When rabbits moult.....?

Question

....are they supposed to look scruffy? My two males are moulting something chronic at the moment but one of them looks a bit balding and patchy. Is this normal?

The skin is fine.

Answer 1

Yes, when rabbits moult, they tend to look scruffy. Small patches of balding is normal too. While they moult, be sure to brush them often, as hairballs are very common (and dangerous) in rabbits if they consume too much fur.

Answer 2

yeah they do look scruffy when they are moulting especially if its a big moult and they had alot of thick fur in the first place,please keep an eye on the bald patches though as could be a sign of mites starting,would be worthwhile getting some spot on mite treatmenet from the pet shop anyway just as a precaution,can get them at any pet shop.

Answer 3

Yes, my rabbits are moulting. The female gets bald patches cause she overdoes the grooming, which looks horrid, but the new fur always looks very healthy. The male just looks scruffy and doesn't groom himself, so either she grooms him or we do.
Poor things are probably far too hot - it's a bit like opening a window - having a bald patch!

Answer 4

There are several reasons why rabbits molt:

1) A change in temperature or environment such as moving the rabbit or changing feed ect
2) An increase in protein in the food they eat
3) Fur mites (you will see white flakes that look like dandruff)
4) Fleas (they look like very tiny black dots)
5) A lack of water - causes and increase in follicle metabolism causing the fur to molt
6) Too dense of fur - if the fur is too dense the skin doesn't get oxygen like it should which can cause molting. Sometimes on rabbits that molt a lot you'll get the comment good density on a show remark card from the judge. I got to the point of not liking to hear good density.
7) The feed may be too high in energy causing an increase in metabolism of the hair follicle causing molting
8) Genetics - some rabbits tend to molt more due to their genetics

My first recommendation would be to treat your rabbit for parasites. Give them each a shot of Ivomectin. If parasites are causing the molt, their fur should start looking better after 1-2 weeks. Parasites usually get on the rabbit through the bedding or by running on the ground. The second recommendation I would make would be to brush the rabbits out regularly. Lightly wet your hands by grabbing a wet rag or by dipping the tip of one hand in a bowl of water and rubbing your hands together. Then run your hands over the rabbit in the direction of it's fur for about 1-2 minutes each day. The loose fur will stick to your hands. To get the fur off your hands just rub your hands together then wet your hands down again and repeat. This gets the loose hair out and doesn't rip or break the good hair like a brush will. Don't wet your hands so much that the rabbit fur starts looking wet. You are using too much water if the fur starts looking spiky and wet.

By getting the loose hair out it allows new hair to come in. Keep the rabbit on a 16-17% protein feed until the fur starts looking really good. Then put the rabbit on a show formula feed with about 15% protein to help maintain the fur. Or you can just reduce the 16-17% protein feed a little and replace a small portion of the feed with timothy hay. That basically reduces the protein and increases the fiber.

To bring in a new coat of fur you raise the protein to help promote new fur growth and to get in a new coat of fur quicker. Once the coat of fur starts looking good, you reduce the protein and increase the fiber to help hold or maintain the coat by slowing down the growth of new fur which would push out the old fur.

So basically, first treat for parasites, brush your rabbits out, then if you still have problems I'd recommend checking out other feeds because your feed may have too much energy such as too much fat or corn in the feed. Some good feeds that I recommend are Heinolds 17-17 Formula and Purina's Family Ration. At one time our family used to feed Wayne's Feed. It worked great for Checkered Giants. But it had way too much energy for our Californians and New Zealands and would tend to make them fat and molt a lot. If the feed has too much energy your rabbits will tend to get fat or soft also. That's when their fur or hide gets loose and the does get big dewlaps. Also when you run your hand over the rabbit their muscle or meat portions won't feel as hard. Instead they will feel kind of soft.

You didn't mention whether you have the two rabbits together in the same cage. If you do, separate them. Rabbits will tend to chew each other's fur if they are left in the same cage past a certain age. Basically it will look like someone when wild with the barbershop clippers on your rabbit in spots.

Answer 5

yes they do look a bit scruffy when they moult just take a look on the internet , like you said their skin is fine so nothing to worry about ;)

Answer 6

I had my rabbit for five and a half years before she went missing over a month ago and my rabbit always looked fine. If you want to be sure give the vet a call and ask someone there. They may be able to give you some advice on what can be done for your rabbit at home.

Answer 7

When rabbits shed they look terribly scruffy. It's important to brush them often, so they don't get too much hair ingested when they are grooming - which can lead to a hairball. Since rabbits can't vomit, hairballs are serious. You and your bunnies will enjoy the bonding time that comes from the brushing.

Answer 8

well the other rabbit may be when its cleaning the other rabbit, it's ripping some of the hair out,or ya cause i have two female rabbits and i know on one of them that the other rabbit was being kinda aggressive towards it, but ya on the one that was doing that, under her neck there is a little bit of a bald spot i think from the harness i have on them sometimes when they are running around in the house,or just because they are shedding cause mine are shedding Right now, but i think you should ask a vet. They'll know if it is normal or not.

Answer 9

mine are moulting too, its not good. I have never noticed bald patches, have yours got flaky skin near these bald bits because they may have mites, commonly found in hay/straw.
hope this helps.

Answer 10

yes, scruffy like the snake when he moults;)