bunny not eating and fur losing

Question
hello, I would like to ask you about my bunny, that is behaving strange these days. at first, few days ago I have noticed, he doesn't eat as usually(it was difficult to find out, because his comrade, guinea pig, always eat his things up, as soon as he can). he drinks very much water. he is also changing the fur(I know how it goes). i took him to vet, because he shows interest in food(always comes, when giving portions), but doesn't eat it. doctor checked the teeth and said he looks very good on a 6 year old rabbit. i measured his weight, it is as much as usually(1,4 kg..he was supposed to be dwarf, but it turned other way), but i am afraid he soon will...today i have found out he has a big clean bald area under the neck, he always licks it and uses the water he drinks to keep it wet. and it is not the case of the new fur coming, because I noticed the licking and water earlier, but didn't examine him, he doesn't like it. he changed behavior also, he sits all day in hiding place but usually he run about. i have read articles about the possible fur loss problem, but the symptoms do not match. he has never been ill, he doesn't scratch himself very much, the area is just clean bald skin...I am afraid, because there is not a good care about little animals here around and no specialist at all, so the vet wont probably know all the possibilities and illnesses(they know a lot about dogs and cows:(...)

i was thinking it could be also caused by some stress(because hiding and avoiding the light), or he is bored, i don't know. he was doing perfectly all those years, please advise me...

thank you very much for your help, I don't know where else to go...
(i am sorry for my English)

Answer
Dear Maja,

Your bunny is showing the classic signs of molar spurs, which are making it too painful to eat, and also causing drooling. Saliva collects under the chin, causing irritation and the hair to fall out, so this is why the bunny is continually licking.

Please read this:

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

You don't say where you are, but we do have international veterinary listings linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If you can't find one there, please write back and tell me your general location, and I may be able to help you with a referral.  But if not, then please bring that article above with you to the vet.

Without having his molars filed, your bunny's prognosis is very poor, so I hope you can find someone to look *deep* into his mouth (his front teeth may be fine, but his back teeth could very well be a real mess, which is not uncommon in rabbits his age!) and file any painful spurs.  

Spurs also show up in horses, so if you mention this to the vet who is experienced with horses, he may be able to help, if he's confident to work on a "little horse" like a rabbit.  The tooth problems are very similar.

I hope this helps!

Dana