Dry skin??? Or something else???

[CocoVermont802]

So on my bunnies head there is white dry skin like skin… i first noticed it while petting her, im not quite sure if this is normal or what… but the hair seems to be clumping on it so idk if its just shedding or what.

Any answers???

[Pandorachik]

I would call a vet and talk about it. Bring her when you can. I just dont know what it could be…..?

[bunnyfriend]

Hmm well bunnies normally go through molts but I have never seen my rabbits have any dry skin or dandruff. I would call the vet just to see what they think.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Olivia has dry skin around her ears that was diagnosed as just dry skin. It comes and goes. But you really need a vet to determine whether it’s just dry skin or something that needs treatment like mites.

[littlemissflip]

My bunny has had fur mites, as well as just some mild dry skin. The fur mites were scattered around, but the main concentration was on his back, between his shoulder blades. The skin was somewhat scaly there, and fur clumps would come out with a tiny piece of skin attached. I thought it was dandruff initially, but the vet determined it was fur mites, so we had him treated with Revolution (very easy treatment).

The dry skin (due to dry air in winter) is mostly concentrated on the top of his head and the back of the ears. Just loose lilttle flakes of skin…

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

You’d really need to have him in to see the vet there is really so many things it could be. Likely no matter what it is, it will be simple to treat, but you won’t be able to diagnose or gets meds without seeing the vet.

[CocoVermont802]

After someone mentioned fur mites i think it may be that. I looked up photos and it is similiar, ill have to call a vet tomorrow to see if i can get her in. Thanks.

Does anyone know where FUR MITEs come from???

[RabbitPam]

 http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-9/skin.html

I checked the House Rabbit Society’s site for fur mites, and the above is a good description of it, and the usual treatment by vets. But it didn’t say where they come from. This article is good, too.

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/groom.html

[RabbitPam]

 You got me curious, so I did a little more checking, and found this reply to a questioner on AllExperts.com:

“Even healthy indoor rabbits can get ear mites.  They can come from other animals like cats and dogs who can be asymptomatic carriers.  They can come from the grass and they can come from the hay that you feed the bunny.

Honestly they are so common that all of the sources aren’t known.  Even the cleanest rabbits are susceptible.  The best thing to do is to keep on keeping the cages clean.  If you can isolate [bunny] from the other bunnies until they are cured that will help.  Since mites live in grass it is even possible that you could have brought them in unknowingly.  The good news is that since they were found early they are extremely easy to clear up.  

Whenever you trim your bunnies toe-nails it is always a good idea to check their teeth to make sure they aren’t over grown and look in their ears for any sign of mites.  Although all of the causes are not known you can put a stop to it before it becomes a problem.  Whenever I notice one of my rabbits have any crud in their ears I clean them out with mineral oil.  If they have a very mild infestation even the mineral oil will kill them.  If it is an obvious infestation and you have no doubt that the bunny has them then it needs to be treated with Revolution (selemectin).  

If you are buying your hay in bails from a farmer you might want to consider buying bagged hay.  Even though the mites can live in all hay it seems that the rabbits that live on farm hay have a tendency to get more infestations.  The main thing is that you have to check them frequently.  As long as you are checking them and get them treated right away then you shouldn’t have to worry about them getting so bad that they end up with wry neck or an infection…..

I am sorry that there is no conclusive answer to where exactly they come from but I hope I helped a bit.”

 

This was written in 2007, so the info. on HRS is probably more current.

 

 

[CocoVermont802]

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP!

I have scheduled an appt with the vet for monday… from what you all have described im almost sure the issue is fur mites. thanks again.

 

 

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