Bald patch - need advice

[erresar]

Hi there!

My friend introduced me to this forum and said that rabbit lovers here maybe able to help me on what to do next with my bun.

It started a few months ago. My bun, loss a spot of fur (approx 2cm) between his shoulders, behind his ears. From then onwards, I have been bringing him to see vets and he has undergone treatment on fungus, mites etc... The vet even did a fungal test and the result was negative.

During the treatment period, the bald patch continues to grow, and currently it's at a size of about 5cm. The bald patch shows healthy skin colour, no flakes or dandruffs, no visible mites. But I do see him scratches his ears and shakes his head. The vet also can't find any mites in his ears. However, the furs around the bald patch can be easily plucked out, compared to the furs at the back.

I figure if there is anything to do with mites or fungus, I will be able to see the effect by now, but what I'm getting is just a bigger bald patch.

Plus he has been having high fibre pellet food, mix vege and lots of hay everyday, and his poo size is normal.

I run out of idea, and don't know what to do next.
Anyone can shed some lights of what can it be? or experience something like this before?
I don't want to continue using the drugs prescribed since they are obviously not working at all. Maybe some natural remedy?

Thanks a bunch!!

Sal

 

[Leaf]

Sal, is your vet knowledgeable about rabbits?



What kind of tests have they done; black light, skin scraping?

I'd almost wonder about just plain moulting but I'm not sure with the way it sounds. Is there no new hair growth at all?

 

[tonyshuman]

Alopecia? Is your vet doing a skin scraping and looking at it under the scope for mites? The ear scratching and head shaking says mites to me...:?

 

[Maureen Las]

What meds is he on now?

 

[Maureen Las]

Also..were fungal and bacterial cultures done inside his ears?

 

[erresar]

Hi all!

Thank you for all the responses!

My vet did a skin scrapping and scaned it under microscope. No mites or whatever. And she also pulled out some furs around the bald patch area and put those furs into a plastic container with some jelly inside. 2 weeks later, negative.

She also gave me a fungus treatment (called Surolan). After this, some furs grew back, but it's only 5-8 strands... and that's it... nothing more than that. But the bald patch continues to grow in size.

After that, the vet gave me something called Cortavance, which he said he has used this on rabbit before. I questioned him because it's written there for dog. But he said so far he didn't experience anything. Well, I tried a few times, no improvement too. So I'm back on Surolan now.

You might find these medicine names foreign because they are some Dutch brand and all instructions are in Dutch which I struggled with as well.

This vet is specialised in small animals, I read up their background and they are recommended by local rabbit group. But yeah, I find it surprising that they don't have specialised medicines for rabbits!! How disappointing especially in Holland!

The bald patch looks like alopecia, tonyshuman.

What is a back light test, leaf?

Is it possible that that the mites are so deep inside the ears that when the vet look into it and they can't spot it?? I thought if he is infected by mites, it doesn't take long for the dandruff or lesion to appear. This has been on for 3 months. *cry*

He is a Dutch mix lionhead rabbit. When I adopted him one year ago, he already has a splayed front legs, plus a blue and a brown eye. He is coming to 2 years now. Overall a healthy bun, except this bald patch that I'm experiencing now.


Sal

 

[polly]

Hiya just to throw a wild idea out there are yoru rabbits bonded? i was just thinking over grooming as i have seen it happen before with bald patches being the result.

 

[erresar]

Hi ya!

This is most probably the best news ever during this past few months trying to heal Kenji, my bun.

He just managed to bond with a female Yuki just about 1 week ago. It happened when I put him in a holiday home cum adoption center while we went for a holiday break.

So... I don't think is overgrooming that causes the patch.
But... she seems to be grooming his head more than any other parts!

Sal

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

Both of my lionheads have bald patches under their mane. They have always had it. I don't know if that helps or not :?.

 

[Leaf]

A black light scan can illuminate any fungus-type problems.

What area do you live in? Is your rabbit inside or outside - do you have humidity troubles?

 

[Maureen Las]

I don't really have a source to back this up..possibly Randy or something I read on etherbun but I think there have been cases where a vet went ahead and treated the rabbit with ivermectin EVEN without positive cultures .
As far as I know ivermectin is used for fur mites and ear mites. I believe it is one injection per week for three weeks.

I need to read some more on this and/or try to find a source. ..also read up on the drug your rabbit is on ..I don't know what it is.

