question about bunny health

[diamondracer08]

i got a wabbit from a pet store about 6 months ago. At first she was skinny and small, now she's better feed and hoppier and chews everything but she has a pouch or this growth on her neck and I dont' know what it is. It keeps getting bigger and widder. I don't over feed her at all and let her hop around my house all the time. Could it be a tumor?

 

[bunnydude]

My guess is that it is a dewlap. Its something that female rabbits have (although no one seems to know why:?). I wouldn't worry

Here is a thread on "The Mystery of Dewlaps":
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=4616&forum_id=1

 

[m.e.]

Can you post a picture of it?

Many rabbits develop extra skin under their neck, known as a "dewlap". If the 'lump' is soft and fleshy, I'm betting that's what it is

from: http://www.catsandrabbitsandmore.com/orange_county_rabbits

 

[aurora369]

What your seeing is most likely a dewlap. Most female rabbits get them, and some male as well. No body really knows what they are for, but it's not something to worry about.

If it's soft and squishy, and feels like a flap of skin with a little fat, it's a dewlap. If it's a hard ball, that feels firm and not squishy, then it may be an abcess or tumour.

I know there was a thread a while back on dewlaps, if you use the search feature at the top of the page, and type in "Dewlap", you'll come up with some good threads that have some pictures for you to compare to.

Also, you could post some pictures of your bunny, and most of us could tell you if it's just her dewlap or if you should be concerned.

--Dawn

 

[m.e.]

Well, great minds think alike

 

[aurora369]

LOL, we all answered at the same time!! Was empty when I hit reply.

--Dawn

 

[diamondracer08]

here is a picture of her

.....the dewlap is lil bigger now tho
will it go away at al?? and how do you clip their claws they have for nails?

 

[naturestee]

I love Harlequins! :bunnyheart Her dewlap will stay- some rabbits get bigger dewlaps if they are overweight, but she looks right to me.

This site will tell you how to clip her nails:
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/resourcesgeneral/a/nailtrim.htm

I use a nail clipper that was made for a small dog. I also have one that's made for rabbits and has a rabbit face on the handle, but I don't like it. It's hard to hold and the blade doesn't cut nicely.

 

[diamondracer08]

is it also ok to give them baths like once in a while...hunny's feet and but start to smell bad after a little while and so does she because she rolls in her cage....if that's not normal she's my rabbit which would explain it...none of my animals are normal from the dogs to the chinchilla....but i gave her a bath once and she seemed like she liked it

*it's on low warm.cold setting....don't yell at me

 

[HoneyPot]

Hi diamondracer, you bun is VERY cute.

I use a regular human nail clipper to cut my buns nails.

_______
Nadia

 

[Maureen Las]

I read somewhere that you're not supposed to give a rabbit a full bath, however if your rabbit seems to like it I don't know why you shouldn't. Anyone else know about this?

 

[Maureen Las]

Forgot to mention..dewlaps never go away... just part of the anatomy of a female rabbit

 

[Lissa]

angieluv wrote:

I read somewhere that you're not supposed to give a rabbit a full bath, however if your rabbit seems to like it I don't know why you shouldn't. Anyone else know about this?

Giving a rabbit a bath is quite stressful. I wouldn't recommend it.