My rabbit is pulling outhis fur

Question
PLease can you help?  We got some rescue rabbits about 5 weeks ago and everything has been fine but in the last 3 days or so our male (3yrs and neutered) has statred pulling out his fur on his back to the point where it bleeds!  They are in an outside run with a hutch and have plenty of hiding places.  He is now laying down looking very relaxed and testerday the vet said that he could find no mites or anything on him.  Any ideas?  THanks so much

Answer
Dear Lucy,

There are certain types of mites that are extremely hard to find, even with deep skin scraping.  If this were my rabbit, I would ask the vet about treated with Revolution (selamectin), just in case he has contracted burrowing mites that could be very itchy and miserable.  You can read more here:

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

If the Revolution doesn't solve the problem, more diagnostic tests and detective work might be necessary (contact allergy?  Anything new in the house, such as new cleaning products?  Was he exposed to fleas or mosquitos?), but there's a very good chance the Revolution will solve the problem.

Hope this helps.

Dana