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HELP! Rabbit is self barbering!

Cash&Cuppy

New Kit
I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on how to help my bun who is self barbering. She is my dominant of my two rabbits and she has started self barbering her neck under her chin. I believe it’s due to stress as we have been moving. My vet recommended I put silver sulfadiazine on the spot to treat the skin though the second I put it on she just licked it right off... I don’t want her infesting a bunch of this stuff I know it is no way good for her. I was going to switch to using maybe coconut oil instead but wanted to know if anyone else has had this issue and what has worked for you?? Thank you!


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I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on how to help my bun who is self barbering. She is my dominant of my two rabbits and she has started self barbering her neck under her chin. I believe it’s due to stress as we have been moving. My vet recommended I put silver sulfadiazine on the spot to treat the skin though the second I put it on she just licked it right off... I don’t want her infesting a bunch of this stuff I know it is no way good for her. I was going to switch to using maybe coconut oil instead but wanted to know if anyone else has had this issue and what has worked for you?? Thank you!


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Hi there and welcome to the forum :wave:

AS Omi has said, Mervinius is going through this (as have I in the past). I saw your post on her thread and responded on there as I hadn't seen this.

Has the vet suggested any other diagnostics?

Some info here,

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Mechanical/Mutilation/Selfmutilation.htm

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/PhysicalTraumatic/Self_mutilation_rabbits.htm

http://www.disabledrabbits.com/self-injury.html
 
I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on how to help my bun who is self barbering. She is my dominant of my two rabbits and she has started self barbering her neck under her chin. I believe it’s due to stress as we have been moving. My vet recommended I put silver sulfadiazine on the spot to treat the skin though the second I put it on she just licked it right off... I don’t want her infesting a bunch of this stuff I know it is no way good for her. I was going to switch to using maybe coconut oil instead but wanted to know if anyone else has had this issue and what has worked for you?? Thank you!


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I am assuming that she is spayed ? I am also assuming that the Vet ruled out any possible source of pain/discomfort eg teeth/ears/back ?

This link may provide a bit more information/suggestions

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/PhysicalTraumatic/Self_mutilation_rabbits.htm
 
Hi! Yes she is spayed, the vet did rule out everything else including possible parasites. Thank you!


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Has the vet done any further tests, such as a skin biopsy? IE taking a sample of the skin and sending it off to the lab.
 
Last edited:
Hi there and welcome to the forum :wave:

AS Omi has said, Mervinius is going through this (as have I in the past). I saw your post on her thread and responded on there as I hadn't seen this.

Has the vet suggested any other diagnostics?

Some info here,

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Skin_diseases/Mechanical/Mutilation/Selfmutilation.htm

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/PhysicalTraumatic/Self_mutilation_rabbits.htm

http://www.disabledrabbits.com/self-injury.html

Hi! Just saw your comment on the other thread, yes after a hefty vet bill from testing all the vet could conclude was it had to be from stress. We are in the process of moving right now and she is not very happy about it.
I was going to give coconut oil a shot o you because I’m not so worried about her ingesting that as I am topical meds.. I was thinking maybe I could try to cover the spot so she can’t get to it after I put Flamazine on it but I have absolutely no idea how I could cover her throat [emoji20]


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Hi! Just saw your comment on the other thread, yes after a hefty vet bill from testing all the vet could conclude was it had to be from stress. We are in the process of moving right now and she is not very happy about it.
I was going to give coconut oil a shot o you because I’m not so worried about her ingesting that as I am topical meds.. I was thinking maybe I could try to cover the spot so she can’t get to it after I put Flamazine on it but I have absolutely no idea how I could cover her throat [emoji20]


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It's really difficult. Especially when it's the throat, as you say.

She almost needs a buster collar on to stop her from over-grooming that area, but that comes with it's own problems ...

Did the vet have any other suggestions?
 
as the vet done any further tests, such as a skin biopsy? IE taking a sample of the skin and sending it off to the lab.

Skin biopsy is our next and final step if it doesn’t clear up. I have only been trying the Flamazine for a couple days but it only lasts maybe ten minutes before she licks it all off [emoji20]


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It's really difficult. Especially when it's the throat, as you say.

She almost needs a buster collar on to stop her from over-grooming that area, but that comes with it's own problems ...

Did the vet have any other suggestions?

I’m waiting to hear back from my vet right now, left a message with them last night but turns out they’re closed today so hopefully I get a call back Saturday [emoji20]


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I have copied your post from the other thread back on to hear so that I do not gate-crash Mervinus's thread !

Yes I could that’s a great idea!!

I attached some pictures
341a909e4a0f06c22cc2c6bea36928dd.heic
bce01f9ed3a316cf96b0bae86d0e7be4.heic



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Does your Doe drink from a bowl or from a sipper bottle ?
 
From a bowl


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That may be the problem. Will she drink from a sipper bottle ?

Some Rabbits can get a moist dermatitis if they use a bowl to drink from and they are not too efficient at drying themselves off. Dewlaps can make things tricky in that respect too, not much air circulates under the flap of fatty skin. Your Doe does have a little Dewlap just under her chin.
 
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