Odd patch of fur coming of skin and causing minor bleeding

Question
QUESTION: I have a baby wild rabbit and I was holding on my lap yesterday and the rabbit jumped off my lap.It laid there on the ground shaking,but then it seemed to get a little bit better.He was acting a little bit dizzy,but otherwise fine.Now today he can't keep his head up straight and I'm really worried.What's wrong?

ANSWER: Dear Emilie,

Baby rabbits can jump very unexpectedly, and it's never a good idea to hold them anywhere they might fall any distance, as you have unfortunately learned the hard way.  If he has a head tilt, there may be severe enough trauma to have caused inflammation and swelling of cranial nerves, or even the brain.  If you can get him to a rabbit-savvy veterinarian ASAP, quick administration of short-acting corticosteroid might give him a chance to get his normal posture back.  But this usually must be done within a few hours of injury, so I'm not sure if it's not too late.

Please find a vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If he has a permanent head tilt, he will not be releasable, and you may have to end up caring for him his whole life.  For that, you will need a special permit to do it legally.  For more information on baby cottontail rescue, please see:

http://wildliferehabber.com/modules/wildlifesection/item.php?itemid=24

I hope he will be okay.

Dana

Dana

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

QUESTION: I noticed on my other pet rabbit(also a baby wild bunny) that he had a patch of hair that was sticking out,on further examination it looks as if the fur is coming off showing the skin and causing some bleeding.Should we take him to the vet? I don't want some negligence on my part to result in the death of our last rabbit.Please advise on what to do.

ANSWER: Dear Emilie,

I can't really tell what this is without seeing it.  It could be an injury, mange, or any number of things.  So if you are in doubt, get the baby to a good rabbit vet for examination:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Note that if this is a wild bunny he should not be kept as a pet.  Once he grows older, he may start to be extremely nervous and wild.  If this is the case, he must be released, as the stress can be deadly.  A few cottontails (I'm assuming you're in the U.S.) are calm and friendly, but they are still not cuddly.  They are not so much pets as *friends*.  

So please consider the bunny's welfare and do what's best for his future.

Good luck,

Dana

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

QUESTION: What is mange?

Answer
Dear Emilie,

Mange is a skin disease caused by parasitic mites.  You can see examples here (though these are quite advanced, and probably don't look like what your little bunny has):

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

Revolution (selamectin) is a safe, effective treatment for even a small baby.  But DO NOT use Frontline (fipronil), which can kill rabbits.

Still, since you don't know what the cause of the sore is, it's best to have the baby examined by an experienced rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Better still, he should be brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who can be sure he gets proper medical attention and is raised so that he can be safely released when he is old enough.  You can find a rehabber here:

http://wildliferehabber.com/modules/xoopsmembers/

Hope this helps.

Dana