Like most animals with fur, rabbits shed that fur at varied occasions all through their lives. The technical time period is molting. In case your rabbit sheds often, that’s completely regular and nothing to fret about. Nonetheless, if you happen to discover that your rabbit is out of the blue shedding greater than regular or their fur is beginning to look “patchy” in locations, that’s usually an indication that your rabbit isn’t feeling effectively and wishes veterinary care.

If you happen to’re anxious about your whiskered fur child as a result of their fur appears to be thinning quickly, we’ll talk about 15 totally different causes, damaged into three sections, why this is likely to be occurring, learn how to assist and when your rabbit must be seen by a vet.

The 4 Regular Causes Your Rabbit Is Shedding

1. It’s Springtime.

Rabbits within the wild shed twice a yr, in spring and autumn. Home rabbits might set up their very own molting patterns, shedding 3-4 occasions per yr or repeatedly all year long, however they normally shed most noticeably in spring. That’s when a rabbit will likely be busy eliminating their heavy winter coat. Once more, that is 100% regular and nothing to fret about. Some rabbits will likely be shedding for weeks, and even so long as 3-4 months.

2. Your rabbit is a child or has simply hit 4 or 5 months of age.

Rabbits undergo a number of shedding patterns all through their life. Quickly after weaning at 4-6 weeks of age, the preliminary tender child coat steadily begins to get replaced by a thicker intermediate coat. The primary time the common grownup molting sample begins is probably the most noticeable as a result of nearly all of rabbits will likely be 4 or 5 months previous when it occurs and thus nonetheless fairly small. For large breeds, this occurs at round 6-9 months of age. At this level of their life, a rabbit will shed their child and intermediate fur, and will probably be steadily changed by grownup fur.

3. Your Rabbit Might Have a Situation Referred to as “Coat Blow”.

Coat blow is an occasionally described situation the place huge quantities of fur begin shedding out of your bunny, and in some circumstances, they are going to develop small bald patches ¹. Fortunately, that is regular typically, and normally, a brand new coat will start rising straight away. Coat blow isn’t usually seen in rabbits, but it surely does occur. Nonetheless, in case your bunny’s pores and skin stays naked or begins to look pink, infected, or irritated, a go to to your native vet is really useful. Irritated, bald pores and skin is probably going an indication of sickness.

4. Your Rabbit’s Molting Has Simply Begun

When rabbits molt in regular circumstances, they usually begin by shedding fur from their head. The shedding then spreads down the neck and again, then down the perimeters of their physique, and finishes on their rump. So in case your rabbit appears typically wholesome and you’ve got observed shedding beginning on their head, it is likely to be an indication their molting has begun. If there may be any doubt about your rabbit’s well being, it’s best to get them checked out by your vet promptly, as many sicknesses in rabbits progress quickly and a few could be very painful and life threatening.

The 4 Housing, Surroundings & Stress Causes Your Rabbit Is Shedding:

1. The Enclosure or Surroundings Fluctuates Too A lot

Insufficient enclosure kind and atmosphere can also trigger your rabbit to shed excessively or continually. If the enclosure is positioned in a room or space that incessantly has draft fluctuations, the rabbit will probably shed inconsistently all yr spherical in irregular patterns, quite than seasonally.

2. Your Rabbit Might Be Burdened

Home rabbits can get stressed and anxious fairly simply. Wild rabbits reside in holes within the floor, the place it’s at all times darkish, and are energetic at daybreak and nightfall. In your house, the place there’s quite a lot of mild, overexposure may add one other stressor. Stress may cause your rabbit to shed much more than regular. A method to assist is to offer your rabbit a darkish hiding place to relaxation throughout the day. Additionally, if there’s quite a lot of commotion, noise, or different pets in your house, transfer your rabbit to a room away from the chaos and any “predator” kind pets, resembling canine and cats.

3. Your Rabbit Might Be Overcrowded or Bullied

Compulsive hair chewing (barbering) and over-grooming are irregular behaviors inflicting bald patches, normally associated to emphasize as a consequence of overcrowding and bullying or on account of insufficient weight loss plan with inadequate fiber. Rabbits are territorial animals, and at occasions, a brand new rabbit is likely to be bullied by current rabbits, and they’re going to barber the newcomer. Closely pregnant does can also exhibit aggressive conduct. If aggression occurs between rabbits, it’s finest to separate them to forestall accidents and stress.

4. Your Rabbit Is Pregnant and Nesting

Pregnant feminine rabbits (does) might pull out their very own hair from the abdomen, chest, and flank areas. This advantageous hair is used to line the burrow earlier than giving delivery. Does usually tend to pull massive portions of hair if they’re harassed or if there may be not sufficient high quality nesting materials current. Related hormonal modifications in a doe with a false being pregnant may cause the identical conduct.

The 7 Sickness or An infection Causes Your Rabbit May Be Shedding:

1. Your Rabbit Might Have a Pores and skin An infection

Pores and skin infections, most frequently bacterial, can result in irregular or extreme molting in rabbits, alongside different indicators. Rabbits dwelling in heat and humid climates, in addition to these which can be unable to groom themselves effectively (usually as a consequence of ache, arthritis, weight problems or sickness) are notably vulnerable to bacterial pores and skin infections. Moisture from the atmosphere or the rabbit’s urine and feces collects within the fur and on the pores and skin, particularly across the hindquarters, tail, and thighs the place the rabbit can’t simply attain. The pores and skin turns into friable, smelly, infected, and contaminated. This could worsen and result in fly strike.

