Hair loss in bun

Question
QUESTION: I have a Holland Lop neutered female, possibly 9 months old. She weighs 2 lbs 12 oz and is cute as a button. She went thru a complete molt in April/May of this year and in June started losing some hair on the back of her ears and top of her head. Looked quite thin, not really bald. Vet gave Ivermectin injections X 3 every 2 weeks but could find no evidence of mites or other parasite or fungus on 3 skin scrapings.
Now 2 weeks after the last injection, she is losing hair on her back and sides just like she did during the molt and I can pull off huge tufts of hair (if she holds still). She also scratches her ears somewhat.
Is it possible that she is molting again 2 months after the 1st molt? or should I be looking for a new vet? Vet's colleagues think that my bun may just have poor hair coverage naturally. I don't know what to do next. Her litter is Yesterday's News and she eats timothy hay, Sunseed Gourmet pellets, Petsmart container of choppped hay and dried veggies (a real favorite) and fresh stuff inc. kale, parsley, cilantro, organic mixed baby greens, baby carrots and occassionaly apple slices. She stays in the kitchen during the day and is caged at night. I wash weekly her cage and carpets. I appreciate any advice or suggestions you can give me.

ANSWER: Hi Julia,

sounds like she's got a good life with you.

I think the Ivermectin without evidence of mites/etc may have been premature, but I can understand why you were thinking that.

One thing I do notice about our guys, being inside rabbits, and in a more 'artificial' environment, is that because the temperature extremes of summer and winter are not so drastic between spring and fall, is that sometimes this can trick their bodies into molting more than the expected once every 3 months molt.  Rabbits shed 4 times a year, typically, but lots of stress or a stressful event can sometimes be enough to trigger another shed.  

On the ears in particular, one of our gal bunnies seems to get this.  Again, like you, they are in an extremely clean environment, no bugs or anything, inside, etc.  I tend to think it may be a combination of a little boredom plus dry skin, or just dry skin.  What you can do is put a little vaseline or (even better) Bag Balm on the ears.  It helps the skin and is safe.  Our gal seems to like it on her ears (not globs, but a thin coating).

The only other thing I'd say is watch how much veggies you give her, some of the items you list on there can cause gas in rabbits which can lead to not eating/gas pain and progress into gi stasis (the kale and cilantro).  Watch any kind of carbs/sugars you're giving her, vets are seeing articles and studies showing that ALL carbs that rabbits eat slow down gut motility.

Glad your little gal is in good hands.

Lee

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

QUESTION: Well she's not crazy about going to the vet (neither am I) and we've probably gone 7 times since I got her in Feb this yr. Her hair prob. is dry, I've seen a few little white flakes on top of her ears where she scratches. I'm going to try the bag balm this week end.  Thanks again.  Julie

Answer
UPDATE:

Hi Julia,

if you are having trouble finding a good rabbit vet, go here:

www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

to find a House Rabbit Society-recommended vet near you.

Lee

END UPDATE


Hi Julia,

it's not her fur that is dry, it is the skin on her ears that is dry.  The flakiness is dry skin flecks she brushes off when grooming her ears or scratching them.

It will make her feel better. Bag Balm is great for little bare spots on hocks (back legs) too.

Lee