big lump on my bunnys 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
Hi Raewyn,

I can't tell you for certain what it is as 1) I am not a vet and 2) there could be multiple reasons for it.  However it sounds from what you describe that he has an infection/abscess of some kind.  Either that or a growth of some kind.  This is why it is critical for you to get to a vet as soon as possible.  And not just any old vet, but a vet that is experienced with rabbits on a regular basis and has a high success rate with them.

Your rabbit at 6 is not considered an old rabbit.  House rabbits have a general life expectancy of 10-12 years, or longer.  At age 6 he is just starting to be considered as a young older rabbit.  He is at the youngest tip of geriatric rabbits.  In human years he could be anywhere from 48-60 years old.

Your best bet is to break your habit of not going to the vet and start getting your now young older boy looked at.  You should also start budgeting for taking him at least once a year to a vet for an annual exam.  For older rabbits they recommend every six months, especially if they are having problems that they want to keep an eye on.

Lee