Hi, I have a patient: a female castrated rabbit that has this hairloss on her fo

admin

Hi, I have a patient: a female castrated rabbit that has this hairloss on her forehead. The rabbit is living with her (castrated) brother and the owner has observed him plucking her hair out.
She is not pruiritic, general health check does not show anything (both checked) and they are both living in good conditions. Diet is good and they have alot of mental activities as well as good space.
The skin underneath is slightly thickened and discoloured. No other hairless areas or changes to skin. Any idea what could cause this and what the owner can do to stop this behaviour?
Any tests we should run, and on who, male that is plucking or female in the pictures underneath?

admin

Could be barbering, that’s behavioral and complicated. Check for parasites on both, do an oil mount and a trichogram (see under microscope if hairs are bitten off -diagonal edges or are weak in any way: cortex and medullar defects) for parasites.
Do a dermatophyte test test if there are funds (usually I brush lotsa hairs with a sterile/new toothbrush and send the brush, hairs, dandruff in a paper envelope to the lab).
Keep us posted, good luck!