nail biting

Question
Our bun is a little over a year old.  She has now bitten 4 nails off and I am wondering what is going on.  Should we have her checked out by a vet?  She has been playing, eating, drinking and sleeping fine.  She also gets plenty of holding and love especially being summer time.
thank you

Answer
Dear Michelle,

Her nails might be too long, and causing her irritation, or she might have the beginnings of mange on her toes, which would itch and make her chew at her toes and nails.  Please see:

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

for information on mange/mites.  And find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who can examine her and find out what's going on.  Unless you have actually *seen* her chewing off the nails, there's also the possiblity that she's simply *breaking* them, either because they're too long and catching on things, or because she's being a bit rambunctious in her play.

Hope this helps.

Dana