bran
Member
I have a lionhead rabbit. This is the timeline of events.
About two months ago, I had to remove a furball from her mouth. She had been shedding, and her hair fell off into her hay. Once I cleaned her cage and brushed her, there wasn't any more problem.
About a few weeks ago, a single streak of fur had disappeared on her back, exposing her skin. I thought nothing of it. Perhaps it was more shedding? However, I noted that her hair was full of what I assumed dandruff; white flakes of seemingly dead skin that I could not fully comb out.
A week ago, another spot, much larger, appeared. Fast forward to an hour ago, I noticed that her skin where the first area of fur loss occurred now has something black over it. It doesn't look like her skin, but rather something on top of her skin. The fur around the area seems to be full of small bits of debris from this area, and I noticed some exposed skin at the rear of this blackened area, suggesting that it was some sort of giant scab. However, it wasn't dry, it was actually really soft.
Could this be something forming in preparation for new fur growth? Sorry if that sounds like a really lame question, but I have no biological understanding of the processes necessary for a rabbit to regrow his or her coat. If not, what could it be, and what could I do to prevent any future problems and/or remedy the current problem? I plan on giving her a bath tomorrow, which I realize should only be done sparingly, as well as cleaning out her cage.
Thanks.
About two months ago, I had to remove a furball from her mouth. She had been shedding, and her hair fell off into her hay. Once I cleaned her cage and brushed her, there wasn't any more problem.
About a few weeks ago, a single streak of fur had disappeared on her back, exposing her skin. I thought nothing of it. Perhaps it was more shedding? However, I noted that her hair was full of what I assumed dandruff; white flakes of seemingly dead skin that I could not fully comb out.
A week ago, another spot, much larger, appeared. Fast forward to an hour ago, I noticed that her skin where the first area of fur loss occurred now has something black over it. It doesn't look like her skin, but rather something on top of her skin. The fur around the area seems to be full of small bits of debris from this area, and I noticed some exposed skin at the rear of this blackened area, suggesting that it was some sort of giant scab. However, it wasn't dry, it was actually really soft.
Could this be something forming in preparation for new fur growth? Sorry if that sounds like a really lame question, but I have no biological understanding of the processes necessary for a rabbit to regrow his or her coat. If not, what could it be, and what could I do to prevent any future problems and/or remedy the current problem? I plan on giving her a bath tomorrow, which I realize should only be done sparingly, as well as cleaning out her cage.
Thanks.