My rabbit is sick, missing hair, please help!

[sonic0491]

My rabbit is about 4-5 years old and his name is pepper.
yesterday i noticed that under his neck he was missing a bit of hair and the hair around it was dirty and brown.
at first i thought a cat mightve got to him or he mightve been bitten in the throat but it was normal skin underneath.
i thought he mightve just pulled out some. There isnt any sign (or much of if there is) drooling. He acts normal.
Mum thinks its probarbly a rabbit disease but hes NEVER in contact with other rabbits and our yard is closed off.
today more hair is missing and his skin is more reddish. he keeps licking the spot my mum told me, as shes home more than i am (im 17 at high school).
His hair seemed less dirty but that was when i walked down in the middle of mum cleaning around his neck so he probarbly still had alot.
i dont want it to get worse.
mum said were going to take him to the vet soon, probarbly tomorrow, but before then...
does anybody know what this is, or how i can help in the meantime?

THANKYOU SO MUCH!

[cloggy]

I am so sorry to hear about your rabbit being put to sleep....it's heartbreaking.

[sonic0491]

my rabbit didnt get better, we had him put down this morning.
Please make sure your rabbits chew and eat sticks, straw/hay not just lettuce and vegetables, its actually bad for them.

Ive learnt from my mistake, Its such a common misconception, its happening alot out there, please learn from it as I have.

[sonic0491]

I found out we fed him too much soft food instead of hard food, like we fed him too much lettuce, apple,  and the sort with not enough things like straw or sticks to chew on.
It wasnt my fault though- i wanted him to keep having straw or hay but my sister was allergic so my mum stopped getting it.

the vet has given him antibiotics and were doing that for 5 days but he keeps puling his fur out and its horrible to watch, its more licking it but its slowly taking it away under his chin.

the doctor said the next step is an xray and dental work but mum said that costs too much (300 aust dollars upwards) and said if he wont start chewing to get his teeth down he will have to have an injection to put him to sleep.

he wont chew anything but im trying my hardest, but i feel like hes really hurting too. i know this may have sounded confusing, but i hope you understood it

i would also like to leave this message:

dont just feed your rabbits the traditional lettuce and such, that is like candy for kids, THEY NEED STRAW AND STICKS FROM FRUIT TREES TO KNAW ON!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

It could be slobbers (caused by malocclusion of the teeth and the molar teeth may need to be floated, or the incisors may need a trim) or it could be mites, fleas, or other ectoparasite.  It could also be a bacterial or fungal skin infection.

I am glad you and mum are taking your rabbit to the vet, and in the meantime you can gently wash the area with mild antibacterial shampoo (don't get it in the eyes), rinse well and dry the area with a hair dryer since he is an outdoor rabbit.  This will also tell you if there are any wounds there.  If there is a chance that you will get the shampoo in his eyes than use baby shampoo.  By keeping it clean and dry you can try to stop any secondary bacterial infection.