Male rex hair loss

Question
Hi

My male rex is just over a year old and I have recently noticed a small bald spot just behind his ears on his neck. It is approx the size of a 2 pence peice, and although he doesn't seem to be scratching more than usual in this spot he can be quite rough when scratching his ears with his hind feet. (I don't know if this could be related but thought I would mention it in case)

He is fed a small amount of Russel Rabbit feed in the mornings and evenings and always has hay and water available. He gets celery or lettuce most mornings too, although I have only started feeding this as a regular thing recently in the past 2 months or so. He's not a selective feeder and although I would sometimes like him to eat a bit more roughage than he does, overall he eats well and maintains a healthy weight.

I didn't think that it could be mites or fleas causing the baldness as he is kept indoors and we don't allow any other pets in the house. I also give him a bath every few months with an insecticidal shampoo (which is recommended to help control mites and fleas in rabbits and other small animals), although he has never suffered from mites or fleas in the past so really I just use it to prevent rather than to cure.

Although the bald patch doesn't seem to be getting worse I am slightly concerned as it has appeared over the past few weeks and doesn't really seem to be growing back.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

Answer
Dear Kerry,

Even indoor rabbits can get pathogens that cause abnormal fur loss, as they can travel on the wind, come in on shoes and clothing, and generally don't find "indoors" to be a barrier.

Please read:

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

for an overview of the causes and treatments of abnormal fur loss in rabbits, and then find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who can accurately diagnose and treat the problem appropriately.

I hope this helps.

Dana