Rabbit Grooming Basic

Benefits of Grooming

  • Good way to inspect for health issues, skin problems, injuries etc.

  • Excellent way to bond with your rabbit

  • Best way to remove unwanted fur (blockages in intestines can result from ingested fur)

  • Mimics rabbit to rabbit bonding

Collection of pet grooming tools including a blue scrubber, purple mitt, scissors, nail clippers, pink nail file, green comb, brush, mirror, yellow brush, and black hair clipper.

Move picture in Grooming Supplies section.  I would organize:

                  Top Row (starting from left to right)

                  Hand mitt-  Excellent tool for introducing rabbit to brushing,

                  Massaging and stimulate oil glands for sheen & healthy coat of fur.

                    List other tools

                  Bottom Row (starting from left)

Brushing Basics

  • Rabbits shed 3 times a year, at least one molt is a “biggee”

  • Not uncommon for rabbits to get bald patches, especially long haired rabbits

  • Wear a smock or denim shirt to protect your clothing

  • Place a small fleece or cotton fabric (not terry cloth towel) under your rabbit before brushing

  • Wipe around eyes with damp gauze or soft towel if needed

  • Clean inside the ears very gently with damp gauze or soft towel if dirty

  • Lightly & gently massage the rabbit first to prime the rabbit for brushing and to feel for abdonomities

(cuts that are healing, remove anything embedded in the fur, unusual bumps or lumps)

            -   Lightly spray water to grooming brush and/or rabbit to minimize fur fly away

  • Gently brush or comb rabbit with side-to-side motion (never up-&-down motion)

  • Brush and/or comb in the direction the fur grows (not against the fur except for

Rump area)

-   For heavy molts, try to gently pluck and remove old fur by hand

-          For newly acquainted rabbits, groom more often with shorter brushing time and then graduately increase time when rabbits feel more comfortable

-          Offer a small treat & say praises to your rabbit after the brushing session

-          Clean and wipe down grooming tools

Basic Grooming Supplies—use weekly for smooth/short coats

  • Bare hand works great when rabbit isn’t molting—pet and wipe away fur

  • Glove or mitt (see photo)—glove can be thrown in washer

  • “Zoom Groom” (see photo)—curry comb fits on hand and grips fur very well

  • Steel comb (see photo) w/ rubber woven through teeth—excellent at grabbing large amounts of hair

  • Flea comb—great for a gentle, comfortable grooming experience that rabbits soon love; necessary for combing out a dirty bottom

  • Steel needle brush (see photo)—make sure to get type for cats/kittens, angles edges good for tight spots like neck;  great brushes for angoras that need “backwards brushing”/ fluffing up AFTER blowing out coat for longer haired or fluffy rabbits

  • Blunt scissors—used for trimming away any matted spots soiled by medicine, urine etc.

 

Nail Care Basics

  • Frequency:  Every 6-8 weeks (unless rabbit needs special attention to nails)

  • Prepare Kwik Stop product ahead of time to stop bleeding for any “too short” cuts

  • Clipping tools—depends on personal preference and size of rabbit; make sure clippers feel comfortable in your hand and are easy to grip; replace clippers at least yearly.

  • Error on safe side and stop well away from quik (clipping at the quik may cause bleeding and rabbit is uncomfortable with nails that are too short)  You can always clip nails more often for maintenance.

  • Have good light source when clipping nails to better see the quik.

  • If rabbit is uncomfortable with nail trimming or you are just learning have somebody hold the rabbit while you clip

  • Clean carefully prefer clipper that have replaceable blades or scissors with screw that allow for complete cleaning.

  • Rabbits unfamiliar w/ nail trim may need short “trial” sessions w/ just a few nails

  • With a emery board lightly stroke a couple of times over each nail tips

 

Things to Avoid

  • Bathing—Not required except for special needs rabbits only under direction of Exotic DVM.

  • Chemicals—Chemicals sold as bath products are not safe for rabbits. Check with vet about products “safe” for rabbits.

  • Talcum powder—avoid altogether as it can cause respiratory illnesses

  • Frontline brand flea medication—it can kill rabbits

  • Careless use of scissors—rabbits’ skin is tissue paper thin and can easily be mistaken for fur when cutting - Do not use scissors when grooming unless you are an experienced groomer.

  • Dull tools—dull nail clippers or scissors are more likely to cause injuries from slipping or using unnecessary force;  replace blade or entire tool every 6-12 months

  • Treat grooming session as an unpleasant chore.  Do treat grooming as quality time with your rabbit to show them know how much you love them.

  • Overly stressing the rabbit with long period of grooming than the rabbit can handle