What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[PoultryPower]

What is this?




I had him out not even a week ago while I was cleaning his cage and this wasn't there. I just pulled him out a few minutes ago and found this!
He eats fine, he acts normal, it's just this gross bald patch that looks like terrible dandruff.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

I would check for mites. My rabbit gets small red marks like that on occasion (from a scrape or bug bite), but never with that much dandruff and balding.

 

[PoultryPower]

I dusted DE on him, quarantined him, and disinfected his cage even more than I usually do.
Should I continue using DE or buy Invermectin and treat all my rabbits?

 

[ChickenPotPie]

It's Cheyletiella, aka "Walking Dandruff". They are mites. From what I understand, you can see the little buggers under a good microscope or, possibly even with the naked eye (wouldn't count on that one. In any case, this photo looks text book (looks like every picture and case of if that I have seen).

Wish I could tell you what the proper treatment (meds, dose, how long, and how often) but I don't know and I am always leery about believing other breeders because it's easy for wives-tales to spread. I suggest that either call your own vet or email the ARBA vet and ask them.

Good job on the quick quarantine.

 

[PoultryPower]

Thanks for the conformation ChickenPotPie

Do rabbits get mites from the surrounding area, like mites on chickens, or do they only get it from each other? This rabbit hasn't traveled anywhere and I haven't brought in any new rabbits for quite a while.

Now that I'm presented with something like this, it brings a concern, of mine, to mind. How do you all feel about letting people come see your rabbitries? So far I don't let people, because I thought I heard somewhere that it's best not to. I feel bad not letting people come see and I don't want them to think I'm hiding something. My question is, is it more sanitary to minimize the amount of people you allow in your rabbitry or does it not really matter?

 

[Lynzi777]

Hello All,
I have a bit of a problem and I need some advice. We have three holland lops that we've had since this summer. 2 females that have been housed together since they were kits and a male that is housed next to them in a seperate cage. All three have been outside since we got them. This morning I went out to refill food and unfreeze water like I do every day and found quite a tragedy in the females' cage. My son's tort was no longer alive. But what was more tragic is HOW I found her. I don't know if something got into the cage some how and attacked her but I was JUST out there yesterday and they were both hopping around just fine. This morning she was laying on her side and her whole face was practically gone, (down to the bone, which was visable) and her whole left front arm was left bare down to the arm. Sorry to "paint" that picture but I am so confused and lost as to what to think. I just know my son is going to be devastated when he gets home. I don't know what I'm going to tell him but I did remove the rabbit.

These two have been living together just fine so I don't know if it was the other rabbit in the cage or if something got in and out to do this damage?!? And if something DID get in there, how was the other rabbit left untouched, no injuries, nothing. The top to this cage is pretty heavy too. Has anyone ever had anything attack their rabbits before?!? This surely is a first for me, I've never seen anything like it. I'm so upset right now and fear how I should go about telling my 6 year old son.

 

[BunnyMomma]

I am so sooo sorry!

I would tell your son that the Bunny went to visit it's brother or sister for a few weeks and that it would be back soon. Then I would try to find another rabbit, maybe a baby for your son. Tell him that if he wants to keep the new baby that he will have to let the other rabbit stay with it's siblings. (I know, this is a little white lie), but, he is just 6 and there really is no reason to have him crying over that poor dead rabbit. Also, rabbits are solitary in nature and sometimes if they are kept in a cage with another rabbit they will fight until one dies. However, in this case it sounds to me like something got into the cage, like a cat, or a possum. In any case, if you get another bunny, try to put it in a hutch by itself. Again, I am really sorry and I hope you can get this worked out without your son being hurt too badly. I'm just glad he didn't see the dead bunny!
I hope this helps and I also hope I have not offended anyone by encouraging a little white lie.

 

[BunnyMomma]

I thought I'd show off some of my bunnies. The first one is Melody, my Black Otter Jersey Wooly Doe.
The second one is my tiny Black Otter Netherland Dwarf stud muffin, Howie, and the third one is my sweetheart Jersey Wooly Doe Nicollette!

 

[BunnyMomma]

Hello All,
I have a bit of a problem and I need some advice. We have three holland lops that we've had since this summer. 2 females that have been housed together since they were kits and a male that is housed next to them in a seperate cage. All three have been outside since we got them. This morning I went out to refill food and unfreeze water like I do every day and found quite a tragedy in the females' cage. My son's tort was no longer alive. But what was more tragic is HOW I found her. I don't know if something got into the cage some how and attacked her but I was JUST out there yesterday and they were both hopping around just fine. This morning she was laying on her side and her whole face was practically gone, (down to the bone, which was visable) and her whole left front arm was left bare down to the arm. Sorry to "paint" that picture but I am so confused and lost as to what to think. I just know my son is going to be devastated when he gets home. I don't know what I'm going to tell him but I did remove the rabbit.

These two have been living together just fine so I don't know if it was the other rabbit in the cage or if something got in and out to do this damage?!? And if something DID get in there, how was the other rabbit left untouched, no injuries, nothing. The top to this cage is pretty heavy too. Has anyone ever had anything attack their rabbits before?!? This surely is a first for me, I've never seen anything like it. I'm so upset right now and fear how I should go about telling my 6 year old son.

This is possibly what happened to your rabbit. This possum ate about 9 of my beautiful chickens last fall. I finished him off with my 4-10! He was huge!

 

[Lynzi777]

I am so sooo sorry! I would tell your son that the Bunny went to visit it's brother or sister for a few weeks and that it would be back soon. Then I would try to find another rabbit, maybe a baby for your son. Tell him that if he wants to keep the new baby that he will have to let the other rabbit stay with it's siblings. (I know, this is a little white lie), but, he is just 6 and there really is no reason to have him crying over that poor dead rabbit. Also, rabbits are solitary in nature and sometimes if they are kept in a cage with another rabbit they will fight until one dies. However, in this case it sounds to me like something got into the cage, like a cat, or a possum. In any case, if you get another bunny, try to put it in a hutch by itself.  Again, I am really sorry and I hope you can get this worked out without your son being hurt too badly. I'm just glad he didn't see the dead bunny!
I hope this helps and I also hope I have not offended anyone by encouraging a little white lie.

I don't think I could get another bunny at this point. It would mean getting a third hutch outside. I was thinking of telling him it got loose somehow. And if he asks where it would have ran off to I could always say that maybe she is hanging out with all the wild bunnies we have nearby and we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled for her. :-( thanks for all of your advice. I really appreciate it.