Grooming & Hygiene

Also called shedding. Rabbits have two big molts and two small molts a year. Rabbits ingest their fur when cleaning themselves and since they cannot throw-up, the fur either comes out with their poop (stringing them together) or building up in their gut creating "wool block". 

Ways to avoid wool block:

1. Brushing, daily during molt, removing the loose fur.

2. Papaya enzyme or pineapple juice to break down the build-ups (to learn more go here)

3. Remove any fur from the water bowl/nozzle of a water bottle, food bowl, and around the cage so they do not lick it up ingesting more fur. 

Use cat/dog clippers, human nail clippers, or small animal clippers. I use human nail clippers. 

Rabbits need their nails cut at least every two months. Their nails can get to long, scratching you and making it hard for them to walk. 

Some people struggle to cut their rabbit's nails, which is understandable. But they need to be done. 

I find the best way is to get the fur around their nails and slick the fur back from the nails. This way I have a better view of the nail and the clippers also aren't pulling on the fur. I hold the rabbit to my side and clip each nail on one foot one at a time.

WARNING: Rabbits have a quick to their nail just like dogs. If you cut it, it will bleed. To stop the bleeding put cornstarch, flour, or styptic powder on the bleeding nail.

To avoid cutting the quick of the nail, only cut a little at a time. 

If your rabbit doesn't like getting his/her nails cut try just doing one foot a day. Eventually, your rabbit will get used to getting his/her nails cut. 

If this method doesn't work for you, there are a lot of other ways to do it. Get creative!  

WARNING: Do not give your rabbit a bath! This stresses them out too much which can lead to death! 

Rabbits clean themselves like cats, and it's pretty cute to watch.

If your rabbit has a mess bum or paws do as instructed. 

Messy Bum: Slowly lay the rabbit on his/her back (go here to learn how to flip your rabbit) with water and or a wipe gentle work the poop out of the fur. Using a pet-safe dry cleaning spray clean any urine. If you can't get some poop off use dull ended scissors and cut the fur off (not to close to the skin). 

Messy Paws: Fill sink about an inch to and inch and a half high with luxe warm water. Let rabbit walk around the sink, soaking the paws. Once clean, take rabbit out of sink and dry paws and stomach with towel.