House Rabbit Grooming 101
House rabbits, like cats, are very particular about keeping themselves clean. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t need our help with grooming. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when attending to the grooming needs of your rabbit.
So, Masterclip has put together a few tips that will help your bunny look great every day, no matter what season it is.
Baths and Rabbits
Do you need to bathe your rabbit? Well, that’s a very common question and realistically, the answer is no. As we mentioned before, rabbits are sticklers for personal hygiene.
A good part of their day is spent grooming themselves and their fellow bunnies if they are lucky enough to have company. This makes baths rather unnecessary for rabbits.
Not only this, but there are instances where baths have been downright traumatic for these little furballs of joy. Like cats, most rabbits detest water and a bathing experience can stress them out and even cause heart attacks.
It is really important that you keep their surroundings clean, dry and aired out. Be sure to clean their litter boxes regularly and use newspaper-based, unscented litter to tackle odour problems and to absorb urine efficiently.
Rabbits and Brushing
Irrespective of the breed, all rabbits shed. At times, the amount of fur that these tiny animals shed will just blow your mind. But, the most important part of grooming is to get rid of the excess fur, as its integral to your rabbit’s overall health and well-being.
Rabbits constantly tend to groom themselves and their partners. And whilst they are doing this, if they end up ingesting a large amount of fur, they can suffer from serious digestive problems like GI Stasis. For clumps of fur that stand out, you can get rid of it by gently tugging it away with your fingers.
Whenever you are plucking away excess fur, mix it up with petting and maintain a balance between the two. This will help pacify your rabbit as it is not particularly fond of being manhandled as such and so will likely prefer that the tufts are left alone.
For the tufts of fur that just won’t budge, you will need to use other tools to get the job done. Use a pet grooming brush and rabbit clippers for a complete and thorough grooming session. You can use gloves that help get rid of all the extra fur on your rabbit’s coat too.
Clipping Your Bunny’s Nails
In their natural habitat, rabbits are accustomed to digging their burrows. To help with all the digging, their nails tend to grow fast. Since house rabbits aren’t out in the wild, there’s no “natural” way that can help them wear down their rapid nail growth.
Therefore, the only solution is to clip your rabbit’s nails at regular intervals. In order to trim your rabbit’s nails without any problems, make a burrito out of your bunny using a towel to keep them still, then gently clip their nails. Ensure you don’t go too far into their nailbed though.
Healthy Rabbit Teeth
Rabbits should have an unlimited and fresh supply of grass, hay and oats at all times for healthy gums and teeth. When rabbits graze on hay throughout the day, it helps keep their teeth evenly ground. It also keeps any molar spur (sharp points in teeth) from developing. Molar spurs can be problematic as it can cause immense pain to your bunny and that can result in issues related to digestion.
Routine Veterinary Checkups
It is important to schedule routine checkups with a vet along with the grooming sessions. A vet will perform a thorough check on all the vitals of your rabbit’s health. This includes an examination of the eyes, teeth, feet, mouth, belly and genitals.
If required, the vet will also order a round of blood tests to look for other potential diseases. Routine checkups are essential because even a well-groomed and preened house rabbit can have issues like molar spurs and sore hacks. At times they can even contract eye infections which need to be treated as soon as possible.
Grooming Supplies That You’ll Need For Your House Bunny
- Nail Clippers - Trimming your rabbit’s nails using nail clippers for small pets at regular intervals is really important if you want to keep your furniture and floor from bearing the brunt of vigorous scratching.
- Styptic Powder - If you end up clipping too much of your rabbits nail off accidentally, you can use styptic powder to help stem and stop the bleeding.
- Grooming Brush or Glove - A built-in brush glove or a just a plain brush for rabbit fur will help get rid of excess fur.
That wraps up our basic grooming tips that will help in the upkeep of your beloved house rabbit.
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