Bad Hair Days: Grooming the Unshown

"I walked through my rabbitry when I got back from vacation; I was appalled at how unkempt the buns looked Was this neglect? I felt horrible!"

"My pet rabbit is moulting so hard it looks like it snowed in my house! The more we brush, the worse it gets. We can't even fix food without Bubba hair in it!"

"I only really sit down and groom my show animals; they're the ones that count and I just don't have the time to go through and do all of them."

     Are these statements ones you've heard before? It's not uncommon to hear these or similar complaints; one of the least considered factors in rabbit ownership is the need for regular grooming assistance. Although the rabbit is a fervent selfgroomer and normally needs minimal upkeep, it is necessary once or twice a year (or more often as needed) for the owner to step in and help out.

     A rabbit in full moult looks somewhat like a Qtip that has gone through the wash in someone's pocket. Fur everywhere, and more seems to appear like magic to take the place of the clumps that fall off or are removed. Rex and Angora can be special cases in severe moult; matting occurring at this time can remain on the animal for months if not removed. Woolblock even in Rex is quite probable during this time as the grooming rabbit will ingest far larger quantities of hair than normal.

     So. Here you have an apparently exploding rabbit, tons of loose hair, and a problem. What can you do?

     Remove loose hair regularly. By just running your hands over the animal and roughing up the coat, you can remove a large amount of the looser hair; gently tugging on tufts of loose hair will result in a pile of removed fur. It's highly recommended that you perform this procedure outside unless you have a vacuum handy to defuzz you, the house, and the rabbit when you are done. Simply 'hand grooming' the animal on a regular basis will help avoid or minimize the explosive moult stage, and make it much easier to deal with when it does occur. Angoracoated animals should be dealt with on a regular weekly basis, using a brush and blower to maintain the long fibers of their unique coats.

     Using a blower or vacuum set on 'blow' rather than 'suck' can do a lot of good even for nonAngora coats; the air helps force the coat gently apart clear to the roots and get that dead hair to leave without extensive manual grooming or pain to the animal if mats occur. A smooth blunt metal comb or soft slicker brush does wonders in conjunction with a blower.

     Keep feeding regimes consistent. Feed energy has a lot to do with the speed and completion of moult. A high energy feed with more than about sixteen percent protein can result in a spectacularly sudden break in coat, unless the weather is such that the animal is using the energy for other things such as warmth, the most common use. Any change in routine, any change in feed or a stress event can provoke a moult, so by feeding at a regular time and not changing the feeding habits suddenly, one may slow the occurrence of moult.

     Don't wait ‘til the explosion happens. You don't need to put off grooming until the rabbit goes 'poof' like a dandelion in a high wind; in fact, you shouldn't. Just by normal petting, and making sure that the belly, hindquarters and legs are wellpetted, one can avoid the slow buildup of one coat atop another that causes severe problems later on. Pet your rabbit every day, and do it well. It makes your life easier and a whole lot more fun.

     Give a hairball remedv on a regular basis. Even the cleanest and bestgroomed animal on the block enjoys an occasional treat, and you can give them one weekly or even daily that will not pose the slightest hazard to their health. I suggest a treat, one commonly found in many stores and marketed as a digestive aid in humans...papaya tablets. Rabbits find them largely irresistible, and the pills won't hurt a thing even if no problem exists. Some owners give three a day to a larger animal. Other such treats are dried pineapple (small pieces here, remember, it's only a treat), dried papaya, or even fresh versions of either.

     There are several cat laxatives on the market that the owner may wish to use when the rabbit is in full molt; Laxatone, Petromalt, CatLax...the names go on. It's apparently a good thing to avoid tunaflavored varieties; the rabbits do not seem to find them tasty! You can give the rabbit a pea sized gob to an inch or so depending on size of the rabbit; most will gobble it down and look for more.

     In summary: Groom your rabbits regularly; you will soon evolve a routine that suits you well. Don't be afraid to do thorough showtype grooming on stayathomes; it is not something that should be skipped and may be the difference between life and lifethreatening problems with blockages. Give the occasional beneficial treat; it is a good way to make sure that your rabbit is alert, healthy, and coming to the front of the cage for attention.

     Keeping your rabbits, all of them, wellgroomed and healthy can be quite a challenge in the larger herd; don't give up and don't forget that this too is part and parcel of the responsibilities inherent in rabbit raising. Pet rabbits, breeding stock, fryers, growers and juniors...no matter what the eventual destiny or current occupation, all should be groomed well to avoid yet more common problems in the rabbitry.