Grooming & Cleaning
Like any living thing, rabbits will need their poop trays emptied and a good fur brushing.
To learn about the equipment, visit the equipment page.
To learn about the equipment, visit the equipment page.
Grooming
BRUSHING
Good news! For those with short hair rabbits, you barely need to do any grooming! During the spring, your outdoor rabbits will shed their winter coats. Sometimes they need a little help to get it off easier. Just use a brush and run it through their fur every few days until it's gone. Although tempting, you shouldn't pull out the chunks of shedding hair. This could irritate their skin or create a bald spot if the new hair hasn't grown in yet.
For those with long haired rabbits, life gets a bit harder. While sometimes rabbits can be really good at grooming themselves, these breeds will still need some help. Some may require weekly grooming, others may require daily grooming... it all depends on fur length and how well the rabbit cleans itself. YOU MUST remember to groom your long hair rabbits. I've seen the worst first hand. The hair mats together and creates a giant knot. This can really hurt the rabbits as the skin begins to pull apart as the mat tightens to the skin. The only solution is to cut it out which can be dangerous and painful for the rabbits since you're doing it close to the skin and pulling even more to avoid it. During the spring, when they are shedding, it is more important than ever as the old hair that falls out quickly gets caught in the new hair. The good news is, that it really only takes about 5 minutes to brush out a rabbit with no knots. As long as you do it as a routine, you should be able to avoid mats, serious pain, and long chunks of time trimming your rabbit.
Good news! For those with short hair rabbits, you barely need to do any grooming! During the spring, your outdoor rabbits will shed their winter coats. Sometimes they need a little help to get it off easier. Just use a brush and run it through their fur every few days until it's gone. Although tempting, you shouldn't pull out the chunks of shedding hair. This could irritate their skin or create a bald spot if the new hair hasn't grown in yet.
For those with long haired rabbits, life gets a bit harder. While sometimes rabbits can be really good at grooming themselves, these breeds will still need some help. Some may require weekly grooming, others may require daily grooming... it all depends on fur length and how well the rabbit cleans itself. YOU MUST remember to groom your long hair rabbits. I've seen the worst first hand. The hair mats together and creates a giant knot. This can really hurt the rabbits as the skin begins to pull apart as the mat tightens to the skin. The only solution is to cut it out which can be dangerous and painful for the rabbits since you're doing it close to the skin and pulling even more to avoid it. During the spring, when they are shedding, it is more important than ever as the old hair that falls out quickly gets caught in the new hair. The good news is, that it really only takes about 5 minutes to brush out a rabbit with no knots. As long as you do it as a routine, you should be able to avoid mats, serious pain, and long chunks of time trimming your rabbit.
TEETH
Most rabbits will not have issues with their teeth. They may not need any care at all as long as they have something crunchy like pellets or apple tree limbs to file down their teeth. Some may have dental issues where teeth overlap wrong or go the wrong direction. The most obvious sign of this is not eating or blood around the mouth. For most people, you could take the rabbit to a vet on a regular basis to have the teeth trimmed. For professionals or those willing to learn, you can buy teeth trimmers and preform the task at home when needed.
Most rabbits will not have issues with their teeth. They may not need any care at all as long as they have something crunchy like pellets or apple tree limbs to file down their teeth. Some may have dental issues where teeth overlap wrong or go the wrong direction. The most obvious sign of this is not eating or blood around the mouth. For most people, you could take the rabbit to a vet on a regular basis to have the teeth trimmed. For professionals or those willing to learn, you can buy teeth trimmers and preform the task at home when needed.
NAILS
Rabbit nails can be tricky; sometimes it takes more than one person for beginners and/or feisty rabbits. Nails should be trimmed at least once every season. Before trimming, take some time to examine the nail and it's shape. Look for the wick and also the base half. Nails should be trimmed at least once every season. Inside each nail is a blood vessel called "the wick". If the nail grows really long, the wick can also extend, which makes it impossible to clip the nail back to the length it should be.
To clip the nails, get special nail clippers at any pet store. You will need to flip the rabbit over to it's back and hold it there. Spread the toes by pressing the foot gently between two fingers. Use the hair as a guideline and cut approximently there, being sure to not clip the wick. If you have a rabbit with light colored feet, they should have white toe nails, which makes it super easy to see the pink of the wick inside the nail. If you have a rabbit with darker fur on the feet, you may have a rabbit with dark nails. There are harder to clip but not impossible. Base your clip off the hairline and also the shape of the nail. The base should be wider and seem like there are two halves that join. Do not slip past where those halves join.
Rabbit nails can be tricky; sometimes it takes more than one person for beginners and/or feisty rabbits. Nails should be trimmed at least once every season. Before trimming, take some time to examine the nail and it's shape. Look for the wick and also the base half. Nails should be trimmed at least once every season. Inside each nail is a blood vessel called "the wick". If the nail grows really long, the wick can also extend, which makes it impossible to clip the nail back to the length it should be.
To clip the nails, get special nail clippers at any pet store. You will need to flip the rabbit over to it's back and hold it there. Spread the toes by pressing the foot gently between two fingers. Use the hair as a guideline and cut approximently there, being sure to not clip the wick. If you have a rabbit with light colored feet, they should have white toe nails, which makes it super easy to see the pink of the wick inside the nail. If you have a rabbit with darker fur on the feet, you may have a rabbit with dark nails. There are harder to clip but not impossible. Base your clip off the hairline and also the shape of the nail. The base should be wider and seem like there are two halves that join. Do not slip past where those halves join.
Cleaning
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Everyone has their own routine for cleaning cages. It all depends on where your cage is and how deep the tray is. Some people clean trays every day, others do it once a week. I would recommend doing it at least once a week if not more often. This cuts down on any flies, smells for indoor pets, and poop through the floors.
The main thing you need to know is that you don't want the poop to emerge through the cage floor. Flies can lay eggs in the poop and maggots can latch onto the rabbit's feet. Stepping in the poop can also cake on the poop and moisture to their feet and cause a variety of skin irritations and diseases. For indoor pets, it could be a matter of smell and cleaning when the smell gets too strong. TRAYS
For those with trays, simply pull out the tray and dump the contents. Careful not to spill any urine! I've seen some people with one rabbit dump the contents into a trash bag and throw it out immediately. On the other hand, outdoor rabbit breeders tend to have a compost pile in the back of their yard where they take the tray and dump it. This is what my family always did growing up. The contents make great fertilizer in the spring! WOOD CHIPS For rabbits with trays, you can fill the bottom with a thin coat of wood chips. This soaks up the urine and some of the smell. This makes it easier to change the tray because the urine doesn't slosh around. You can buy wood chips for trays in any pet store. IMPORTANT! If you use wood chips, you should only use WHITE PINE. Other kinds such as Oak and Cedar may produce smells, dusts, and toxins that are bad for the respiratory systems of rabbits. It could make them seriously sick! Pet stores sell all kinds so BE SURE TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE!!! |
