Lots of hair and weight loss

Question
I was wondering if you can help.  I see a lot of info on fur loss with scabby skin, but nothing with clear skin and weight loss.  For the past few weeks I have noticed that your mini lop has been losing a lot of weight and now her hair is getting so patchy that she has a lot of bald spots on her sides and down her back.  Her skin is clear and I don't see any bugs.  Her stools seem to be normal.  She is with 2 other rabbits, but they don't have any of these problems.  I have watched them closely and they don't fight, they don't keep the mini lop from food or water and she eats, drinks and acts normal.  I was going to try separating them, but I don't think the other rabbits are the cause.  I don't know if I should head to a vet or if there is something over the counter that would work.  Do you have any ideas?

Answer
Hi Sandi,

I understand the feeling that I'd rather find an over-the-counter remedy instead of a vet visit too, but if you don't know what the nature of the problem is, that is where a vet visit is key.

I can tell you possibilities without seeing your rabbit.  One might be self-aggression, pulling out her fur because she may not like being in there with two other rabbits (even with no fighting), she may feel partly abandoned because she's just one of a pack, etc.  Or it could be a skin condition that is not caused by observable 'bugs'.

Does she seem to be scratching herself a lot more often, or picking at her fur more than she normally does?  Has she been under extra stress (any changes can be stressful)? That may make her shed harder and in patches.

Is she really happy with the other rabbits?  Some rabbits enjoy their own cage but do not mind exercise time with other rabbits, and some don't want any physical contact with other rabbits but are happy watching them across gates/separate cages.

I would suggest a vet visit to a good rabbit vet, not just any old dog/cat vet.  If you don't have a good rabbit vet (will also cost less as they will zero in on the problems and treatments faster and in less time), go to the House Rabbit Society web page:

www.rabbit.org\vets

and find a recommended rabbit vet in your area.

A good rabbit vet will be able to tell you if there is a physical cause for the fur loss.  If there is something physical, then they can start to look at treatment options.  If it isn't, then it's behavioral and you need to figure out why she's doing this.  Either way it can be clinically ruled positive or negative.

Please write back as this progresses, I'll help any way I can.

Lee