Rabbit Grooming
Rabbit Grooming.jpg) Rabbits are very clean animals. They naturally perform rabbit grooming procedures all the time. Even in the wild in their earthen burrows they keep their fur clean. The do this they use their tongue. When rabbits are grooming each other it is to help each other get to the places that are hard to reach, like behind the ears. When you see your bunny washing his face, he uses his paws like a washcloth by applying saliva to them.
Rabbit grooming sessions with your bunny need to take place on a regular basis, that is unless you have a full-furred rabbit like the Angora or Jersey Wooly, then it is an almost daily requirement. We not only want our bunny to have a good looking coat, we also want him to be healthy. Rabbit grooming plays .jpg) a major part in the health of your rabbit.Did you know that the majority of health problems domestic rabbits experience are caused by poor husbandry? Ask any Rescuerer and they can tell you horror story after horror story of how pitiful have been the conditions of the rabbits they have saved and nursed back to health. To neglect proper grooming of your pet rabbit is on par with neglecting the proper care of a small child. Instead of seeing the rabbit grooming session as a problem to be addressed, you need to see it as an opportunity to bond more closely with your little friend. The first few sessions are probably the most difficult, but be of good cheer, some bunnies actually learn to enjoy rabbit grooming. Mid-day is a good time for a rabbit grooming session because that's when they are usually most calm. What Needs To Be Done
Brushing - When brushing, lay your bunny on a table or on the floor to prevent an accident (rabbits’ strong back legs make for quick escapes, and a fall to the floor could spell disaster). Use a brush with stiff bristles. Begin brushing your bunny at the rear end with downward strokes, working your way up to the head area. With longer hair buns use a comb also. You may have to experiment on what tools work best for your particular bunny. The goal is to keep your pet rabbit from ingesting more loose hairs than are necessary when he is grooming himself. Ingested hair can lead to hair balls which interfere with digestion, which may even lead to the dreaded G. I. Stasis condition (where your bunny refuses to eat - a dangerous situation for an animal that grazes).  Also, we want to prevent fur from becoming matted up, an unhealthy condition that can lead to infections in the skin. Sometimes matted fur requires being cut off with the use of sharp scissors, so be ever so careful when having to do so. Regular brushing also helps keep down the amount of rabbit hair floating around in the air.During seasons of molting, brushing needs to be done often, probably daily. Also helpful is to use wet hands when petting your bunny during the day which will remove shedding hair as you rub the fur. Be prepared to vacuum your floor more often during the molting season. |
|