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Hi people

I've a few rabbits, a new zealand white buck and various mixtures for ladies. I've discovered that one of the lady rabbits has very loose fur. In fact, she has managed to rip her fur and expose the underlying skin several times.
I've also recently dispatched another related rabbit who when skinning had a similar problem and her fur was literally falling out and not attached to the body well like other rabbits I've butchered.
Is this a common thing? have people come across it before and is there anything I can do about it?

Andy

My friends rabbits had the same problem although the vet said it could be a few things he suggested that it may be interbreeding, he changed his bucks and the problem did go away eventually I'm not sure if this is your problem but it may be one of the factors, I do hope this will help, all the best.

Sounds, disturbing

Some kind of infestation or skin infection?

No to either of these

One rabbit ripped her skin and is finally healing, she does look a bit like frankenstein's bunny monster but she will live!

Do you think it could be genetic?

Not sure, Just wanted to make sure others don't get it!

Hope it soon clears up

It could be all sorts of things. Rabbits do molt, so it could just be hair naturally falling off. They occasionally molt in big patches and have bare spots, but those will fill in pretty quick.

If you suspect wool mites or ear mites, a bit of Ivermectin in almost any way you can get it on or in the rabbit should clear it up. We have angoras and don't eat them, so I don't know if there is a waiting period between the time they are medicated and to when you can eat them.

If you have your bunnies in a group with other bunnies, they can get into fights, so it could be trauma.

If it is a doe and she thinks she may be pregnant (even if she isn't) she will pull her fur off to make a nest. This is usually from the chest and belly area, though.

Unfortunately, it isn't any of those great reasons. Sadly, the doe (& her offspring) who suffered from this have subsequently died. I suspect that it was a genetic-related illness.