Thinning hair on legs?

[Riana]

I've noticed that Loki seems to have lost some of the hair on the front of his front legs... I can see the pink skin showing through. Does anyone know what may cause this? Is it something I should be worried about? They're all mite/lice free, so I know it's not that. http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/nuen/100_22011.jpg That's a picture of it. Any ideas?

 

[Godmother]

Looks like he's a self-barberer! His sister Deborah (with SQ) is a real special case... she has barbered both arms and her chest down to her stomach. I took photos when I was at SQ's last, but havent' had time to download the photos. Stay tuned....

Looks like barbering may run in the family.

 

[Riana]

Oh no! But what could I do about it? Is it something medical, or stress-related? I'm worried now that he may not be happy!

But you know, I noticed that he had it on his belly a while back, but that's all gone. However, he has a small scrape on his forearm that happened sometime since last evening. I'm a little worried now!

 

[Godmother]

I've heard that it can be associated with stress, but Deborah isn't stressed at all! She had started doing it when she still lived with me, and she still does it, but she's healthy & lively.... not getting bullied. I had thought that maybe she was responding to crowding in the cage when the girls were getting to the point of outgrowing their cage, but she has all the room in the world (and way more out time) at SQ's.

I think it's a habit, like nail biting. Once started it's hard to stop. Maybe some of the more experienced ratty owners will have some words of wisdom?

 

[Riana]

I wondered if it could be stress-related, but really they aren't stressed at all, unless we take into account Loki trying to become alpha rat. He and Rose get along really well inside the cage (actually they're sleeping together right now) but it seems that outside the cage, Loki gets very dominant and bullying. I wonder if that would have anything to do with it.

I know that in dogs with hot-spots and the like, an application of bitter-apple spray or some deterent could be used. I'd be interested to hear if something like this could be used too.

 

[SQ]

Lois barbered herself when I first got her ... but once she was introed in with the others she rarely did it anymore.
It can be related to stress, and also to boredom.