theres a huge lump on my rabbits neck!:(

Question
My rabbit has this big lump on the left side of his neck.  I have owned many
rabbits and once had 18 altogether at once, but I am no professional at all and
quite embarassed to say that I have never visited a vet.  I now only have one
and I've had him for six years.  He is 6 years old and have always been healthy
and quite chubby.  But lately he has had many problems:( A while ago he had all
his fur on a little area around his eye complete off.  It has grown back now,
but what caused that?  The main problem right now is the huge lump on his neck.
Not long ago I have noticed it but it was really small and I didn't think it was
much.  Also lately I have been busy with studies so my mum feeds him and cleans
his cage but she doesn't touch him.  Yesterday I picked him up and found that
the little lump is now so big! It's not a normal lump.  It is like a complete
ball underneath his skin.  Almost twice the size of a marble! I am so worried!:(
What is wrong with him? Would lump go away? I should really make my first ever
visit to the vet as I've had him for so long and don't want anything to happen
to him.  But what has caused this lump?
I know that he is getting quite old as well.  Are there any common problems that
happen as rabbits age?
Please help me:) thank you very much.

Answer
Dear Raewyn,

At the age of six, your bunny isn't old at all.  The lump, if it moves freely with the skin, could be an abscess that needs to be addressed by a good rabbit vet, whom you can find here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Please also read this, regarding infections:

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

so you'll know what to ask the vet.  It's high time for a wellness check, anyway, so I'd get him to a good rabbit vet as soon as you can.

I hope this helps!

Dana