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Outdoors Rabbit

22 11:17:07

Question
Hi,
There is an outdoor rabbit that lives near the building, bushes at my work.  It is a female because it has had two sets of babies since the spring this year.  It had a dark spot on it's head between it's ears months ago.  Now the area is very large and has spread to the ears.  It looks like horns.  There are horn-like looking pieces in the middle of her head between the ears and then one hanging from the side of one of her ears.
A lady at work was curious so she called the U of Minnesota Vet hospital and they mentioned that it was probably a worm.
Please advise, just curious.
Leann

Answer
Dear Leann,

While I can't see the bunny to be sure, this sounds like mange, which is caused by parasitic mites. You can see pictures and more information here:

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

Symptoms of mange and other mite infestations generally show up only in a stressed animal, so you would be doing this bunny a BIG favor by capturing her and getting her to a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for treatment and spaying so she can live a happy, normal life.  The local chapter of the Minnesota House Rabbit Society might be able to help you:

www.rabbit.org/chapters

I hope this helps, and that you can save this bunny from her suffering!

Dana