hair loss in rabbits

Question
i have just noticed a loss of hair on my one female rabbit. big patches of hair loss around where the harness lies. I don't know what caused it she was wearing her harness and in with two other females any suggestions on what is wrong... i not knowing separated her from the others and removed the harness

Answer
Dear Holly,

A rabbit must not be forced to constantly wear a harness.  It is not natural, and it can cause skin and fur damage, as you have seen.  It's also not safe, as the harness can catch on anything and cause a tragedy.

If you have harnesses on your other rabbits, please remove them and don't put them back on.  Rabbist are *not* designed for collars or harnesses.

For an overview of the causes of abnormal fur loss in rabbits, please see:

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

and find a good rabbit vet here to help you:

www.rabbit.org/vets

But most importantly, DO NOT SEPARATE bonded rabbits!  This will promote grieving and illness...and if they are apart for too long, they can become unbonded and fight ferociously upon reintroduction.  If there's anything contagious, all the bunnies have already been exposed, so separating them is like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.

NEVER separate bonded bunnies, even (or especially) if one is sick.  They need moral support, especially when sick, and separation from bonded partners is extremely stressful and can actually make a sick bunny sicker.  Even if a bunny must be hospitalized, the bonded mate should go along for company.  ALWAYS.

Hope this helps!  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana