This was originally posted November 2019
I know we’ve touched on some grooming aspects like brushing during moults and nail clipping, but I just wanted to get into it a bit further. First off, here’s a list of what you should keep on hand: -brush -nail clippers -small clippers -scissors -basin
The first brush pictured is a decent brush. It works for regular brushings, which it wouldn’t hurt if you did once a week. This will decrease the chances of wool block, which can be deadly. Rabbits cannot pass fur balls like cats can. The second picture is a small clipper. This one is battery operated and found in the pet aisle. The last picture is a pair of scissors. And pair of toenail clippers (cat nail clippers can also work) And a deshedding tool, which is now my go-to brush. These come in different sizes. Pick the one that suits your rabbits fur length. (Don’t use a brush on rex rabbits) It’s best to put your rabbit on a grooming schedule so you don’t miss anything. For example, if you clean out your rabbits cage once a week, give him a quick brushing and check the length of his nails before you put him back in the cage. When they moult, you will need to brush as much of the loose fur out as possible, every day, until they are finished the moult. This may happen once or twice a year. They could moult very lightly, or very heavily. Look for my post on Moulting. For rabbits with rex fur, you will want to use a damp cloth and your fingers to remove loose fur. Sometimes you may need to take some extra steps to clean up your bun. If your white rabbit has some urine stains on it, you can make a paste with lemon juice and baking soda. Rub it in and when it dries, brush it out. But what if your bun has a dirty bum?
This here is one of the cutest buns, ever. But he’s always got a dirty bum. (I figured out it was the food that didn’t agree with him, and is now on a good that does agree with him) But a lot of time, he would get soft poops and they would get stuck on his bottom. If the poop or mud is dry or just on the ends of the hair, you could try to brush it out. If it doesn’t, you can very carefully cut it off. If the mess is dry, you may be able to use the small clipper to trim the fur away from the bum and tail. This is much safer than trying to use the scissors to cut it away. This may take time, but your rabbit will be much happier. If the mess is wet, you may have to give him a butt bath. Fill a basin with lukewarm water. Let the rabbit soak his bum in it for several minutes. (You can add Epsom salts to this, if you choose) Wearing rubber gloves, use some baby shampoo to wash to mess off them. You may have to soak him a couple times. When clean, you can dump the basin water down the toilet, and make sure your rabbit is dry, especially if they are living outside. And since you’ve got him wrapped up in a towel, you may as well clip those nails! Don’t ever bathe a rabbit unless it is absolutely necessary, and only bathe what is dirty. Rabbit fur takes forever to dry
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