Why is my rabbit's fur matted, smelly, and falling out on his legs?

Question

My rabbit first began having behavioral issues and avoiding contact, then the fur on him began to turn a dirty brown color and it began to get matted up. He began to stink really badly, so we tried washing the fur with a wash cloth but nothing helped. Now the fur on his back legs is coming off and now his back legs are completely bad along with the tops of his shoulders and he still stinks. Would you know what’s wrong with him? Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Male | unneutered | 25 lbs

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

With the majority of the changes to the skin occurring around the back legs, this could have started with some kind of a urinary issue. Urine that gets onto the skin can be very irritating, can smell badly, and the hair can fall out. You didn't mention what the skin under the fur looked like, but often the skin can become painful, red, and infected. I would recommend that you take Willie in for evaluation by a veterinarian. They can evaluate the skin and may take a few samples to evaluate under the microscope. If your veterinarian suspects that there may be a urinary issue, they may recommend collecting a urine sample to evaluate (a urinalysis), and blood work to evaluate systemic health. Depending on the veterinary clinic, they may also be able to bathe Willie for you, as this can be stressful for rabbits. Please don't give Willie any human medications, or apply any medications to his skin, as these can be harmful for our rabbit friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck!

Why is my rabbit's fur matted, smelly, and falling out on his legs?

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