Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Brushing your rabbit
• Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the scent glands
• Method 3 of 3: Treat against fleas
• Tips
• Warnings

Rabbits are very clean and don't often need help getting clean. In fact, putting your rabbit in water is dangerous, as it can easily lead to hypothermia or shock. Rather than giving your rabbit a traditional bath, learn to stain your rabbit's coat, clean its scent glands, and control fleas, all without putting your rabbit in the water.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Brushing your rabbit

1. Brush the rabbit to remove coarse debris. Many rabbits love to be brushed, and it is a great way to help them keep their coat clean. Buy a brush designed specifically for rabbit fur (often finer-toothed than brushes designed for dogs). Hold your rabbit every few days while brushing its coat. Focus on areas where you see some underlayment or dirt. When you are done, wash and dry the brush.
   • Make sure to handle the rabbit very gently. Not all rabbits like the experience of being brushed. If yours seems startled or confused by brushing, stop immediately and try again later.
   • Rabbits with long hair need a little extra coat care. Keep your rabbit's coat short, about an inch in length, so it doesn't get tangled. This will make a difference with the moult and keep the coat clean.
2. Remove any debris on your rabbit as needed. If your rabbit is hopping in a mud puddle, you could help him by cleaning the worst spots. Fortunately, you can clean locally without using water. This is highly recommended as many rabbits go into shock when they get wet. Sprinkle some cornstarch over the dirty area and use a fleece comb to work the dirt out. Keep doing this until the coat is clean.
   • Even if your rabbit is completely covered in mud, it is better to use this dry method than to dip your rabbit in water. Working little by little, gently break up the mud clumps, comb out the fur and use cornstarch to work out the smaller bits of dirt.
   • If absolutely necessary, use water to clean small patches of fur. Wet a washcloth and use it to moisten the coat; try not to let the water reach the rabbit's skin. When the area of ​​fur is clean, use a hairdryer on the warm setting to gently blow dry the coat.
3. Use a detangler for matted fur. If your rabbit has tangles in its coat, the best tool for this task is a detangler. This will gently separate the burdock without hurting the rabbit. Avoid using scissors; rabbits are bouncy, and it could easily happen that you accidentally cut your rabbit while you work.
4. Trim your rabbit's nails. This grooming task is important for rabbits who spend most of their time indoors. When rabbits don't have a chance to wear down their nails by digging around outside, the nails can grow long and sharp. Use rabbit nail scissors to trim the nails or ask your vet to do this for you at your next appointment.
   • Do not let your rabbit's nails pull out. Rabbits are very susceptible to infection and pulling out their nails exposes their claws to bacteria.
   • Make sure the rabbit's living area is kept clean and dry at all times to keep the paws healthy.
5. Do not put the rabbit in water. It must be repeated that lowering a rabbit into water can cause him to become hypothermic or shock, both of which are fatal. Some special rabbits don't mind getting wet; a few rabbit keepers are even surprised that their beloved rabbits love to swim. But if your rabbit has never shown a love for water, it is best not to risk getting it wet. Rabbits are very sensitive and even one water bath can cause permanent damage.

Method 2 of 3: Cleaning the scent glands

1. Clean around the anus with a cotton ball dipped in water. Rabbits have scent glands around their anus, their secretions can build up and start to smell after a while. To clean this area, simply dip a cotton ball or cotton ball in warm water. Swipe the area to remove all traces of shedding. If you repeat this often enough, no further cleaning will be necessary.
   • Your rabbit may become nervous and jumpy while you are cleaning this area. Get a partner to help you by holding and petting the rabbit while you clean the scent glands.
   • Rabbits also have scent glands under their chin, but they don't produce a bad odor and don't need cleaning.
2. Buy a safe shampoo from a pet store. These are not harmful to rabbits and are much safer than using regular soap.
3. Only use soap when absolutely necessary. If the discharge has been building up for a long time, you may need more than water to clean it. Fill a small container with warm water and add a few drops of a gentle baby shampoo or castile soap. Dip a cotton ball in the solution and gently clean around the rabbit's anus, making sure to only wet the area that needs cleaning. Repeat until the area has no traces of discharge.
   • Make sure not to leave traces of soap on the rabbit. This can cause skin irritation.
   • Do not use cold water; make sure it is warm enough. Otherwise, the rabbit may start to shiver and go into shock.
4. Blow dry the coat with the hair dryer on the lowest setting. It is not a good idea to let the rabbit's body air dry as the risk of developing a problem increases the longer the rabbit stays wet. Use a hairdryer on a warm, low setting (not the cold or hot setting) and blow a few times over the wet part of the back of the rabbit. Continue until the coat is completely dry there.
   • Realize that it is very easy for your rabbit to become frightened by the sound of a hair dryer. If so, make sure you have a super absorbent towel handy that is soft. Rub your rabbit until he / she is dry.
5. Also use this method for cleaning dried urine. Some rabbits are a bit incontinent, unable to hold their pee. Older rabbits or rabbits with an underlying medical problem regularly have this problem. Dried urine can build up on the coat, give off a bad odor and make the rabbit feel uncomfortable. If this happens to your rabbit,
   • Clean the area using a cotton ball dipped in water.
   • Dry the area thoroughly with a hair dryer on a warm, low setting.
     • Again, your rabbit can get scared! If necessary, use a super soft towel or blanket.
   • Take your rabbit to the vet for treatment for the underlying problem causing it to be incontinent.
6. Keep the coat trimmed so the rabbit doesn't get clammy. Long hair around the rabbit's anus and underside can trap moisture close to the rabbit's skin. Shaving or clipping the coat in these areas will help the skin dry faster and keep the area clean. Ask your vet how best to maintain the coat on your specific rabbit breed.

