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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Olivia has weird bald spot

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    • LittlePuffyTail
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        Olivia has a peculiar little bald patch right under her ear, that started a few weeks ago and keeps growing. When I first noticed it I thought maybe she is scratching it bald because her ear is bothering her. I checked her ear and there was a chunk of hard wax in it that I removed but the the bald spot is still growing. I never see her scratch there so I don’t know if it’s from scratching or not. The skin where the fur is missing is very dry looking. It reminds me of a person with alopecia. Just a little bald patch. Anyone know what this could be?

        If no one has any idea, I’ll try to get a good picture of it to post here.


      • jerseygirl
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          Maybe mange or fur mites? Is her ear looking ok now?


        • RabbitPam
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            I’m not crazy about the sound of the chunk of hard ear wax. I know it’s repetitive, but I do think a vet would be the best one to look at both her ears and the balding patch, since they are probably related. Especially if she’s not shedding elsewhere.


          • LittlePuffyTail
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              I know it’s not mange or fur mites. Her fur is really clean and she’s not scratching.

              Her ear looks fine now, nice and clean and like I say, she is not scratching at it or shaking it.

              The bald patch is really dry skin. It’s actually white, it’s so dry. Is there something I can put on it to moisturize the area? Baby oil or Vitamin E cream?

              I’m not going to take her to vet right now because I really don’t think it’s a serious problem and I can’t afford to go to the vet if it’s just nothing. I will keep an eye on it and her ear but if I get concerned it’s something that needs a vet, I will definitely take her in.

              My camera is charging but I will try to get a pic of it tonight just so you can see what I’m talking about.


            • jerseygirl
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                Is the patch round?  Ringworm might be another suspect.

                You can treat ear mites with mineral oil so I guess a bit of that on the spot can’t hurt. 

                Mites aren’t always visible and if it’s early on, it may not itch yet.  I find this info useful :  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

                You may be able to treat with ivermectin drops  or Revolution.  Can you get hold of meds from the stable?  Otherwise, you may be able to purchase from your vet without the actual consult if you can identify what’s going on.

                This pic was posted on allexperts.com.  Spot found between the ears.  It was suggested it could be 1) an old wound  2) mild fur mite infestation   3) ringworm

                 


              • MooBunnay
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                  The part that would concern me is the fact that it is continuing to grow. Has Olivia been spending time with other bunnies that could be causing the problem? Kramer overgrooms Juli and gives her bald patches, it is a symptom called “barbaring” or “over grooming.”


                • LizzieKnittyBun
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                    Remy had ringworm that our vet said he probably came home with when we got him. Unfortunately, it sounded like what you are describing… very dry. I hate to say it, but I think you should probably bring him to the vet for medicine. It took *forever* to get rid of, because ringworm is really persistent. We treated it with both ivermectin (spray form) and ringworm medicine, just in case. It took about four to five weeks to be fully gone.

                    I hope this doesn’t discourage you! Just make sure whatever you use as treatment you use for the absolute full time allotted. Ringworm comes back in full force unless you really get all of it.

                    Thankfully, since we treated him for so long, it’s fully gone and has not come back.

                    Good luck!!!


                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                      Okay, that’s not good news… I guess we will be going to the vet then. Last night when she was running she was shaking her head and scratching at her ear a lot so I guess it’s time to get it checked out.

                      Is this contagious to other buns? And how the heck could she have caught that if it is ringworm? She’s not exposed to any outside buns and Stormy and Bindi are fine.


                    • LizzieKnittyBun
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                        Well, ringworm can survive in the air, so maybe it came in on you from somewhere.

                        And it is *extremely* contagious. I would isolate her as soon as possible. It’s very hard to get rid of, so just make sure you’re really responsible about your medicine.

                        I really hope it’s something else! Good luck, and keep us posted!!


                      • LittlePuffyTail
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                          After doing some research I think it may be fur mites because it’s so dry and doesn’t really have a ring appearance to it. Yuck. Poor Olivia. I’m going to get in touch with my vet.


                        • LizzieKnittyBun
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                            That’s ok though! Fur mites are way easier to treat and go away more quickly!


                          • BinkyBunny
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                              And sometimes mites really aren’t all that itchy so itching may not or may not be an indicator.

                              As far as ringworm goes – I know with our neighbors dog, it first started with just a dry spot and then a ring developed as it grew. It’s just one of those things that can be easily caught from outside from other animals, and then carried from one person, animal to the next.

                              keep us updated. 


                            • Barbie
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                                I don’t know if ringworm can be transferred animal-to-human, but it can definitely be transferred human-to-human, and if animals get ringworm too, my guess is that you can get it from animals. So until you find out if it’s ringworm or sometime else, I’d be careful when handling your bun right now. Just wash your hands thoroughly after giving her snuggles and after touching that spot or anything she’s rubbed up against. In humans, you can pick up ringworm from gymnastics/wrestling mats or just about any surface. I’ve had ringworm before, and it’s very itchy and uncomfortable and takes awhile to go away even with medicine, so you definitely don’t want that!

                                Good luck and let us know what happens!


                              • KatnipCrzy
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                                  Ringworm is not a good name for what the problem actually is- it is a fungal infection and often does not look like a “ring” especially in pets.

                                  Ringworm can be transmitted to humans from pets and vice versa.


                                • Barbie
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                                    Yep it’s not actually a worm

                                    Katnip, thanks for answering my question.  I think I read on another forum that you are or were a vet tech?  Well even if you’re not, you’re medical advice is very helpful.  Thanks!


                                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                                      I e-mailed my vet yesterday. She is my rabbit vet but is currently not seeing any patients until her new clinic opens in September. She said fur mites would be very unlikely, not sure why, I’m assuming they are rare in my area but she didn’t say. She said it could be a mild bacterial infection and to separate her from the other buns, just in case (Olivia moved to the living room last night) and apply Polysporin Antibiotic Opthalmic Ointment 2-3 x daily for a few days. I went to 3 drug stores looking for this stuff. It’s Opthalmic (eye) ointment so if she grooms herself it won’t sting her eyes. The vet said if it doesn’t improve in a few days take her to another vet to examine her. I’m going to start the ointment tonight and call my second choice vet (my cat/horse vet also sees rabbits and helped Bindi through a few ear infections) tomorrow and book an appointment for mid next week so if she doesn’t improve by next week I will have the apt. booked.


                                    • Barbie
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                                        ok keep us updated! (((healthy vibes!)))


                                      • LittlePuffyTail
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                                          I brought Miss Olivia to the vet on Monday. The vet checked her ear and said there is a big chunk of wax lodged deep in her ear canal and that it is probably irritating her and she thinks the bald spot is her digging at it, since the bald spot is right under her ear. She gave me a cleaner to use every night to try to massage it out and if it’s not out by Monday then I have to bring her again and they will have to sedate her and remove it. I’m really hoping it doesn’t come to that, Olivia gets insanely stressed out going to the vet.


                                        • LizzieKnittyBun
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                                            yickies! I sure hope you can get it out! Poor Olivia…

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                                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Olivia has weird bald spot