bald patch around Flopsy's eye

[Brian H.]

Within the last 2 weeks or so one of our rabbits has developed a bald patch
near her eye. It is a little inflamed, but not a lot. A few days ago the
vet sold us some ophthalmic ointment called Vetropolycin to put on the skin,
but I have my doubts because according to the directions it is meant for
application directly to the cornea. I did question the vet specifically
about this and he said do put it on the skin, not the eye. However, it
doesn't seem to be helping at all and maybe is making things worse: the bald
patch around her is getting bigger.

I have posted a picture of the eye area here, in case anybody can make a
diagnosis or suggestion:

Loading Image...

Also, I don't know if it's related, but for maybe a year or so, she has had
this condition that looks like thick, clumpy dandruff, mostly on her back
and bum. It sits on the skin at the base of her fur unless dislodged. Two
vets have checked her for mites and told us she doesn't have them. She also
has some thinning/bald patches around her inner rear legs, but that's a
pretty recent development.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Arlette & Cocoa]

Brian,
Did you not see my reply to your previous post? I'll paste it here. I would
like you to answer some of my questions.

The first part you described sounds like classic mites. There are a few

kinds of mites. The dandruff part at the base of the fur is usually classic
mites. Of course your rabbit's skin can be dry too. Hmmmm

Do you have a rabbit savvy vet? You're in Canada yes? Check my vet site
below; perhaps you need to get a second opinion. I'm in northern Ontario; I
know how difficult it can be to find a savvy vet.

Looking at that photo, it seems that the fur is growing back in areas. Is
your rabbit's eye weepy a lot? Having continuous wet skin can cause fur
loss.
A weepy eye can be caused by injury to the surface of the eye or blocked
tear ducts.
You said the rabbit had the first condition for over a year; does she still
have it? Has it spread or stayed the same?


--
God Bless,
Arlette, Cocoa & Brownie in spirit (See us here
http://photos.yahoo.com/cocoa3c
Need a vet? Click here
<http://www.rabbitvet.net>
Support the licensing of bicillin in the UK.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProbicillinUK/
There is no blessing from God so sweet as having
two chocolate coloured bunnies melting in your lap
in the warm morning sun.

[Brian H.]

Sorry for not replying to your original post. After posting my original
message, I viewed it through Google groups and realized that Google seemed
to have tacked my message onto an ancient thread (starting 1994) which
happened to have the same header, so I reposted.

I understand the dandruff-type condition sounds like mites, but we've now
had two vets tell us she does not have mites (they both used the
microscope). She still has this condition, which we first noticed about a
year ago. But it's nowhere nearly as bad as it was when she was molting a
couple of months back. She doesn't have any mobility problems that would
interfere with grooming. Her skin does not seem too too dry, but maybe a
little.

I checked your site for rabbit savvy vets and the only one listed for our
city (Dr. Baer in Victoria, BC) no longer practices here but has relocated
to Alberta. The vet we're using now does do all the rabbit spaying for the
SPCA.

Her skin might be growing back a little (nearest the corner of the eye) but
the patch seems to be spreading now above her eye. The eye itself seems
fine, not weepy or anything. About a week and a half ago, out of caution
our vet's locum flushed the tear duct but that didn't change anything.

Thanks for trying to help. If anything else comes to mind, please let me
know.

Brian

Post by Arlette & Cocoa
Brian,
Did you not see my reply to your previous post? I'll paste it here. I would
like you to answer some of my questions.

The first part you described sounds like classic mites. There are a few

kinds of mites. The dandruff part at the base of the fur is usually classic
mites. Of course your rabbit's skin can be dry too. Hmmmm
Do you have a rabbit savvy vet? You're in Canada yes? Check my vet site
below; perhaps you need to get a second opinion. I'm in northern Ontario; I
know how difficult it can be to find a savvy vet.
Looking at that photo, it seems that the fur is growing back in areas. Is
your rabbit's eye weepy a lot? Having continuous wet skin can cause fur
loss.
A weepy eye can be caused by injury to the surface of the eye or blocked
tear ducts.
You said the rabbit had the first condition for over a year; does she still
have it? Has it spread or stayed the same?
--
God Bless,
Arlette, Cocoa & Brownie in spirit (See us here
http://photos.yahoo.com/cocoa3c
Need a vet? Click here
<http://www.rabbitvet.net>
Support the licensing of bicillin in the UK.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProbicillinUK/
There is no blessing from God so sweet as having
two chocolate coloured bunnies melting in your lap
in the warm morning sun.

[Arlette & Cocoa]

Hi Brian,
I'm so very sorry about that vet recommendation not being up to
date...grrr...I will get that removed immediately...so sorry.

I have one suggestion you can try to see if it is a dry skin problem. Try
giving a few sunflower seeds in the her diet each day for a week and see
what happens. Sometimes they do have dry skin.

Another thing that may help you in finding a vet is to get in touch with
Olga Betts at the Vancouver Rabbit Rescue. Here is there website
http://www.vrra.org/index.htm She may have a lead on a Victoria vet. You
wouldn't consider taking your bun to a mainland vet would you? I can't
remember how long the ferry ride is; I've only been to Victoria once back in
the 80's. It may be worth it. There are lots of good Vancouver vets on my
site that were referred to me by Olga and others.
Perhaps your current vet could consult with one of the more savvy vets on
the mainland. Dr. Janne Potter is very expert with rabbits. Here is the url
to their website www.wbvc.bc.ca
Perhaps some of this will help.

