Rabbits are good at cleaning themselves and often don't need help getting bathed. In fact, submerging your rabbit in water can be dangerous, as it may shock him or develop hypothermia. Instead of bathing your rabbit, learn how to clean its fur and smell glands, and get rid of fleas. All of these things can be done without putting your rabbit in the water.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning the Rabbit
Step 1. Brush your rabbit to remove any dirt on its fur
Many rabbits like to be brushed, and this is a great way to keep their coat clean. Purchase a brush specifically designed for rabbit hair (usually softer than a brush designed for dogs). Every few days, gently hold your rabbit while brushing its fur. Focus on the area where there is lint or dirt. When you are done, wash the brush and then dry it.
- Make sure you hold the rabbit gently. Not all rabbits like to be brushed. If your rabbit seems startled or bothered by the brush, stop the process and try again another time.
- Rabbits with long fur need a little more grooming. You should be diligent in trimming the rabbit's fur to about 2.5 cm to avoid tangling. This will help reduce hair loss and keep the coat clean.
Step 2. Clean your rabbit when needed
If your rabbit jumps into a puddle, you can help by cleaning it up a bit. Luckily, you can clean it without having to use water. This step is highly recommended because many rabbits are surprised when their bodies are wet. Sprinkle a little cornstarch on the soiled area and use a bristle comb to remove the dirt. Keep combing until the hair is clean.
- Even if your rabbit is completely covered in mud, it is better to use this dry cleaning method instead of bathing it. Clean section by section. Carefully remove any lumps of mud, comb out the fluff, and use cornstarch to remove any small bits of dirt.
- If absolutely necessary, use water to clean a small part of the fur. Wet a cloth with warm water and use it to dampen the fur; try not to let the water touch the rabbit's skin. When the fur is clean, use a hair dryer on a cool setting to gently dry your rabbit's fur. Rabbits have a normal body temperature between 38-39 degrees Celsius. Because rabbits' skin is very delicate and rabbits are very sensitive to heat, never use a hairdryer with a setting higher than “warm,” and you should always check the temperature of the air in contact with the rabbit's skin by placing your hand between the rabbit's skin and the hairdryer..
Step 3. Use a mat splitter for clumped fur
If your rabbit has lumps in its fur, the best way to fix it is to use a mat splitter. This tool gently fixes lumps without hurting the rabbit. Avoid using scissors; Rabbits are restless, and it's possible you might hurt them while cleaning them.
Step 4. Trim your rabbit's nails
This cleaning task is important for rabbits who spend most of their time indoors. When rabbits don't have the opportunity to trim their own nails by digging outdoors, their nails can grow long and become sharp. Use rabbit nail clippers to treat your rabbit's nails, or ask your vet to do it at your next appointment.
- Don't remove your rabbit's paws. Rabbits get infected easily, and removing their paws exposes their hands to bacteria.
- Make sure your rabbit's living space is always kept clean and dry. This is important so that the rabbit's feet are always healthy.
Step 5. Do not submerge your rabbit in water
Dousing a rabbit with water can cause the cute animal to become hypothermic or startle, both of which can be fatal. Some unique rabbits have no problem with water; There are some rabbit owners who are surprised by the fact that their beloved rabbit loves to swim. However, if your rabbit shows that he's not interested in water, it's best not to risk getting him wet. Rabbits are very sensitive and even a single bath can cause permanent damage.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Rabbit's Olfactory Glands
Step 1. Clean the area around her anus using a cotton swab dipped in water
Rabbits have olfactory glands around their anus, and their droppings can clump together and start to smell bad after a while. To clean this area, dip a cotton swab in warm water. Wipe this area to clean all the dirt. If you repeat it often enough, you don't need to clean it again.
- Your rabbit may be tense and restless when you clean this area. Ask someone to help you by holding and petting your rabbit while you clean this part of the olfactory glands.
- Rabbits also have olfactory glands under their chins, but these do not produce an unpleasant odor and do not require cleaning.
Step 2. Purchase a rabbit-safe shampoo at a pet store
This shampoo is safer than regular shampoo.
Step 3. Use soap only when absolutely necessary
If the dirt has been clumping together for a long time, you may need more than just water to clean it. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a few drops of baby shampoo or castile soap. Dip a cotton swab in the solution and use the cotton swab gently to clean the area around the rabbit's anus. Be careful and wet only the areas that need cleaning. Repeat this process until there are no more lumps of dirt.
- Make sure you don't leave soap on your rabbit. The remaining soap that sticks can cause skin irritation.
- Do not use cold water; make sure your water is warm enough. Otherwise, your rabbit may get goosebumps and be startled.
