Why is my unspayed rabbit biting and losing fur? Mites or hormones?

Sorry you are having this issue. She is most likely being territorial as she is becoming sexually active. Females can get very territorial and aggressive when they reach this stage. My honest recommendation would be to have her spayed - that will diminish any sexual drive and that may help decrease territorial behavior. I suggest you read these articles. They may help you try to correct this behavior. I still recommend spaying her..... http://rabbit.org/faq-aggression/ http://www.wikihow.com/Socialize-Your-Rabbit Hope this helps. Best wishes!

If the skin looks normal where the hair is missing then it is possible that the other bunny is pulling it out OR Snow White could be self mutilating as well. Also mites and ringworm are common in rabbits as well. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian. In the meantime please practice good hygiene after handling her as ring worm is contagious to people as well. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for reaching out about Mr. Magoo. It is unusual for rabbits who are castrated to become aggressive after living together for some time. Environmental stresses can shift hierarchies and start aggressions. Adrenal tumors can produce testosterone and lead to aggression. Not all rabbits get along, forever and they might have to be separated. An examination with a veterinarian with experience in rabbit could probably help you. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Zoomie. Most likely it is because she is an intact female, and is fighting for territory and dominance. She needs to be spayed to prevent uterine neoplasia anyways, so now would be a good time. If she continues to be aggressive to the dog and cat, something bad is bound to happen, so isolate her for now. Good luck.

Poor Fluffy, Rabbits can have a molt where they will shed the hair almost like a dog would. However, if the coat appears abnormal or you feel like she is painful I would recommend taking her to a vet for a good exam. Rabbits can also get parasites, fungal disease and bacterial disease of the skin that can affect how the coat grows and might be causing some pain when the hair is removed. hope that helps

It doesn't say how old your rabbit is, but if you got her as a baby then she has likely become sexually mature. In female rabbits, this can cause them to become aggressive and not like to be handled. The best and easiest way to solve this problem is to get her spayed. This will remove the hormonal influence on her behavior and help her to settle down. Once she has been spayed you can start working with her and getting her used to being handled and patted again. Keep these sessions short and positive, and use a bit of her favorite food (a little bit of banana is a favorite of my bunnies) to keep it a positive experience.

It sounds as though you are described territorial behavior. Female rabbits that have been spayed usually don't develop this type of behavior once they get to be several years old. She may be becoming defensive or fearful if she has an illness she is trying to hide and therefore protect herself. Some illnesses to consider in this case are dental diseases, urinary tract diseases or sometimes skin issues. If she has not had a recent (3-4 months or less) veterinary examination, I recommend starting with an examination to ensure there are no health issues involved. Beyond that, you could consider placing her in a new cage or hutch, feeding her directly from your hands (if possible to do safely) and giving more social interaction time outside of the cage.