Why is my rabbit licking himself, getting matted fur, and furniture?

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. If she has no spots of hair loss/baldness and the skin looks normal then this may be normal behavior for her. That being said, she could have a skin parasite or allergies too. It is impossible for me to diagnose her over the internet. I suggest you get Cookie to a vet for an exam if this behavior persists or you start noticing bald spots or skin issues. Best wishes.

This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). 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.

Hi there, Sorry your bunny is having trouble. There are two main concerns that cause this. One is that an incorrect diet with too many carbs, treats, pellets and not enough hay, fiber, good veggies make for excess cecal pellets or loose stool. I suggest follow the www.rabbit.org guidelines. This is the House Rabbit Society, which is a good source of info. Parasites would be another possilbity and a fecal check is a good idea. Last, if your bunny has some arthritis with his age, he may be able to clean his self as well or get down to eat his cecal pellets (the soft night droppings) as well. I suggest a good exam by a vet to rule out arthritis and health problems and making sure diet is optimal.

If his coat is as healthy as it appears in the photo you provided, I would not worry about this behavior at all. Rabbits can get a variety of skin diseases so be on the loom out for any redness, hair loss or flaking of the skin. If you notice any of these issues then there may be something to be concerned about. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hello, and thank you for your question. The skin lesions may be due to a bacterial infection, fungal infection, parasites such as mites, or an ear infection. I am glad to hear you will be taking Charlie to the vet soon. They may recommend performing some tests such as an ear swab to check for infection, or a skin scraping or cytology. Based on the results, the appropriate treatment can be prescribed. For example, if an ear infection is confirmed, ear drops or oral antibiotics may be needed. If mites are found, then topical monthly drops will help to clear the parasites. In the meantime, keep their environment clean and remove soiled bedding daily. Also ensure they are eating a good quality diet consisting of mostly timothy, and a small amount of pellets, and leafy green veggies. I hope this helps, and that Charlie feels better soon!

With the majority of the changes to the skin occurring around the back legs, this could have started with some kind of a urinary issue. Urine that gets onto the skin can be very irritating, can smell badly, and the hair can fall out. You didn't mention what the skin under the fur looked like, but often the skin can become painful, red, and infected. I would recommend that you take Willie in for evaluation by a veterinarian. They can evaluate the skin and may take a few samples to evaluate under the microscope. If your veterinarian suspects that there may be a urinary issue, they may recommend collecting a urine sample to evaluate (a urinalysis), and blood work to evaluate systemic health. Depending on the veterinary clinic, they may also be able to bathe Willie for you, as this can be stressful for rabbits. Please don't give Willie any human medications, or apply any medications to his skin, as these can be harmful for our rabbit friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!

Hi, and thank you for these questions. Care sheets for rabbits are available on the internet. e.g. here https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits Briefly, water and hay (alfalfa or grass) should be always available. Commercial pellets should be offered at about 1/2 cup per day to an adult 2kg rabbit. With young rabbits (<6 months) there is no need to limit the pellets. A handful of leafy greens may be added 1-2 times daily. As to the urines, just keep the cage as clean as possible and replace the substrate when it gets wet. Regards