Step 4. Use a hairdryer on your rabbit only on the lowest setting
It's not good to let the rabbit dry with the wind alone. The longer your rabbit is wet, the greater the risk. Use a hairdryer on a warm, low setting (not a hot or cold setting) and pass several times through the wet rabbit's anus. Continue until the fur in that area is completely dry.
Step 5. Also use this method to clean dried urine
Some rabbits cannot hold their urine properly. Old rabbits or rabbits with medical problems usually have this problem. Dried urine can clump in the fur, cause an unpleasant odor, and make the rabbit uncomfortable. If this happens to your rabbit:
- Clean the area with a cotton swab dipped in water.
- Dry the area thoroughly using a hairdryer on a warm, low setting.
- Take your rabbit to the vet to be treated for a problem that is causing it to be unable to hold its urine.
Step 6. You will need to keep trimming the coat to keep it short so your rabbit doesn't get damp
The long fur around the anus and the bottom of the rabbit can moisturize the rabbit's body. Shaving this area or trimming it short can help the skin on the rabbit's underside to dry faster and keep this area clean. Ask your vet about how to care for the fur of your breed of rabbit.
Method 3 of 3: Cleaning Ticks
Step 1. Choose a flea solution specially designed for rabbits
If you notice that your rabbit has fleas, talk to your veterinarian about using a flea solution designed specifically for rabbits. Advantage, Program and Revolution are specially designed to get rid of fleas on rabbits without harming their delicate skin or otherwise affecting their systems.
- Don't use a solution designed for cats or dogs even if it says it's safe for rabbits too. It's best if you use a solution specifically designed for rabbits.
- Never immerse your rabbit in any type of flea solution, even if it says it's safe to do so.
Step 2. Use the recommended dose between your rabbit's shoulder blades
Follow the directions from your veterinarian or from the package to apply a small amount of the solution between your rabbit's shoulder blades. This is the safest place to use the solution because your rabbit can't reach the area and scratch or lick it.
- Most flea solutions should be used several times a month.
- If you're not sure how much solution you need to use, talk to your vet first before you do anything else.
Step 3. Use a flea comb to get rid of fleas
If you prefer a natural solution, you can use a flea comb. In order for you to use this method, it is very important that you have a good relationship with your rabbit, as combing for fleas can be quite time consuming. Have someone hold your rabbit while you carefully comb your rabbit's fur to remove fleas. Make sure you comb your rabbit's entire body.
- Have your rabbit checked again after a few days. In most cases, you will need to repeat this process two or three times to remove the newly hatched lice from the eggs. After a few weeks, the fleas on your rabbit should be completely gone.
- When you have finished cleaning, remove the flea comb by soaking it in boiling water for five minutes.
Step 4. Clean the living space of your rabbit thoroughly
If you find fleas on your rabbit, they may have taken up residence on your rabbit (and possibly yours) too. Clean your rabbit's cage and change the sheets several times during the treatment period. Soak your rabbit's dishes and toys in boiling water for five minutes to completely remove the fleas, and wash the blanket in very hot water. If fleas have infested your carpet, do the following:
- Clean your carpet with a layer of diatomaceous earth or baking soda. Leave it for eight hours or overnight. These powders can dry out nits.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the powder, then discard the bag.
- Repeat this process every few days until all the fleas are gone.
- When your rabbit is in its cage, you can catch live fleas by using a night light near the floor. Place a bowl of soapy water under each lamp, and fleas will get into the bowl. Remove the bowl before you remove the rabbit from the cage.
Step 5. Do not use flea bombs or other chemicals
Rabbits are quite sensitive to chemicals, and the heavy pesticides used in flea bombs are no exception. Avoid using chemical solutions of any kind on your rabbit. If you feel that a bomb or flea spray is the only way to get rid of fleas, place your rabbit in a safe place while you are in the process of using it. Clean the room thoroughly with water and white vinegar to remove any pesticides before you introduce your rabbit into the area.
Tips
- If your rabbit accidentally gets wet to its skin, it's very important to dry it as quickly as possible to avoid hypothermia. You can use a hairdryer, but you need to set it on a low setting and move it back and forth so the heat doesn't stay focused on one area for too long. Check the heat coming out of the hair dryer by placing your hand between the hair dryer and your rabbit's skin. Rabbits are also very sensitive to heat, so prolonged high heat can cause your rabbit to overheat and die.
- Talk to your rabbit in a calm, happy voice when you clean it.
- Clean your rabbit only when necessary. Rabbits, like cats, love to lick themselves, swallowing loose hair, so we don't have to clean them too often.
