Grooming Your Bunny

Bunnies are adorable little pets. One thing you will need to do to keep Floppy happy and healthy is keep up with her grooming needs. A local Thorold, ON vet discusses bunny grooming below.

You’ll need to brush your bunny regularly, to remove dead fur, dust, and dander from her coat. How often you need to do this will depend on what type of bunny Floppy is, and the sort of fur she has. Longhaired rabbits, like Angoras, need to be brushed every day. Bunnies with short fur may only need to be brushed once a week. A few times a year, your furry pal will molt, which means she’ll lose her old coat and grow a new one. Daily brushings are a must for all rabbits during molts. Be very gentle: rabbit skin is extremely delicate, and rips easily!

Here’s one area where cats, dogs, and rabbits are all very different. Baths are a must for Fido, and are generally optional for Fluffy. Rabbits, however, should never be bathed. They actually can get so frightened at being in the water that they can go into shock and die! If your pet gets something on her fur, you can gently lower part of her body into a sink or tote filled with lukewarm water. Swish water around her gently to clean her.

You’ll need to keep those cute ears clean. Ask your vet to recommend a good ear-cleaning product. Put Floppy on your lap and gently apply it to her ears. Give it a few moments to work, and then gently wipe your bunny’s ears clean with a soft cloth or gauze. If you notice any gunk near Floppy’s eyes, just lightly wipe it away with a clean, damp cotton ball or cloth.

If Floppy’s nails get too long, they could catch on things and tear. This can cause painful infections. You’ll need to give your furry little diva regular pawdicures. If you aren’t sure how to do this, ask your vet to demonstrate proper techniques.

Grooming Floppy will be much easier if you spend time with her and get her used to being handled. Also, always give her a treat after you groom her, so she knows she’s being pampered.

Please contact us, your Thorold, ON vet clinic, with any questions or concerns about grooming your bunny. We’re here to help!