Causes of baldness in rabbits and methods of treatment, methods of prevention
The attractiveness of a long-eared animal depends almost entirely on the spectacular beauty of the pet's fluffy coat. For farmers and lovers of decorative breeds, there is no more sad sight than a bald, sick rabbit. Only an experienced veterinarian can determine the cause of the trouble. Do not despair, in most cases the animal can be helped.
How does molting manifest in rabbits?
In the wild, rabbits change their fur coat only in spring and autumn. The frequency of molting is influenced by temperature extremes and changing seasons. To the chagrin of the owners, pets shed almost continuously. This misunderstanding can be easily explained: a comfortable temperature is always maintained in heated houses.
The first change of fur occurs when the rabbit reaches 1.5 months. At this moment, the young creature changes the infant's down cover to a full-fledged fur coat of an adult animal. Molting itself is safe for the rabbit, but the process requires the attention of the owner. The pet carefully licks its skin, removing dead hairs. As a result, the gastrointestinal tract of the ears becomes clogged with shreds of wool. Animals are not able to regurgitate wool, as cats or dogs do, and if he is not helped in time, the pet risks dying.
During the change of fur, the rabbit is carefully combed out. If an admixture of wool is clearly visible in the animal's feces, and the amount of excrement becomes less, it is time to take urgent measures. Helping the trouble is not difficult, you need to give your pet 10 ml of petroleum jelly and increase the daily portion of hay. It is the dry grass that prevents intestinal blockages.
Molting happens:
- Seasonal. Rabbits only change their fur in autumn and spring.
- Year-round. The animals molt constantly.
- Compensatory. In this case, the wool grows back instead of lost as a result of injuries (burns, wounds).
Possible diseases causing baldness and methods of their treatment
Various diseases can cause a pet's baldness. The veterinarian's prescriptions and the careful care of the owner will help to restore the former beauty and health of the eared pet.
Lichen
Ringworm is a dangerous disease for the entire livestock of domestic animals.The fungus easily infects weakened animals that have recently suffered from diseases. There are cases when animals fell ill with ringworm after hypothermia. The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the skin and hair loss. Bald patches appear on the fur coat of an infected rabbit.
Aggressive infection is easily transmitted to humans, therefore, all medical and hygiene procedures must be performed with gloves. There are a lot of drugs on sale to combat an unpleasant disease. Among animal lovers, Miconazole and Ketoconazole are popular. Before processing, the wool growing around the resulting bald patches is cut off.
For the treatment of a pet, you cannot use a product intended for a person. The medicine is toxic to the animals, because the rabbit will definitely lick its fur. In this case, the drug will surely enter the animal's body, and the pet runs the risk of poisoning.
Simple preventive measures will help you avoid troubles in the future. Help keep the animals healthy:
- Timely vaccinations.
- Compulsory isolation of newly acquired rabbits. New pets are quarantined in a separate dwelling.
- Thorough cleaning of pet apartments. The cell is treated with chlorine-containing agents.
- Maintaining a comfortable air temperature. The room should be warm and dry.
Fleas
Fleas carry a dangerous disease called myxomatosis. The disease is accompanied by conjunctivitis, which causes a lot of suffering for the pets. With the development of the disease, subcutaneous bumps appear in the rabbit's eyes. An insidious infection can mow down all livestock. In the event of an outbreak of myxomatosis, quarantine is announced in the affected farm.
Painful flea bites often cause allergic reactions in animals. Due to the fault of insects, pets comb the bite sites until they bleed. As a result, the affected areas are partially exposed. Special flea remedies will help to cope with the trouble. For eared pets, a preparation for treating kittens' hair is suitable. The agent is applied to the withers of the animal. However, the product is not suitable for decorative rabbits; there are special sprays for exotic beauties. The drug is used to treat the area of the rabbit's back, evenly distributing the agent along the spine.
Mites
Fur mites bring a lot of trouble to animals. Insects occupy the skin on the pet's body. As a result of the vital activity of pests, the back and sides of the rabbit are partially bald and covered with white crumbs of dandruff. The skin in the affected area becomes inflamed and itchy. In some areas, whole strands of hair fall out. The disease is called heiletiellosis.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, you must contact an experienced veterinarian. The specialist makes a verdict based on laboratory research and examination of the animal.
The situation with the subcutaneous tick is much more complicated. The insect is difficult to see with the naked eye, because the pest lives under the upper layers of the skin. The presence of ticks is indicated by tiny bumps that appear on the skin in places where insects accumulate. This is where pests lay their eggs. The unhappy animal furiously scratches the itchy swellings, tearing the skin to blood. Small wounds become inflamed and fester.
Subcutaneous mites can poison the life of not only handsome eared men. Pests often fall prey to dogs, cats and other pets. In some cases, the infection also affects humans. In the event of an outbreak of the disease, the home of the eared pets is thoroughly disinfected. Pets in their entirety are treated with a special preparation. Injections of Selamectin or Ivermectin preparations will help to solve the problem.However, it must be remembered that medications for cats or dogs are dangerous for herbivorous rabbits.
Spirochetosis, or rabbit syphilis
The unpleasant disease affects the eared inhabitants of large, densely populated paddocks. Signs of the disease: sores in the head and genitals. In the affected areas, the hair falls out intensively. The infection is transmitted through the sexual contact of animals. Penicillin is used for treatment.
Ornamental domestic animals are not threatened with rabbit syphilis.
Hormonal disturbance
As a result of hormonal changes, animals often lose whole tufts of hair. The hair on the body of rabbits strays into separate lumps. These balls literally fall off the pet's once attractive fur coat. Only a veterinarian can determine the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon. Conclusions are made on the basis of laboratory studies.
Treating hormonal baldness is not that difficult. Diet food and taking specially selected hormonal drugs will help to cope with the unpleasant phenomenon.
Dermatomycosis in rabbits
The culprit of the trouble is a skin fungus. Dermatomycosis affects the ears and nose of the animal. In a healthy rabbit, the infection can go away without consequences. As a rule, the pet's strong immunity allows you to transfer the disease without symptoms.
In a weak rabbit, hair falls out between the ears. The wound becomes inflamed and festering, and then crust over. If untreated, the fungus spreads throughout the pet's body. For treatment, specialists use the drugs "Surolan" or "Fenistil".
Other causes of hair loss
In some cases, hair loss is caused by tumors of various origins or vitamin deficiencies. Often, the behavior of animals contributes to baldness.
Fur eating by other rabbits
In a confined space, pets get bored and from idleness pluck hairs from a neighbor's skin. In such cases, pets need to be released into the enclosure for a walk. This will diversify the life of rabbits. Damage to the fur can also occur as a result of the fight of young males. Such fighters will have to be relocated to separate cells.
The rabbit gnaws its own fur
If a pet is constantly biting into its own skin and methodically pulling pieces of fur out of it, then the animal is under stress or in physical pain. Rabbits are timid and vulnerable creatures. The nervous system of an animal can be undermined by an unexpected move to a new place or a sharp change in food. The veterinarian can determine the cause of the change in the pet's behavior.
Hair loss prevention
Following the rules for keeping animals will help to avoid many of the problems that contribute to baldness in rabbits:
- regularly clean and disinfect aviaries and cages;
- constantly ventilate the room;
- conduct routine vaccination;
- restrict access to cells for strangers;
- isolate pets from dogs, cats and birds.
