Why Is My Rabbit Pulling Their Fur Out? 8 Vet Reviewed Causes

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Rabbits have fastidious grooming habits and are very clear animals. They’ll self-groom to maintain their coats clear and freed from parasites, grime, and lifeless hair. Nevertheless, typically rabbits can overgroom (known as barbering) and make themselves sore or their coats patchy.

Some hair pulling will solely be minor, however over-grooming can result in giant patches of lacking fur. It may be alarming to see your rabbit on this state, but it surely’s vital to find out the explanation for the barbering so you may assist them. Learn on to find eight explanation why your rabbit may be pulling their fur out and how one can assist them.

The 8 Causes Why Your Rabbit Is Pulling Their Fur Out

1. Pores and skin irritation

Rabbits can get allergy symptoms like canine, cats, and folks can.¹ Whereas allergic reactions that current on the pores and skin are uncommon in rabbits, it’s been nicely documented that rabbits may be allergic to sure meals, bedding, drugs, and many others.

All of those could make your rabbit itch and scratch. In case your rabbit will get too itchy, they nibble the world and pull the fur out to appease their itch. When you suppose your rabbit might have an allergy, take them to the vet to be checked.

2. Matted coat

If rabbits aren’t groomed sufficiently, their fur can knot and tangle. The knots can ultimately kind mats that tighten very near the pores and skin. They’re extremely uncomfortable and typically painful for rabbits, who will pull on the fur to try to untangle them. In case your rabbit’s hair is matted, attempt to untangle the mat together with your fingers gently.

If that can’t be executed, take them to a groomer skilled in clipping rabbits. Matts ought to by no means be left since they’ll turn out to be extremely painful to your rabbit, trigger pores and skin infections, and in excessive circumstances, might block the anus so feces can’t escape.

3. Being pregnant or False Being pregnant

When pregnant, rabbits will try to construct and line a comfy, snug nest earlier than their litter is born. As a part of the method, a feminine rabbit will instinctively pull clumps of her fur from her stomach, flanks, and dewlap to line the nest and make it further snug for her kits.

The fur turns into looser for her to do that, so in case your rabbit is making a nest and lining it, she may very well be pregnant! Nevertheless, false pregnancies additionally trigger this habits, which is usually brought on by a feminine being mounted (however not mated) by a neutered male.

4. Stress

A distressed rabbit might present completely different indicators of misery, together with “barbering.” Barbering is the time period for a rabbit pulling out their fur or the fur of one other rabbit (usually obsessively) and is seen when rabbits are careworn or have dominance disputes.

It’s vital all the time to take your rabbit to the vet if you happen to suppose they’re careworn, as different issues may cause lots of the indicators listed above. For instance, rabbits get careworn shortly, and the explanations for stress can vary from an absence of companionship and being unable to show pure habits to continuously being in an setting with loud noise and shiny gentle.²

5. Boredom

Rabbits are clever creatures that want stimulation, toys, and firm to maintain them from being bored. Rabbits with nothing to do of their setting can shortly turn out to be bored, which might result in overgrooming and fur pulling.

You must give your rabbit applicable toys, like balls, tunnels, and chew toys to play with, which might alleviate boredom. Rabbits additionally get lonely, which might result in barbering, so they need to all the time dwell with not less than one different rabbit and have each day interactions with you!

6. Unbalanced Weight-reduction plan

Rabbits with out sufficient fiber of their diets can pull out their hair and swallow it. Rabbits want fiber of their diets to maneuver meals by way of their digestive methods and keep the right steadiness of micro organism within the intestine.

When you discover your rabbit pulling hair, test that they’re consuming sufficient timothy hay and never having any issues with their tooth.

7. Concern

Rabbits are prey animals and are fearful of issues that may not appear scary to us. A rabbit in an setting that makes them fearful will begin to show behaviors similar to barbering, shaking, and adjustments in consuming. In case your rabbit is excessively grooming, they may be attempting to appease their nervousness and concern.

Rabbits additionally stamp their toes to warn off predators, so in case your rabbit is plucking their hair and stamping their toes, contemplate checking what’s across the cage or dwelling that may be scary them. For instance, loud noises, shiny or flashing lights, heavy foot site visitors, and the presence of “predator” animals like canine and cats can all make a rabbit fearful.

8. Parasites

Irritation, itching, and fur pulling are all indicators that your rabbit may need undesirable guests dwelling of their coat. Rabbits, like canine and cats, are prone to parasites that dwell of their fur. Fleas, mites, and maggots are all succesful and prepared to contaminate your rabbit, which might trigger appreciable misery and itching, hair loss, lesions, and infections.

One of the simplest ways to forestall parasites from infecting your rabbit is to offer them a preventative therapy commonly; merchandise similar to Benefit can preserve them secure.

What Ought to I Do if My Rabbit Is Pulling Their Fur Out?

In case your rabbit is pulling their fur out, the perfect factor so that you can do is take them in to see the vet. As we’ve mentioned, there are numerous explanation why a rabbit would possibly do that. Your vet will possible ask questions on your rabbit’s setting, weight loss plan, and habits, so attempt to be as trustworthy as attainable. It might solely take a small tweak to get your rabbit again in tip-top situation!

Conclusion

Discovering the reason for your rabbit’s fur-pulling is the beginning of treating the issue. It may be so simple as too little hay of their weight loss plan or needing extra grooming, however it may well even have extra severe causes, similar to being pregnant or concern. Your rabbit’s fur will possible develop again as soon as therapy is began, however ask your vet in case you have any issues about their pores and skin or coat.

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