rabbit hair loss and sore skin

Question
I hope you can help. I just rescued a rabbit tonight from someone who did not know how to take care of it. I already have 3 of my own and one which is 10 years old and I have never seen anything like on the one I rescued. Its legs, top of its bottom and tail...all the fur has fallen out and it looks sore. I know they were feeding it correctly only giving it lettuce and brocoli so they told me so it wasn't getting pellets. I am wondering what would do this. I washed it off and it doesn't have flees but clearly its legs are sore. I thought maybe it had been sitting in its urine and that would burn it sort of. Either way I have never seen this and am wondering if it is just poor nutrition or what. Please help me out. The rabbit is so nice and likes to be held but I feel bad for it but am trying to avoid the vet as I just took it so it wouldn't get worse in the bad situation it was in. Thanks for your help!

Answer
Dear Rachel,

Probably the most common cause of fur loss and raw skin in very stressed, neglected rabbits is parasitic mites.  Fortunately, these are easily treated with Revolution/Stronghold from a good rabbit vet, whom you can find here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

You can read more about this condition, and see pictures of very bad cases (before and after treatment) here:

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

Mange and other types of mite infestations are painful, so the sooner the bunny gets treatment, the better.  Thank you for being his saving angel.

Good luck!

Dana