Gracie is completely blowing her coat in such a funny pattern right now. It first started as a bald spot on her back, but now it's moved to her face. The last time she molted this badly she was shedding her baby coat. I did some research on the cycle of rabbit shedding (or molting), and found some interesting stuff out. A rabbit goes through a very light shed seasonally. Of course, it varies from rabbit to rabbit and from breed to breed, same with all these "shedding" approximations. When a rabbit reaches 4 - 5 months old, they molt their baby coat. This is generally their first big "molt", depending on the season and weather conditions. The heaviest molts that are also seasonal are right before spring and right after summer or early autumn. In the spring, the rabbit no longer needs its thick winter coat so it molts what it doesn't need. In the fall, the rabbit blows its light summer coat to grow it's thick, prime winter coat. That's what Gracie is doing, I think, but I hope she hurries up and finishes her molt soon! I don't want her to be completely bald after she has made a nest for her babies! Sometimes, rabbits will shed even if it's not seasonal or growing a new coat. This usually depends on diet, exercise levels, and whether the rabbit is indoors or outdoors. Indoor rabbits will never get the thick, heavy coat that outside rabbits have during the winter, unless you let your house get that cold! I encourage you to brush your rabbit daily when it's molting heavily. This prevents hairballs and helps the rabbit go through its molt faster. |
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My name is Holly.I'm glad you're here! Don't be a ghost; leave a comment every once and a while! Let's talk ;) Categories
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