Crusty sores

Question
I have a 3 year old french angora neutered male.  He has recently (within the last month)developed crusty lesions inside one nostril and just under his chin.  He has several more over his body, and just today I noticed that he has also developed a ring of the same type of sores around the skin protecting his penis, and there is a milky substance around his penis when I push it out.  He is currently being treated for conjuctivitus, and was recently treated for fleas with Advantage.  He is my indoor bunny - no cage - free roaming around the house, and other than picking up fleas from our cat, he is scrupulously clean.  He has free choice hay, eats Blue Seal Show Hutch food, and gets regular papaya tablets and the occasional petromalt.  I clip him about every 4 months, and I know that the sores are not from being "nicked".  What could be the problem?

Answer
Hi Martha

I would have him examined by a vet.  Crusty sores can mean a variety of things.  He also could have picked them up from your cat or even if you might have got a mouse in the house.  I know it sounds odd but you said the sore on his penis is round shaped.  He might have got ringworm.  The other thing is that if you take him outdoors for play time he could have picked up mites.  As scary as it is humans can carry certain types of mites.

If you don't feel comfortable giving him an ivermectin or penicillin shot yourself I feel it is in the best interest to get him to the vet.  They sound like they are spreading and that is very scary.  Your vet should show you how to give him injections if you have never done it.  Since penicillin can't be given orally to rabbits it needs to be in shot form.  You can buy it online or occasionally at some tractor supply stores.  But again it is better to let the vet look at the sores to make sure there isn't something strange going on.  I am not sure if conjunctivitis can be spread to other area's but if he is constantly grooming and the sores are spreading it could be something totally different.

French Angora's are so beautiful.  If I had the patience I would keep some myself.  I have a hard time brushing the fuzzy lops I have I couldn't imagine an Angora.

If you can't afford a vet or don't have one please let me know and I will give you the doses of the medications.  You will have to do research where to find them and without knowing exactly what is wrong they may not work.  Sometimes after spending hundreds of dollars on medication you sometimes wish you would have just paid the vet fee instead.

Thank you and Good luck

Pam