Why does my rabbit have loose skin behind its ears, unlike my other?

This could be due to Cheyletiella parasitovorax, a rabbit skin mite. It's characterized by by patchy fur loss with flaking on the back of a rabbit. I'd have Rueben seen by a vet to have this diagnosed and treated.

It can be completely normal for a rabbit to shed. Sometimes they will shed larger amounts when scared or stressed. They can also lose fur with skin infections or mite infestations. If Bunny Boo’s skin is nice and pink and appears healthy, then she is probably having a normal amount of shedding. If her skin seems overly dry, crusty, or flakey, this could indicate a problem. You also want to watch closely to make sure there are no additional areas of baldness like around the ear. If Bunny Boo is exhibiting any of the symptoms described above, I would recommend taking her in to the vet to be checked out. She may need medication for a skin infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Binky may be suffering from mites, as may your other rabbit. Patchy fur loss with flaking along the rabbit's back is typical for the mite Cheyletiella parasitovorax, Your veterinarian may examine a sticky tape preparation or skin scraping under the microscope for the presence of mites, however, might sometimes not find any, even though they are present on the rabbit. Mites are usually eradicated easily. Classic treatment is with injectable or oral ivermectin, or a selamectin spot on given in treatments two weeks apart. As mites live in the environment of your rabbit, it is essential to thoroughly clean your rabbit's cage and disinfect areas after each treatment to control reinfestation, since fur and dander in the environment may contain mite eggs. You will need to treat all rabits in your household.

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.

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.

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!

This could be caused by intense itch. In these cases allergies, mites infestation, or other skin parasites and bacterial dermatitis could be suspected. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately.