Vet-approved tips on how to safely groom your rabbit
January 21, 2023
When talking all things grooming, people tend to focus on dogs, then cats, and don’t really think about the requirements of smaller pets like rabbits. The team at Rowan Veterinary Centre have collated some helpful advice for Lancashire pet owners in on why rabbits need grooming and how to do it safely.
If, after reading our article, you would like any further advice on rabbit care, please do contact us.
Contact us for rabbit care advice
Rabbit grooming tips from Rowan Vets
1. Why rabbits need regular grooming
Moulting
According to the vets at our Hillock Lane surgery, rabbits moult heavily, usually around every three months. While they’re big on grooming themselves, you can help yours when it comes to getting rid of that excess fur. When rabbits are moulting, they can ingest fur. This can be dangerous because, unlike cats, rabbits can’t regurgitate a hairball, so the fur stays in their system and can cause intestinal problems.
General health
Grooming also helps to support their overall health, promoting wellbeing, good circulation, and skin health.
Checking for problems
Our head vet Ruth Mackay, recommends that while you’re grooming your rabbit you should check them over for potential problems. Pay attention to their eyes and ears, as well as around their bottom, where if faeces get clogged in the fur or urine isn’t cleaned off, flystrike could occur.
You can check their feet and the length of their claws too, and generally keep a close eye on your rabbit’s overall health. Look out for lumps, bumps, overgrown teeth, and anything else that shouldn’t be there.
If you spot anything you are concerned about, call us on 01772 639 800 as soon as possible.
Bonding and relaxation time
Grooming is a great way for you and your rabbit to get to know each other better, so the time spent together is beneficial to both of you. Grooming any pet can also be relaxing and calming – for you both!
2. What should be in your grooming kit
It is important that you have the right tools for the job and know what you’re doing, so Ruth has made some recommendations for rabbit owners below.
- Be careful with the type of brush you use as a rabbit’s skin is quite delicate and can damage relatively easily.
- Choose a soft brush for general grooming.
- A rubber brush is handy for removing excess fur in moulting season and can also help to improve skin circulation and promote the production of natural skin oils.
If you come across any tricky matts they may need cutting out. If you feel nervous about getting too close to your pet’s skin, it’s best to bring your rabbit to Rowan Vets where we can take care of that for you.
We hope you found the above advice helpful from Ruth and the rest of our team. If you have any concerns about your rabbit’s health or want any further advice on grooming or any other rabbit-related issues, we’re here to help.
