my 8 week yr old female holland lop is loosing hair around under her neck and behind head

Question
QUESTION: hello i bought my bunny 3 dayss ago at a pet store when i broight her home I noticed on the back of her head and all under her neck is bald. Ir is pick she is fluffy everywhere else. It is always wet too even behind her head. she also chatters and moves her tongue and mouth alot. I took her to the vet yesterday and he said he did not see anything wrong with her mouth and said her nose just had a little drainaige he prescribed an antibiotic which i gave her yesterday and today just in case she did have an infection he did not really say anything about her baldness except she was not taken care of at the pet also since she has fluffy hair she has knots underneath and it falls out and looks awful thank you.

ANSWER: Dear Ashley,

It's extremely odd for a bunny this young to have dental problems unless they are severe and congenital.  Please read:

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

If the vet you saw was not a rabbit vet, he may not have looked deep into the mouth to check the molars, and that's where a serious problem could be, though it would be strange for a baby like this to already have molar spurs.

Please get bun to a *rabbit savvy* vet for a complete exam, especially a deep oral exam.  I am betting there is something there that the first vet just did not see.  Please find one here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Please also read:

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

and

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

I hope your baby will be fine once you find a vet who can diagnose what's going on and treat it appropriately.

Sending many healing vibes...

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks and I did see a second vet abd he said he felt an abcess in her jaw he did not see anything though and he perscribed baytril she is itching and licking everywhere so he thought she had parasites and perscribed lymph pr something likr that you are suppose to soak her in it but i dont know he did look under the microscope but did not see anything the stuff is really smelly of sulfur i havent used it on her yet. she is just red and sore under her neck and behinde her head and had no hair there. what do you think?
thanks

Answer
Dear Ashley,

A jaw abscess could certainly explain the drooling and wetness, and this must be treated aggressively.  Please read:

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

and be sure the vet you see is *very* experienced with rabbits and their dental problems:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If your bunny has fleas or mites, then Revolution (selamectin) is a very safe and effective topical medication that can be given to rabbits at a dose of 6mg/kg once every 2-4 weeks.

I hope this helps.

Dana