Shedding

[petkeeper]

Hello all!!

Okay I have a question for all you rabbit experts out there!I have a mini-rex, named Rex, who when he sheds looksterrible. He gets a big patch on him where there is newgrowth but he almost looks bald!! I know this is a normalevent for bunnies they shed!! Is there anything that can bedone or fed to them to help them through this phase. My otherbunny who is a holland lop doesn't seem to loose as much fur...allrabbits are different I know so shedding will also bedifferent. I just feel bad for my little Rexy boy.He is very healthy and happy, but I thought maybe I should be givinghim something I am not during this time!!

Oh also I have another question...I have just aquired an outdoor hutchfrom a friend of mine and I am going to clean it all down and let therabbits out for play time in it. My rabbit are indoor rabbitsand will remain that way but I wanted a safe place to put them for somefresh air. Is there anything I should do to introduce them tothe outside so they don't get scared. Just to describe thehutch it is a house style with a lift up roof, and a large run out theback of it. I just want them to be out with use when we areout. I don't want them to have a heart attack, because theyhave never been outside.



Thank you in advance for you advice.



Shannon

 

[ayglnu13]

Hello

If you dont already brush your rabbit Iwould suggest brushing your bun, or even combing it It takes out allthe hair that is ready to fall out. I also wet my hands and run itthrough their fur, your hands get all hairy but it takes a lot of hairout. When I do that I usually have the hose running so I can rinse thehair off my hands and then do it again.

Also while they are shedding make sure togive them extra hay so that the hair wont get stuck in their digestivesystems. You can also use papaya (dried, tablets, or raw) or pumkin tohelp with getting rid of all the hair in their systems.

As for getting them used to the outside, Iwould just take them out on a nice day (not to hot and not to cold) andjust sit out there with them, if they like it let them explore, if theydont just bring them in after a couple minutes so it wont stress themout, and then every day gradually bring them out a couple minutesmore.

~Amy



Here is a pic of one of my buns chillin outside

 

[imported_Austin]

To help cut down on shedding, use only thelowest protein feed needed by that rabbit to remain healthy.Most pet stores sell feed in the 17 - 18% range which is more than theaverage rabbit needs. It just forces the fur to 'mature' atan earlier time and forces it to molt more often. Mostrabbits that are not reproducing will do fine with 14 - 16%, and itwill help cut down on the chubbiness seen in alot of petrabbits. My show rabbits are on a 15% protein show formulaand even when they molt, you barely notice it and the molt is more evenrather than in big patches. Genetics also play a bigpart. Some rabbits are just genetically unable to hold ontotheir coats for any significant period of time while others can goforever between coats. A lower protein feed willdrastically reduce the molting for a rabbit that always seems toshedding. If you cannot find a lower protein feed, cut theamount of the feed you feed now and free feed grass hay.