Bunny overgrooming her pal

Question
QUESTION: I have two rabbits. Both female. We bought them 3 days apart. We are not 100% on the age, but the pet store told us when we got them they were 6-8 weeks. That makes them around 3 months old right now. One of them likes to lick the other one constantly and mostly on her face. The one that is on the receiving end of the licking is losing her hair in one spot it looked like someone had taken the scissors to her but the hair has now completely disappeared. It looks like she was shaved in the tiniest little spot but it is very noticeable. The only thing I can come up with is that the other bunny has licked the hair right off that spot. But it is completely gone in that little area. I don't know what to do and I was wondering if you could tell me anything at all. Thank you!

ANSWER: Dear Olivia,

It does sound like overgrooming, which means it might help to provide the bunnies with more out-of-cage playtime and toys to distract Little Miss Licky.  DO NOT separate them. It's not worth the stress and misery to separate such bonded bunnies.  But please read:

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

and find a good vet here, in case it's a pathology that needs treatment:

www.rabbit.org/vets

For all the best care information for your new pals, please visit:

www.rabbit.org/

and especially read:

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

Hope this helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Now the one doing the grooming is having an issue. Her urine is red and really smelly. It never use to be smelly. And She peed on something of mine today and it was white and thick and looked as if we had dripped paint while painting. (We haven't done any painting!) I am taking them both to the vet to resolve these issues but I was curious to know sooner. Thanks!

Answer
Dear Olivia,

Strong-smelling urine can be from sex hormones and musk  (see:  www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html), but if it's more of a *stinky* smell than a musky smell, she might have a urinary tract infection (UTI).  If the urine is very dark, then she might also be dehydrated, and in need of fluid therapy from the vet.

Please read:

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

for an overview of the most common possible causes of urinary tract disorders in bunnies, and find a rabbit-savvy vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

It's possible that the overgroomer was doing this as a reaction to the pain of a UTI, and that having this appropriately treated may solve *both* problems.  

Hope so.

Dana