Grooming A Longhaired Bunny

Have you recently adopted a bunny with long fur, such as an Angora? These super fluffy bunnies are of course super cute. However, your pet won’t be able to keep up with all that fur herself. You’ll need to groom her regularly. A vet offers some advice on this below.

Summer

In summertime, you’ll need to be extra careful to keep your furry friend dry and clean. Otherwise, she could develop flystrike, which is as painful, dangerous, and horrible as it sounds. Check Floppy’s skin and coat daily. Your vet may also recommend a flystrike preventative. It’s also very important to make sure that your pet doesn’t overheat!

Molting

A few times a year, Floppy will shed her old fur and grow in a new coat. This is called molting, as it’s much more intense than regular shedding. Grooming is especially crucial at these times. If Floppy swallows her own hair, she can’t vomit it back up the way a kitty could. That means those hairballs can cause dangerous—and even life-threatening—intestinal blockages. Ask your vet for what to look for. You may also need to give your pet a hairball remedy.

Tools

It’s important to choose the right tools. Rabbits have very delicate skin that rips easily. Generally, you’ll want to start with a wide-toothed comb or special mat comb. Then, finish up with a tool that has narrower teeth. Whether you opt for combs, a slicker brush, a mat rake, or another brush, take care not to pull too hard.

Problem Areas

With longhaired bunnies, their ‘armpits’ and the spots between their legs often get matted the most. Your vet might recommend clipping or even shaving these trouble areas. Ask for specific advice.

Bathing

You should never, ever bathe a rabbit. They get very frightened of water, and can even go into shock! If Floppy gets something spilled on her fur, you can gently clean off the dirty area. One option is hold her carefully and, if possible, submerge just the part or her that’s dirty into a tub or sink of lukewarm water. Swish the water around gently to clean her. Never submerge your pet’s head or whole body.

Convincing Floppy

Rabbits vary greatly in how they react to being groomed. Some love it. Others? Not so much. Pick a time when Floppy feels relaxed. As you brush her, talk to her gently, and offer her treats and praise. Don’t try your pet’s patience with long sessions. About 10 or 15 minutes is fine.

Please contact us for more information about rabbit care. Please feel free to contact us, your local animal clinic in Edison Park, FL!