Alopecia is the total or partial absence of hair in areas where hair is generally present. This common condition in rabbits might frequently be the symptom of another cause, such as infection, trauma or immune disorder. For rabbits, there is no particular age, breed, or sex that is more prone to this disorder.
Symptoms of Rabbits to Lose Hair
The main sign of alopecia is unusual hair loss. Symptoms may advance unexpectedly or slowly. The exact pattern and degree of hair loss may help identify the cause of alopecia, and determine the condition as primary (taken place on its own) or secondary (occurred due to another health problem).
Causes of Rabbits to Lose Hair
Alopecia is connected with some sort of disturbance of hair follicle growth. This might arise from a number of causes, consisting of parasitic infection (such as fleas or ear mites), transmittable disease (such as a bacterial infection), a nutritional problem (especially protein shortages), or neoplastic causes (the existence of abnormal clusters of cell development, such as a growth). Likewise, if there are numerous areas of loss of hair (multifocal), it is most frequently associated with a parasitic or bacterial infection.
In some cases alopecia may be the result of a behavioral issue known as “barbering.” This is where a dominant bunny will chew or pull the hair from its fellow cage-mate; hair loss predominantly appears on the flanks. Alopecia can take place since of normal shedding patterns, especially in breeds such as the Dwarf, Miniature Lop, and Angora.
Diagnosis
If alopecia appears, there are a variety of diagnostic treatments that may be done to identify the cause. A skin scraping and biopsy may be done to dismiss any bacterial, parasitic or fungal infections. Extra tests that can be performed include urine analysis, blood tests, and X-rays.
How Is Losing Fur in Rabbits Treated
Treatment and the medications recommended depends particularly on the underlying cause of alopecia. Medications to treat parasites such as ear mites or fleas, along with medications to treat bacterial infections, are available. Obviously, if the cause is more serious, such as associated to a growth, more extreme procedures, like chemotherapy, might be necessary.
Living and Management
Follow-up care after initial treatment depends upon the causes of alopecia. If the alopecia is believed to be the result of “barbering,” the two rabbits must be separated to prevent future occurrences.
Losing Fur Prevention
As there are numerous causes leading to alopecia, no specific prevention approach can be suggested. However, a healthy lifestyle, well-balanced diet with enough protein, and general cleanliness of the rabbit’s environment may be practical in preventing needless hair loss.
Also read: Why Rabbits Have Red Eyes?
