Grooming timeeeeeeeee

[thatkiidsean]

Hey guys!

I am looking forward to this one thing that everyone else has seemed to dread: grooming!

What is the best way to groom a bun? Is there a "best brush" I can use?

Also, is there a specific way to cut a rabbit's nails? (Perhaps a video somewhere would be nice!) Do you guys have any tips on how to keep a rabbit calm? Or should I take it to the vet to get them cut?

In addition, what is considered proper dental care for your rabbit? If you have any recommendations, please let me know!

And of course, if I'm forgetting any grooming needs, please let me know also!

:sweep

 

[Bville]

My bunnies don't really like to be brushed, but what gets the most fur out for me is the Zoom Groom for cats.

Here's a link to a video that I found very helpful in learning to cut my rabbit's nails: http://rabbit.org/how-to-trim-your-rabbits-nails/ Your vet could also show you how they do it and/or do it for you.

Rabbit's teeth grown continually, but chewing hay and their chew toys helps keep them from getting too long. Your vet should check the teeth to make sure they don't have any misaligned or overgrown teeth.

 

[Troller]

I had a grooming issue too and all the pet brushed and combs I bought just didnt cut it. I asked my Vet for suggestions and she said men's comb. With chagrin I bought one (I shave my head so I haven't needed one in years) and it absolutely did the trick.

As for nails, I got a dog clipper since rabbits nails curve more like them then cats. My buns are big, so I need my wife's help to do the deed while I hold them, and we do it under really bright light so we can see the quick easily enough. With Xena who has white nails, easy. Conan has black nails which makes it really hard.

 

[thatkiidsean]

Do you guys have any tips on finding and avoiding the quik (sorry if it's misspelled)? If you have any more suggestions, feel free to let me know!

Also, what about the dry shampoo?

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

With white nails, the quick is easy to spot, it is the pink part. Darker nails are more tricky. If you have good light, you can hold the nail up to the light and may see the quick, a flash light could work too. I also find that the nail gets smoother the closer to the quick you get. So if you just clip the tip, it will be more rough, but closer to the quick it gets smoother. Taking a little off at a time does help. It is good to have some quick stop power just in case you nick the quick as it helps stop the bleeding.

Rabbits really don't need to be bathed and dry shampoo isn't needed either. Corn starch can be used if needed and just brushed out. Rabbits really do take care of them selves most of the time and just need regular brushing. Unless they get into something toxic, there is another medical reason (usually under vet care), or there have a poopy bum, a bath is not needed.

 

[thatkiidsean]

Could I contact a pet groomer to trim my bums nails? Such as one at Petco or Petsmart or even a local one. Would Lionheads require more brushing? or a trim if their fur gets in their face too much so they don't ingest it?

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

Some groomers will do rabbits, but not all will. Most rabbit vets will do them as well. Since this can be more expensive ($10-20 per trim), you do need to keep on top of it to keep the nails short.

Lionheads can require more brushing, especially around the mane. Most don't have too long fur around the face and aren't apt to be eating it from the face. It could get in the eyes to just be long and need to be trimmed back.

 

[thatkiidsean]

Does anyone have any luck with trimming rabbit hair? If so, what do you use? I've heard the furminator works, but I don't know much about it. For brushing, what is the best type of brush for long-haired and short-haired rabbits?