Sore on lower back

[Gem]

Hi there, I wonder if anyone could give me any advice for my little bun who’s currently driving himself crazy and won’t stop licking the area on his back.

A couple of weeks ago we got Benji neutered which was fine and he’s healed up well he’s already since been back to the vets and got the all clear regarding that.
But recently when stroking him I notice a bumpy area on his back when I lifted the fur I saw a flat pale scab about the size a fifty pence piece. It was pale with yellowy pink tinges to it but it wasn’t oozing or anything and appeared to be healing. But alarmed by what I’d seen I took him to the vet as it did look nasty and had just appeared out of nowhere.
The vet checked for mites and fleas but said he was clear and had no idea what was causing this balding scab on his back so she gave me baytril oral antiobiotic to clear up anything that may be causing it or any infection.

All has been going fine for two days and Benji seemed to leave the wound alone but today he’s been tearing the scab off revealing bright pink skin underneath. All day he’s been licking and tugging at the skin and fur and can’t seem to concentrate on anything else but this. He’s very stressed and can’t leave it alone.

Benji is not the kind of rabbit that will allow you to pick him up (at all) without a drama so a jumper or fabric around the area is out the question and he won’t let me near to apply any ointment or bathe it.

I don’t know what to do to help him heal up. I feel like he’s going to keep tearing at it until he’s red raw.

I will call the vet to make another appointment but the whole process of all these vet journeys are an added stress on him.

Thanks in advance
???

[Bam]

You could ask for some metacam. It’s a painkiller. It seems like he’s experiencing itching or pain in the area and that could be why he’s not leaving it alone. There are also antihistamines a bunny can get (benadryl for babies), that could help with itching. The last resort would be an E-collar, but that is stressful to most buns.

Mites are often difficult to catch in a skin-scraping or tape-sample. The fact that it’s just above his tail (and that it seems to be itching) does makes it plausible that it still is a mite-problem. You could ask your vet if you can treat him empirically (=on suspicion) with Revolution. Revolution (selamectin) is prescription only, so your vet must prescribe it. It’s bunny safe and very effective.

[Author]

Messages