bleeding bottom

Question
Hi, I have a new male holland lop and when i picked him up today, i noticed he was bleeding from his boy parts or his bottom. I have had him about a month and this is the first time i have seen this. I am not sure if rabbits bite these parts or if it is something more serious. Thank you for any help.

Answer
Dear Jill,

It's not likely he bit himself hard enough to bleed, but if you have another rabbit and he mounted from the wrong end, a very bad injury could result.  Please find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and get him there ASAP for examination of the wound.  In the meantime, wash it gently and thoroughly with warm, diluted povidone iodine (Betadine, or generic version) and pat dry with clean gauze.  Keep a close eye on it for swelling or inflammation, which can indicate infection.  But since I can't see the wound myself, I must recommend that you get the bunny to a good rabbit vet as soon as you can to be sure there's nothing that will need suturing.

I hope this helps.

Dana