Bathing Bunnies
Just don't........
Bunnies should never be submerged in water. They are fragile creatures and they can go into shock easily. Bunnies can die of shock.
If spot cleaning is necessary, you can use a small amount of baby cornstarch on area and gently comb out the dirt with a flea comb. Be gentle, their skin can tear easily.
Visit House Rabbit Society for more details at the following link:
http://rabbit.org/do-rabbits-need-to-be-bathed/
Brushing
Shedding
Bunnies shed a few times a year, sometimes it's a very heavy shedding. They groom themselves like cats, but they cannot throw up hairballs like cats. It's because of the inability to throw up that makes it extremely important to brush them. Ingested fur can cause a blockage, requiring an emergency vet visit. It can lead to death.
Photo courtesy of Todd provided by his mom, Gemma. Follow Todd on Facebook at Todd the Bunny.
Best way to prevent a blockage
One of the best ways to avoid a vet visit due to ingested fur is to:
- Brush bunny often
- Make sure your bunny is eating a lot of hay.
- Plenty of fresh water should be available at all times.
- Wearing fur on top of head like Mr. Beans here may also help. He seems to be channeling his Disco days.
Photo of Mr. Beans from Facebook page Mr. Beans & Friends. Courtesy of Kaitlen Rose
How often should you brush your bunny?
How often you should brush your bunny depends on how much your bunny is shedding and the breed. Some bunnies, like Mango pictured here, have longer or fuzzier fur and need brushed more often.
Photo courtesy of Rondi Costello. See more of Mango on the Mango & Finn Facebook page.
The following link is a great video from Mary Cotter with House Rabbit Society. She shows the proper ways to brush or comb your rabbit.
Overgrown Nails
A bunny's nails can grow extremely long, causing pain and discomfort to your bunny. Long nails can also lead to arthritis because the bunny is forced to walk unnaturally, cause sore hocks, or get nails snagged on things and tear.
Your veterinarian or vet tech can show you how to properly trim the nails or they can do it for you, for a small charge.
Photo courtesy of CarmaPoodale.com (These are the nails of a foster bunny in the care of Carma's human.)
When I decided to add a section regarding bunny nails to this site, I put out a request to a few friends who work/volunteer in the bunny rescue world. The very day I put the request out there, the bunny in this picture (and picture below) came into the E.A.R.S. rescue. This bunny is now in excellent hands and immediately received a manicure.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Koopman-Miller with E.A.R.S. Eerie Area Rabbit Society & Rescue
Helpful Links for Nail Trimming
The following link will take you to Bunnies at Home. There you will find a great diagram and instructions on how to properly trim nails:
http://bunniesathome.weebly.com/nail-clipping.html
The following link is for a great "how to" video with Mary Cotter, House Rabbit Society VP, and actress/comedien, Amy Sedaris.
http://rabbit.org/how-to-trim-your-rabbits-nails/
Photo courtesy of Michelle Koopman-Miller with E.A.R.S. Eerie Area Rabbit Society & Rescue
Teeth
Always Growing
Bunny teeth are continuously growing. Hay helps keep teeth filed down naturally. This is another reason bunnies need an unlimited amount of hay available at all times. Good quality pellets can also help keep the teeth healthy.
Photo courtesy of Linda Culbert. This is a bunny who recently came into foster care. The bunny immediately had dental work and will receive the care he/she needs now.
Poor Nutrition
Poor nutrition can cause a bunny's teeth to rot. The bunny here was likely only fed Cheerios or something else people are commonly known to feed their bunny.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Koopman-Miller with the E.A.R.S. Eerie Area Rabbit Society & Rescue
Helpful Links
Fred and Wilma from Ohio House Rabbit Rescue have a nice variety of things to chew on, which helps their teeth stay filed down and healthy.
The following link is brought to you by the House Rabbit Society. It's a very educational video featuring House Rabbit Society VP, Mary Cotter and actress/comedien, Amy Sedaris.