October 23, 2026
You brush your rabbit and find a thin patch of fur, flaky skin, or a small crust they keep scratching. That can be ringworm, a skin fungus that rabbits do get. Some rabbits show a clear bald spot, while others look almost unchanged, with only a little scale or a coat that seems slightly rough in one place.
Hair loss, flaky or scaly skin, and mild crusts are the changes families describe most often. The spots may sit on the face, ears, nose, or feet, or they may show up along the back or sides. Some rabbits itch and scratch. Others seem comfortable and still carry the fungus. A bonded partner can pass it back and forth while both still look fairly well.
Ringworm in rabbits is often subtle. You may notice it first in a young rabbit or one who just joined your home, but any rabbit can have it.
In rabbits, the usual cause is a fungus called Trichophyton. It lives in the hair and the outer skin. It spreads by contact with an affected rabbit, and it can ride along on bedding, brushes, and shared toys. It can also linger in the living space after the coat starts to look better.
People in the household can sometimes catch it. A new round, scaly, itchy patch on someone's skin is a reason to tell your veterinarian, and a reason to check in with a physician. Children and anyone who cuddles or grooms the rabbit are the usual ones to watch. Wash your hands after handling, and wash the rabbit's bedding on its own until your veterinarian says you can go back to the usual routine.
Mites, a partner who nibbles the coat, and a heavy shed can leave flakes and thin fur too. An exam is how we tell these apart. Avoid sprays and creams meant for people, dogs, or cats until a veterinarian has identified the problem. The wrong product can irritate rabbit skin and hide what we need to see.
Diagnosis usually needs a fungal culture or a similar lab test. Many veterinarians who treat rabbits prefer to brush the coat with a clean toothbrush and press that brush onto a culture medium made for skin fungi. The brush picks up hairs and scale from a wide area, which helps when the changes are subtle.
A handheld lamp in the exam room often stays dark with Trichophyton. Culture is the test that tells us the fungus is there. Your veterinarian may also look at a few hairs under the microscope while the culture grows.
The plan often includes an oral antifungal medicine prescribed for your rabbit, plus a thorough clean of the places they live. The coat can look normal before the fungus is gone, so we repeat the culture and continue treatment until a culture comes back clear. Stopping when the fur looks better is a common reason the patches return.
Do not bathe your rabbit to treat this. Baths stress rabbits, they chill easily, and they are hard to dry. If a rinse or another topical product belongs in the plan, your veterinarian will show you how to use it.
At home, wash bedding, clean brushes and toys, and vacuum the rooms your rabbit uses. Ask whether another rabbit or another pet in the house needs to be checked. Stick to products your veterinarian has said are safe for your rabbit.
Call promptly if your rabbit stops eating, produces fewer droppings, seems painful, or the skin is raw or spreading quickly. Call the same day if someone at home develops a new rash while your rabbit has skin changes.
Book a visit soon if you see new hair loss, flakes, crusts, or itching, especially in a rabbit who is new to your home.
Dr. Logan Kopp is Nashville's rabbit specialist and a Diplomate in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice. He diagnoses and treats rabbit skin disease, including ringworm, for families from Nashville, Antioch, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro and the rest of the Middle Tennessee area. Call Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital at (615) 361-4646 to book an appointment with Dr. Kopp.
This article is general information, not medical advice for your pet. Reading it doesn't create a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). Please talk with your own veterinarian before making changes to your pet's care.