 

[ra7751]

This one rang a bell with me....and a senior lady here named Squirt. What you described is exactly the symptoms Squirt presented. We did all the skin scrapings and all of that...even did a fungal culture despite the fact that rabbits rarely get fungal infections....even looked for ringworms. Since we track all our medical concerns, we saw a trend that linked the fur loss to a very light case of stasis. We decided to deworm her with Panacur. A fecal was also negative but those are notoriously inaccurate. We did a standard deworming protocol with the Panacur. The problem resolved and has not returned in over four years. Might not be what's going on here....but just an idea to explore. I don't like treating by the "SWAG" method but in Squirt's case, a good guess resolved the issue for her.

Randy

 

[erresar]

Hi all!

Wow, lots of idea that I can work on with!! Thank you so much!!

Leaf:
I'm not sure whether they do back light scan, I can ask my vet. The current humidity in the Netherlands is at about 60-90%. We have rain fall here every 2 or 3 days despite summer. Does this affect the bun? Kenji is an indoor rabbit.

The difference between the time when his bald patch is at 2 cm and now at 5cm is this: when it was at 2cm, he was staying in Malaysia which is hot and warm throughout the year; when his bald patch grew to 5cm, he stays in the Netherland, from winter to now summer.


BeauKezra:
Does the bald patch on your lionhead's mane grows bigger or they remain the same size throughout?


I have no idea what is ivermectin here is called in Dutch, so I have to find that out.
So another possible way is Panacur; or it might just be something to do with his genetic due to his lionhead + dutch rabbit mix?

He does portray a genetic problem with the mix due to his splayed leg and weird eyes (one blue one brown).

Sal

 

[Maureen Las]

Maybe you can present some of this infoto your vet

I did e-mail and found another bunny owner who uses Surolan which is for fungal ear infections. I do not think it treats mites.
I will try to look and see if I can find some other names that ivermectin is marketed under. I'm sure it is available in your country as it is used for farm animals for various things also.
If your vet decided to use panacur as randy suggested I do not think that would be difficult to get also.

I will be at our shelter all day today but will try to get back later.

I also am wondering if there are conditions that a rabbit could contract in Malaysia that we wouldn't even know about ??

 

[erresar]

Yupe! These are a good piece of information to show her! And I'm happy at least you all has helped me to progress a bit further on how to treat him.

I don't know what are the common sicknesses that a rabbit can contract in Malaysia. So far he has only suffered from mites and after treating him he was ok. This is really the first serious issue that he has.

I'll continue to update you all and see what happen next!

 

[BEAUKEZRA]

Their bald patches don't seem to get any bigger but they are always inside and never experience changes in temperature. The bald spots are pretty large under the mane on their neck. Their skin isn't red or irritated and since they've always had it I figured it was just normal.

 

[erresar]

Update:

I managed to find a product manufactured by Beaphar which contains ivermectin in the tube. Bought it off shelf, it has 4 tubes in a box. I read the instructions, dosage is suitable for Kenji, so I started to put it on him yesterday. I need to repeat this over another 3 more weeks. Hopefully I can see some progress here.

My next appointment with the vet is in July. Hopefully by then we can get to another level to progress further!

Thank you all! Will keep everyone updated!

Sal

 

[Maureen Las]

I really don' think you should do this yourself as it has to be dose specific to weight and you don't know what the other ingredients in the creme are.

Rabbits are usually given ivermectin injections and once again if it is given topically it has to be the correct amount.

I strongly suggest that you get instructions from your vet and don't treat him yourself.

 

[Maureen Las]

Ivermectin toxicosis has been reported in cattle, horses, pigs, cats and dogs. No reports are available for rabbit toxicosis, Toxicoxis is mainly related to inappropriate off-label use of the large animal formulation in dogs ,or overdosage ,with penetration of the blood brain label.. Overdosage often lead to ataxia and depression. Further signs are dilitation of the pupils,coma , tremors, stupor, emesis, drooling and death
There is no safe and specific antidote to ivermectin . Activated charcoal ,IV fluids protection of the eyes against dessication and treatment of bradycardia are recommended. Intubation may be needed to feed the animal ....

This goes on and on.and is from 2003 - 2008 MediaRabbit.com...

I think that you should take your rabbit to an emergency vet.

I know that you are trying to help but you shoudn't be doing this with out vet supervision.

 

[Maureen Las]

Ijust looked up Beaphar which (as far as I know) is not available in the US or if it is I have not heard of it.

If you used the product specifically for very small animals it may not harm your bun. It is best not to use over the counter products or anything not researched on rabbits or prescribed by the vet.
I have asked Randy to respond to this post.

I hope that your bun is OK