Help!!!!! Dry skin problem won't go away!!!

Hi all

I've been having a problem now for approx 2 years with my 4 and a half year old netherland dwarf. He has got dry/hard skin on his nose, chin and genitals. Like I've said he's had this for about 2 years and it hasn't gotten any worse but it hasn't got any better. I took him to the vets last week for some more eye drops (he has blocked tear ducts which were last flushed about 4 weeks ago and the drops work wonders for this) and he said that he thought it is Myxi.

My reasons behind why I do not agree with my vet are as follows:
1. He's had this for about 2 years now
2. He's never been poorly
3. He's always eating and drinking and doing all bodily functions normally
4. He's a house rabbit, always has been (yes I know house rabbits can get myxi too but I have a mesh cover to go over the hutch in fly season)
5. He's always running around and playing with the others, myself and my partner (he's an energetic little one)
6. He's lived with Molly (3 year old lionhead) for a year and a half and she doesn't have a speck of dry skin (I'm always checking her for it)
7. He also lives with Nala (5 month old lionhead x lop) and again she hasn't got a speck of dry skin
8. From what I've read about Myxi it kills pretty much instantly if the rabbit has not been vaccinated and Kashi has never had an injection in his life (yes I know I should have all of them vaccinated but they are all house rabbits and I take a lot of care when it comes to fly season to ensure flies don't go near them)

So yeah...I have a lot of reasons to doubt my vet. I was traumatised when he suggested I get him put down, he's my baby and I don't know what I'd do without him.

I've recently started using Sudocrem on his dry skin and so far it seems to be working a little bit (I've read on a lot of forums (including this one) and other websites that Sudocrem is safe for rabbits and can be good if they have dry skin).

So I guess what I'm looking for really is some advice about how best to deal with his dry skin and if anyone can suggest a treatment for it. Also if anyone has had a rabbit with dry skin and if they ever found out what caused it and how they got rid of it (if anyone did).

Any advice or comments will be greatly appreciated.

I just don't know what else to do/try now.

Thanks

Love
Chrissy (bunny mummy), Kakashi (the poorly one), Molly (the wife) and Nala (the child)
xxxx

Could it be an allergy? Either to the bedding used, hay, fleas anything really.
It could also be mites or a dermatological problem. With it being on his nose and genitals I can see why the vet might have thought it was myxi but if you said he;s had it for so long I would have thought a good vet would have changed their mind.

Actually I've just thought of something. It could be rabbit syphilis. I've only just read about it but if it's on the genitals and the rabbit cleans them it could spread to the face. I would suggest finding a rabbit specialist vet or an exotic vet and getting a second opinion. Perhaps they can test the skin, check for mites etc and give you a better idea of what it is and how to treat it.

Hi Jenova

Many thanks for your reply. After reading about rabbit syphilis, I'm thinking it might be that because of where the dry skin is.

I think I'm going to find another vet for a second opinion as it can be treated easily if that's what it is.

If anyone else has any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
xxx

It might be worth starting a thread in Rabbit Chat (because more people look there) saying 'Looking for a vet near [where you live]' to see if anyone can suggest a good one that they use.

Thanks. Can I ask a question....how do I start something in rabbit chat? lol

I'm still really new to all of this and just want to be able to sort something very quick for my bun as I feel really bad that his skin is so bad.

Thanks =)

If you go to the main forum page you should see the rabbit chat section near the bottom of the page. Just go in there and there's a green button at the top to start a new thread. If you can't figure it out I can start it for you.

Ah, you got it.

I did lol

Thanks alot for your help =) It's really appreciated. Just hope to find a good vet now for him x

kashiandmol said:

I did lol

Thanks alot for your help =) It's really appreciated. Just hope to find a good vet now for him x

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That's okay. Most people come online in the early evening so I wouldn't expect a reply before then. Hopefully someone will know someone good.
There are a few members in Yorkshire I just home some of them are near you.