Method 3 of 3: Treat against fleas

1. Choose a flea remedy formulated for rabbits. If you notice that your rabbit has fleas, talk to your vet about using a rabbit flea solution. Advantage, Program and Revolution all have a flea remedy specially formulated to help rabbits get rid of their fleas without harming their delicate skin or otherwise affecting their system.
   • Do not use a solution for dogs or cats, even if it says it is safe for use in rabbits as well. It is better to use a formula specially formulated for rabbits.
   • Never immerse your rabbit in a flea remedy of any kind, even if the packaging suggests it is safe to do.
2. Apply the recommended dose between the rabbit's shoulder blades. Follow your vet's instructions or on the package to apply a small amount of the liquid solution between your rabbit's shoulder blades. This is the safest place to apply as the rabbit cannot reach it and scratch or lick it away.
   • Most flea remedies require multiple applications over a month.
   • If you are unsure of how much to apply, talk to your vet before doing what.
3. Use a flea comb to remove fleas and nits. If you're looking for a natural solution, an old-fashioned flea comb can do the job. To use this method, it is important to have a good relationship with your rabbit, as combing out fleas and nits takes quite some time. Have a partner hold your rabbit while you meticulously brush through its coat to get out fleas and nits. Make sure to cover the rabbit's entire body.
   • Check the rabbit again after a few days. In most cases, you will have to repeat this process two or three times to get rid of any new nits that hatch as well. After a few weeks, the fleas and their nits should be gone.
   • Sterilize the flea comb between turns by boiling it in water for five minutes.
4. Thoroughly clean the rabbit's habitat. If you found fleas on your rabbit, they probably infected his living space (and yours) too. Sterilize the rabbit's cage and replace the bedding several times during the treatment period. Boil the rabbit's trays and toys for five minutes to remove all traces of fleas, and wash blankets in very hot water. If fleas have infested your carpet, do the following:
   • Cover the carpet with a layer of diatomaceous earth or baking soda. Leave it there for eight hours or overnight. This dries out the flea eggs.
   • Vacuum up the powder and throw away the vacuum cleaner bag.
   • Repeat this process every few days until all traces of fleas have disappeared.
   • When your rabbit is safely in its cage, you can also catch live fleas by placing night lamps low to the ground. Place a container of soapy water under any light, and the fleas will jump in. Remove the bins before releasing your rabbit to play.
5. Do not use flea bombs or other external chemical agents. Rabbits are very sensitive to chemicals, and the harsh pesticides used in flea bombs are no exception. Avoid using any kind of chemical solution near your rabbit. If you think a flea bomb or spray is the only way to get rid of the fleas, keep your rabbit in a safe place during treatment. Thoroughly clean the room with water and white vinegar to remove any pesticide residue before allowing your rabbit back into the area.

Tips

• If for any reason your rabbit is wet down to its skin, it is important to get it dry as soon as possible to avoid hypothermia. You can use a hairdryer, but it should be used on the lowest setting and rocked back and forth so that the heat doesn't concentrate in one place for too long. Control the heat you direct on your rabbit by placing your hand in the path of the airflow. Rabbits are extremely sensitive to heat, so a high temperature for some time can cause heat stroke and death.
• Talk to your rabbit in a calm, happy tone while cleaning it.
• Only wash your rabbit when absolutely necessary. Rabbits lick themselves clean, just like cats, swallowing the loose hair, so we need to brush them less often.

Warnings

• Handling is extremely stressful for most rabbits, as they are prey animals. Try to do the grooming as soon as possible so that they can get back on the ground with all four legs and feel in control of the situation again.