Rabbit balding on head? PLEASE HELP!

[peep peep peep]

Thank you for reading this. I am really worried about my rabbit. I have a female Holland lop/Netherland dwarf rabbit named Lavender. Two days ago she had a small bald spot on her head. About the size of a penny or dime. I checked her ears for mites but i didn't find anything. When I hold her I get a little itchy but I'm pretty sure it's from her fur. Today I went out to find her head almost completely bald! I checked her ears again - nothing. I suspected ringworm or mites but the skin is healthy and not irritated. The skin isn't dry or flaky at all either. Does anyone know what might be going on? Please help please.

 

[Bunnylady]

Is there another rabbit in the cage with her, or in a cage beside hers? Sometimes rabbits will pull each others' fur out; it seems hard to believe that a rabbit would sit still for that, but sometimes they will.

You usually see fur mites show up as a bare spot on the shoulders, though I can't rule that out here. How long since she was wormed?

 

[peep peep peep]

Yeah. A male rabbit named Peter. We have a separator made from chicken wire put up but it won't keep him from pulling fur. I have never seen him do that though. She had never been wormed. I got her last April and in that time she hadn't shown any signs of worms (or even anything like this.)so I didn't think she needed it.Should I buy some?

 

[Bunnylady]

One of the biggest pests in rabbits is Encephalitozoon cuniculi, or just E. cuniculi for short. It is a protozoan that is known to cause wry neck, and other problems. A lot of rabbits can carry it for ages with no problem, but when the animal gets stressed, you suddenly see symptoms. Some rabbit people recommend dosing a rabbit with ivermectin once a month to help keep the protozoan in check. Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitical, it is effective against fur mites as well. That's why I asked - if he had been getting the preventative treatment, fur mites would be unlikely.

 

[peep peep peep]

I hope it's not Encephalitozoon cuniculi. It looks really serious. So you think she might have this? Her eyes are clear though. Sorry..

 

[Bunnylady]

No, E. cuniculi doesn't cause bald patches. I only mentioned it as a reason that the rabbit might have been wormed recently.

 

[peep peep peep]

So I should worm her?