Bald rabbit: causes of hair loss and how to treat, prevention
The attractiveness of a long-eared animal depends almost entirely on the spectacular beauty of the pet's fluffy fur coat. For farmers and lovers of ornamental breeds, there is no sadder sight than a bald, sick rabbit. Only an experienced veterinarian can determine the cause of the trouble. Do not despair, in most cases the animal can be helped.
How molting occurs in rabbits
In the wild, rabbits change their coats only in spring and autumn. The frequency of molting is affected by temperature changes and the change of season. To the annoyance of the owners, pets shed almost continuously.There is a simple explanation for this misunderstanding: heated homes always maintain a comfortable temperature.
The first change of coat occurs when the rabbit reaches 1.5 months. At this moment, the young creature changes the infantile down cover for a full-fledged fur coat of an adult animal. By itself, molting is safe for the rabbit, but the process requires the attention of the owner. The pet carefully licks its skin, removing dead hairs. As a result, the gastrointestinal tract of the eared clogged with tufts of wool. Animals are not able to regurgitate hair, as cats or dogs do, and if it is not helped in time, the pet risks dying.
During the change of wool, the rabbit is carefully combed out. If an admixture of wool is clearly visible in the feces of the animal, and the amount of excrement becomes smaller, it is time to take urgent measures. Helping trouble is not difficult, you need to give your pet 10 ml of vaseline oil and increase the daily portion of hay. It is dry grass that prevents blockage of the intestines.
In order to make sure that the cause of baldness lies in the molt, the pet's body is carefully examined. In places where the animal has bald spots, new hairs quickly appear.
Shedding happens:
- Seasonal. Rabbits only change their coat in autumn and spring.
- Year-round. Animals constantly molt.
- Compensatory. In this case, the hair grows back to replace the hair lost as a result of injuries (burns, wounds).
Possible diseases that cause baldness and methods of their treatment
The causes of pet hair loss can be various diseases. The prescriptions of the veterinarian and the caring care of the owner will help restore the former beauty and he alth of the eared pet.
Lichen
Ringworm is a dangerous disease for all livestock of domestic animals. The fungus easily infects weakened animals that have recently had diseases.There are cases when the animals fell ill with ringworm after hypothermia. The disease is accompanied by inflammation of the skin and hair loss. Bald patches appear on the coat of an infected rabbit.
Aggressive infection is easily transmitted to humans, so all medical and hygiene procedures must be performed with gloves. On sale there are a lot of drugs to combat an unpleasant disease. Miconazole and Ketoconazole are popular among animal lovers. Before processing, the wool that grows around the resulting bald spot is cut out.
For the treatment of a pet, you can not use a remedy intended for humans. The medicine is toxic to animals, because the rabbit will definitely lick its fur. In this case, the drug will most likely enter the animal's body, and the pet is at risk of poisoning.
Simple preventive measures will help you avoid trouble in the future. Help keep animals he althy:
- Timely vaccinations.
- Mandatory isolation of newly acquired rabbits. New pets are placed in a separate dwelling for quarantine.
- Careful cleaning of pet apartments. The cell is treated with chlorine-containing products.
- Maintaining a comfortable air temperature. The room should be warm and dry.
Presence of fleas
Fleas serve as carriers of a dangerous disease called myxomatosis. The disease is accompanied by conjunctivitis, which causes a lot of suffering to pets. With the development of the disease, subcutaneous bumps appear in the area of \u200b\u200bthe eyes of the rabbit. An insidious infection can mow down the entire livestock. In the event of an outbreak of myxomatosis in the affected farm, quarantine is declared.
Painful flea bites often cause an allergic reaction in animals. Due to the fault of insects, pets comb the bite sites until they bleed.As a result, the affected areas are partially exposed. Special flea remedies will help to cope with the trouble. For eared pets, a preparation for treating kitten hair is suitable. The agent is applied to the withers of the animal. However, the product is not suitable for decorative rabbits; there are special sprays for exotic beauties. The rabbit's back is treated with the drug, evenly distributing the product along the spine.
Pincers
Fur mites cause a lot of trouble for animals. Insects occupy the skin on the pet's body. As a result of the activity of pests, the back and sides of the rabbit are partially bald and covered with white crumbs of dandruff. The skin in the affected areas becomes inflamed and itchy. In some areas, hair falls out in whole strands. The disease is called cheyletiellosis.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, you must contact an experienced veterinarian. The specialist issues a verdict based on laboratory tests and examination of the animal.
The situation is much more complicated with a subcutaneous tick. The insect is difficult to see with the naked eye, because the pest lives under the upper layers of the skin. The presence of mites is indicated by tiny bumps that appear on the skin in places where insects accumulate. This is where pests lay their eggs. The unfortunate animal frantically combs itchy swellings, tearing the skin to blood. Small wounds become inflamed and fester.
Subcutaneous mites can poison the life of not only eared beauties. Dogs, cats and other pets often become victims of pests. In some cases, the infection also affects a person. In the event of an outbreak of the disease, the home of eared pets is thoroughly disinfected. Pets in their entirety are treated with a special preparation. Injections of drugs "Selamectin" or "Ivermectin" will help to solve the problem. However, it must be remembered that medicines intended for cats or dogs are dangerous for herbivorous rabbits.
Spirochetosis, or rabbit syphilis
A nasty disease affects the big-eared inhabitants of large, densely populated paddocks. Symptoms of the disease: sores in the head and genitals. In the affected areas, the hair falls out intensively. The infection is transmitted through sexual contact of animals. Penicillin is used for treatment.
Domestic pets are not at risk of contracting rabbit syphilis.
Hormonal disorder
As a result of hormonal changes, animals often lose entire tufts of hair. The hairline on the body of rabbits is strayed into separate lumps. These balls literally fall off the pet's once attractive fur coat. Only a veterinarian can determine the cause of an unpleasant phenomenon. Conclusions are drawn on the basis of laboratory studies.
Treating hormonal hair loss is not that difficult. Dietary nutrition and taking specially selected hormonal drugs will help to cope with an unpleasant phenomenon.
Dermatomycosis in rabbits
The culprit of the trouble is a skin fungus. Dermatomycosis affects the area of the ears and nose of the animal. In a he althy rabbit, the infection may pass without consequences. As a rule, a pet's strong immunity allows you to endure the disease without symptoms.
A weak rabbit has hair falling out between its ears. The wound becomes inflamed and festering, and then covered with a crust. If untreated, the fungus spreads throughout the pet's body. For treatment, specialists use Surolan or Fenistil preparations.
Other causes of hair loss
In some cases, hair loss is caused by tumors of various origins or vitamin deficiencies. Often, baldness is facilitated by the behavior of animals.
Eating wool by other rabbits
In a confined space, pets get bored and, from idleness, pluck hairs from their neighbor's skin.In such cases, pets need to be released into the aviary for a walk. It diversifies the life of rabbits. Damage to the fur cover can also occur as a result of a fight between young males. Such fighters will have to be relocated to separate cages.
The rabbit gnaws its own fur
If a pet constantly bites into its own skin and methodically pulls out pieces of wool from it, then the animal is in a state of stress or is in physical pain. Rabbits are timid and vulnerable creatures. The nervous system of an animal can be undermined by an unexpected move to a new place or a sudden change in food. The cause of changes in the behavior of a pet can be determined by a veterinarian.
Prophylaxis of hair loss
Following the rules for keeping animals will help to avoid many problems that contribute to baldness in rabbits:
- clean and disinfect enclosures and cages regularly;
- constantly ventilate the room;
- carry out routine vaccinations;
- restrict access to cells by strangers;
- isolate pets from dogs, cats and birds.
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