Rabbit Diseases - Skin Diseases

Rabbit skin health:

The skin of rabbits is a window to their general state of health. Skin ailments range from irritating to life-threatening.

Some skin ailments are contagious to other species, including humans. Proper treatment is immensely rewarding, as it returns our rabbits to their normal state of inquisitive cheerfulness.

Rabbit Alopecia:

Fur loss in rabbits with no other lesions can have many different causes, including fur-plucking, barbering, hormonal problems, and previous localized inflammation;

• Fur-plucking in the neck or dewlap, belly, and leg areas occurs in pregnant females who are close to delivery, to line their nest. Even pseudo-pregnant females sometimes pluck in that area
• Fur-plucking may also be seen in cases of nutritional deficiency such as when they lack sufficient fiber in the diet. Rabbits who cannot reach the site of an irritation because of arthritis, obesity, or intervening skin folds sometimes chew at their dewlap instead.Simple baldness may result, but frequently the skin also appears irritated.
• The fur at the nape of the neck is normally thin. Coat density in this area may change with the seasons or with hormonal fluctuations in unspayed females. If the bald spot is limited to the area hidden when the rabbit tucks her head back toward her shoulders. If the hair is thin beyond this spot, it is a good idea to have your veterinarian do an examination.
• Barbering, or chewing on the hair, is sometimes seen when rabbits are housed together or with guinea pigs. Rabbits may chew on their own hair or on each other’s hair. The stress of crowding is likely to intensify the problem. Barbered areas show patchy hair loss with broken hairs present (they have been nipped off) without complete baldness.
• Occasionally hair loss can be seen at the site of a previous bite wound or other injury and is related to the healing process. Hair should regrow within a few months in these cases unless there was extensive scarring and deep damage to the skin.

Pododermatitis:

Pododermatitis (sore hock) is most commonly seen in rabbits housed on wire or other rough, wet, or hard surfaces, but may occur in rabbits who are never caged. Heavy-bodied breeds (Flemish Giant, Californian), obese rabbits, and those with thin fur on the bottoms of their feet (Rex) are predisposed to this problem.

In simple cases, providing a soft absorbent resting surface (cotton toweling or artificial fleece are ideal if the rabbit doesn’t chew them), cleaning the underside of the foot, and applying a padded wrap for 1-2 weeks will help effect a cure.

Topical use of Preparation H or Bag Balm are folk remedies that can be effective. Weight reduction can be the key to a cure in overweight rabbits. For cases with severe infection or deep ulceration, X-rays to determine if the infection has penetrated into the bone, culture/sensitivity testing, and appropriate systemic antibiotics are recommended.

Hocks with severe infection or deep ulceration may be difficult or impossible to cure. If the infection has penetrated the bone and only one foot is infected severely, amputation may be necessary to provide relief from pain.

Ringworm:

Ringworm is not a worm but a fungus that takes its name from the classic raised red circular lesion with a clearing center that can be a primary symptom. However, crusting, scaling, and bald spots are actually more common symptoms than the red ring. Ringworm most commonly occurs on the rabbit’s head, ears, and face. Treatment with ProgramTM has been found to be quite effective.

Your veterinarian may provide topical treatment (miconazole, clotrimazol) for small lesions.

Rabbit Syphilis:

Treponema cuniculi is a bacteria called a spirochete similar to that which causes syphilis in humans. It causes crusty dermatitis primarily around the rabbit’s genitals or nose but in severe cases is can extend upwards on the face and around the eyes..

This organism is resistant to most topical treatments but responds well to procaine penicillin G injections. Take care and watch for intestinal upset during this treatment.

Lumps, Bumps, Cancer:

Abscesses are the most common skin swellings in rabbits. Because the pus produced by rabbits often has a thick cream cheese-like consistency and is encased in a thick capsule, lancing, draining, and systemic antibiotics often fail to effect a cure. Complete surgical removal of the intact abscess is preferred.

There are a wide range of potential treatments for abscesses that are not able to be surgically removed for whatever reason. The most important thing is to get an anaerobic and an aerobic culture prior to any treatment to determine what the most appropriate antibiotic will be to give either systemically and/or into the abscess cavity itself. Treatments range from cleaning the abscess and implanting antibiotic impregnated beads to leaving it open and packing and/or flushing with a variety of medications. It is best to consult your veterinarian to determine what is the most appropriate regime of treatment for your individual rabbit.

The most common cause of lumps and bumps on rabbits are:

Warts caused by a papilloma virus and benign growths such as fatty tumors (lipomas). Malignant skin cancers are not common in the rabbit, but do occur and are most often a metastasis of another cancer, most noteably uterine cancer. Any unusual growths on the skin should be watched for change in size, shape, or color and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

If a skin mass is removed, it is a good idea to have your veterinarian send it out for pathology so it can be identified and any further treatment can be instituted if necessary.Cancer generally leads to death if untreated. Symptoms of cancer can vary from individual to individual, but can include lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, among other symptoms. Aside from uterine cancer ,cancer is not as common in rabbits as it is in human beings or animals like dogs or cats.

The skin ailments mentioned here are not all-inclusive. Home remedies are typically ineffectual and may lead to complications or even death.

Remember it is always best to consult your veterinarian rather than attempting home diagnosis and treatment.

Author:

Kathleen Wilsbach, PhD