I hate to ask this, but would you mind finding out for me where in Alberta
Dr. Baer might have gone? I would really appreciate that. Thanks!

--
God Bless,
Arlette, Cocoa & Brownie in spirit (See us here
http://photos.yahoo.com/cocoa3c
Need a vet? Click here
<http://www.rabbitvet.net>
Support the licensing of bicillin in the UK.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProbicillinUK/
There is no blessing from God so sweet as having
two chocolate coloured bunnies melting in your lap
in the warm morning sun.

[Letha]

I had a bunny that suffered from bald spots. We had a terrible time
figuring out what it was. She was checked for mites first and that came
back negative. We tried various ointments and creams. I think we checked
for mites again and it was still negative. She had the bald spots for well
over a year they were on her back and on her inner back ankles. She had the
crust just like you described. Finally he tested again and found mites,
prescribed the mite medicine and it worked. You might just try the medicine
evidently the bugs are hard to see sometimes.

Letha

Post by Arlette & Cocoa
Hi Brian,
I'm so very sorry about that vet recommendation not being up to
date...grrr...I will get that removed immediately...so sorry.
I have one suggestion you can try to see if it is a dry skin problem. Try
giving a few sunflower seeds in the her diet each day for a week and see
what happens. Sometimes they do have dry skin.
Another thing that may help you in finding a vet is to get in touch with
Olga Betts at the Vancouver Rabbit Rescue. Here is there website
http://www.vrra.org/index.htm She may have a lead on a Victoria vet. You
wouldn't consider taking your bun to a mainland vet would you? I can't
remember how long the ferry ride is; I've only been to Victoria once back in
the 80's. It may be worth it. There are lots of good Vancouver vets on my
site that were referred to me by Olga and others.
Perhaps your current vet could consult with one of the more savvy vets on
the mainland. Dr. Janne Potter is very expert with rabbits. Here is the url
to their website www.wbvc.bc.ca
Perhaps some of this will help.
I hate to ask this, but would you mind finding out for me where in Alberta
Dr. Baer might have gone? I would really appreciate that. Thanks!
--
God Bless,
Arlette, Cocoa & Brownie in spirit (See us here
http://photos.yahoo.com/cocoa3c
Need a vet? Click here
<http://www.rabbitvet.net>
Support the licensing of bicillin in the UK.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProbicillinUK/
There is no blessing from God so sweet as having
two chocolate coloured bunnies melting in your lap
in the warm morning sun.

[Arlette & Cocoa]

I have to agree with Letha, Brian. I was thinking the same thing. Mites are
usually treated with a course of ivermectin. Even if your bunny doesn't have
mites, it won't hurt her.

--
God Bless,
Arlette, Cocoa & Brownie in spirit (See us here
http://photos.yahoo.com/cocoa3c
Need a vet? Click here
<http://www.rabbitvet.net>
Support the licensing of bicillin in the UK.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProbicillinUK/
There is no blessing from God so sweet as having
two chocolate coloured bunnies melting in your lap
in the warm morning sun.

[Beth aylward]

are your vets rabbit vets???it makes a big difference..

beth and her cute little fuzzbutts, :)

http://community.webtv.net/jerseybunny/bethsabsolutely
http://community.webtv.net/jerseybunny/thatcatsurehaslong

[Brian H.]

Well, here in Victoria, BC there used to be a rabbit vet, but he has moved
away. The one we use now has an arrangement with the SPCA to do their
rabbit spaying, so he's probably the closest thing we have to a "rabbit vet"
in the city at this time.

Post by Beth aylward
are your vets rabbit vets???it makes a big difference..
beth and her cute little fuzzbutts, :)
http://community.webtv.net/jerseybunny/bethsabsolutely
http://community.webtv.net/jerseybunny/thatcatsurehaslong

[Anita]

Brain, it could be many things. The first thing that comes to mind is
that she is not grooming hard to reach areas. Dead skin may be
accummulating that she would normally remove. Does she have limited
mobility for any reason that keeps her from reaching her bum? If so,
getting her a friend who likes to groom her may be a solution (if she
doesn't already have a rabbit friend). Ungroomed areas are potential
nurseries for infection with mites and fungus. (Many rabbits get
mites on the shoulders and bum because it is hard to groom in these
areas.)

I am not familiar with the eye drops, but the name suggests they are
bacteriacidal. Did the vet do a skin scrape to check for fungus?
Without knowing what may be causing the trouble, it is hard to choose
a antibiotic.

Are there any other symptoms that your rabbit is having? We are not
vets, but someone may have some ideas, based on their personal
experiences. I looked at the picture. The skin looked healthy to me,
so I was at a loss for any explanation of the hair loss.

Anita, Jessie, and Quark

Post by Brian H.
Within the last 2 weeks or so one of our rabbits has developed a bald patch
near her eye. It is a little inflamed, but not a lot...