2. Your Rabbit Might Have Myxomatosis

Myxomatosis is a lethal viral sickness in rabbits that additionally impacts the pores and skin, however the indicators normally contain pores and skin lumps and swelling across the eyes and genitals, usually ulcerated and weepy, quite than shedding. It spreads by way of contact with wild rabbits or from mosquito and flea bites. Sadly, myxomatosis is nearly at all times deadly, usually inside days of discovering first indicators, and the virus has no remedy. When it occurs, your bunny will quickly bear excessive well being modifications, a few of which can embody modifications to their fur.

3. Your Rabbit Might Have an Exterior Parasite

Many exterior parasites may cause irregular shedding in rabbits, and this can usually result in thinning of the coat, fur loss with bald patches, pores and skin irritation, and typically an infection. Some rabbits is likely to be notably itchy and can scratch, inflicting additional pores and skin sores and alopecia. A few of these parasites embody fleas, mites, lice, and maggots. These infestations may also be related to pores and skin wounds, discharge, unhealthy odor, or a mucky backside. A few of these tiny little critters could be seen by the bare eye in your bunny, and a few could be transmitted to folks, resulting in vital pores and skin irritation and itchiness.

4. Your Rabbit Might Have Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal illness that may have an effect on not solely your rabbit, but additionally folks and different pets, resembling cats and canine. It’s very contagious, and spores can survive within the atmosphere for months and even years. Affected rabbits have patches of hair loss and crusty, scaly pores and skin, particularly on their face, eyes, nostril, and limbs, typically with ulcers. Rabbits who’re harassed or unwell for different causes are additionally vulnerable to an infection.

5. Your Rabbit Might Have a Tear Duct Downside

Typically rabbits could also be shedding greater than regular however solely round their eyes. If so, the issue is likely to be that one thing is affecting their eyes and, extra particularly, their tear ducts. For instance, in case your rabbit’s higher tooth are rising lengthy roots, it could actually affect the tear ducts and trigger them to water greater than regular.

6. Your Rabbit Might Have an Eye An infection

Eye infections may cause the identical downside, and the tears may cause the fur round your rabbit’s eyes to shed closely. A blocked tear duct may cause the issue, too, in addition to a respiratory an infection. Regardless of the trigger, taking your rabbit to the vet to deal with its eye situation is important. Fur loss across the mouth and chin, or fur changing into sticky and moist, is likely to be an indication of dental illness in your rabbit that wants immediate veterinary consideration.

7. Your Rabbit Might Have an Autoimmune Dysfunction or Different Well being Downside

Autoimmune issues, dietary deficiencies, tumors, and unwanted side effects from medicines can all end in a number of or bigger areas of hair loss that resemble extreme shedding. All of those require your vet’s consideration.

All of those issues and sicknesses would possibly trigger irregular fur loss, additionally known as alopecia. What’s necessary to grasp is that alopecia is an indication quite than an precise illness. In case your rabbit has alopecia for any of the above causes, a go to to your native vet is warranted instantly to find out what’s inflicting it and to deal with the trigger, not simply the signal. Many of those issues trigger a critical and life-threatening sickness if not handled promptly.

Balanced vitamin, common grooming, and a clear rabbit pen are important to forestall and spot early indicators of parasitic and different pores and skin circumstances or normal sicknesses. Contact your vet instantly if you happen to suppose your rabbit is ailing or might need a pores and skin irritation or parasites which can be inflicting their extreme shedding. By no means apply flea therapy meant for canine and cats to your rabbit, as this may be toxic. Chubby, sick, pained, or arthritic bunnies can’t groom themselves effectively to maintain the mite inhabitants below management. In case your rabbit will get a mite infestation, your vet will study them totally for an underlying sickness that is likely to be stopping their immune system from preserving the mites below management.

Will Brushing Assist My Rabbit When They Shed?

It’s really useful to brush short-haired rabbits a number of occasions every week and long-haired rabbits every day. Brushing can also be important when your rabbit is shedding to assist them shed their previous fur quicker. All the time be light and by no means power the fur to come back out if it isn’t unfastened.

Not solely does brushing assist your rabbit shed, but it surely additionally retains their fur clear. Sure, they clear themselves, however some elements of their our bodies are tough for rabbits to achieve. Lengthy-haired breeds might require brushing greater than as soon as a day.

Closing Ideas

If you happen to had been questioning why your rabbit was shedding a lot, you now know that there are a couple of potential causes, and a few of them would require applicable and immediate therapy out of your vet. Rabbits can typically molt continually, however that is normally most evident within the spring and autumn. In addition they shed for the primary time at 4 or 5 months previous on common, relying on their breed, with the intention to change their child and intermediate fur with grownup fur.

In case your rabbit is out of the blue shedding excessively, you need to assume one thing is mistaken. Your pet is likely to be harassed, anxious, or affected by certainly one of many potential underlying illnesses. The guidelines we gave above ought to assist with stress, however visiting your vet will likely be obligatory for the rest.

Featured Picture Credit score: Irina Kozorog, Shutterstock