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rabbit licking fur off back

22 9:47:54

Question
my rabbit has licked a patch of fur off her back in 2 spots about 2 cm x 4 cm.  One section is scabby, the other quite newly cleared of fur.  I have taken her to vet with this condition previously and the vet prescribed Dermotic.  He also told us to distract her as it may be a habit.  Is this a common condition, or is this because she is bored?

Answer
Dear Tanya,

Unless your rabbit is confined to a very small space and is mutilating herself because of boredom, I really doubt that this is just a "habit".  Dermotic is also not a drug of first choice for rabbits, as it contains corticosteroids.  Not recommended for rabbits, and many of our rabbit-savvy vets will *never* use corticosteroids on a rabbit.

Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

and find a more rabbit-savvy vet with the international vet listings linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope a new vet can find out the cause of the fur loss and prescribe proper treatment.

Dana