post a photo of the bulge. One way that may help you determine if it is fat or an actual problem is symmetry. Is this bulge directly in the middle of his neck or off to the side? If it is off to one side it is more likely to be an infection, tumor, etc. Without a photo my best guess is that he has an abscess (infection) which is fairly common for rabbits to get. I would suggest you have him examined by a veterinarian that is used to treating rabbits. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It's hard to tell from photo, but that looks like some superficial skin hanging down from the surface of the jawline. If this is the case, there is likely an open wound. The skin that is hanging either needs to be trimmed off or it needs to be sutured back into place. This should be done by a professional to ensure the best outcome, and to allow you to obtain oral antibiotics and pain medication. When rabbits aren't feeling well, they can often stop eating which is a recipe for disaster unfortunately. I would have Totoro checked out some time soon to be examined.

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.

Hello, I would completely stop the pellets for Flopsy, hay & water only. Increasing exercise is very important, too. This may mean feeding the 2 rabbits separately, but there can be so many health problems associated with an obese rabbit, that it is important to try & get some weight off of him. Make sure that you are very careful with the treats he gets. He should only receive good greens, no fruit or high-calorie rabbit treats. Get a good food scale where you can weigh Flopsy weekly & monitor his progress. As he reaches a more normal weight, you can begin to add a few pellets back into his diet. Good luck & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am very sorry to hear about Stanley. It sounds like she definitely needs to visit the veterinarian. In a rabbit with a swelling like this we worry very much about an abscess, or pocket of infection under the skin. This can be especially common in rabbits with dental issues, such as overgrown teeth (which it sounds like your bunny is suffering from). She needs to see the vet not only to address the abscess (which may require the vet to open and drain and then prescribe antibiotics) but also to address the teeth which may require trimming to allow her to eat normally. If untreated the condition can progress and lead to a painful death as the rabbit eventually becomes unable to eat.

Thanks for reaching out about Thumper and including photos. By the description and swelling on the right side of the face, a dental abscess is highly suspicious. The dental disease is making it difficult for Thumper to eat, therefore loosing weight. A veterinary visit is recommended, the sooner the better. Rarely do antibiotics solve this problem, might requiring some surgery or tooth extraction. Good luck.