Can a decorative rabbit be washed and how to bathe it at home?

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Rabbits are cute, lovely creatures that are often turned on to please little kids. However, acquiring a pet is a crucial step, as it involves taking responsibility for the life and health of a new inhabitant of the house. We must provide him with the necessary care at all levels. One of the questions that you should ask yourself before letting the eared into your house is how to wash your rabbit.

How to wash and bathe your rabbit

Can rabbits be washed?

There is no unequivocal prohibition on washing rabbits (this applies to both decorative and ordinary animals), but in any case it is not a natural procedure for them, which means that severe stress cannot be ruled out, which in some cases led to the death of fluffy animals.

In addition, frequent washing will help wipe off the lubricant that moisturizes the skin, and this, in turn, threatens hair loss and increased itching.

In cool rooms, after bathing, the rabbit can catch a cold and then there will be more problems with them, therefore, deciding to wash, take care of the absence of drafts and a suitable air temperature.

Of course, there are situations when bathing is indispensable. The wool of animals that have stained it with toxic substances or have fallen very heavily in the mud is subject to cleaning, because in such cases, licking off all the pollution from themselves, they will only harm the body.

Of course, there is no longer the question of how often to wash, but it is advisable to protect your pet as much as possible from possible contact with pollutants.

Are ordinary, non-decorative rabbits bathed? - rather not, but even here it all depends on the situation: sometimes water procedures are simply necessary for the well-being of the animal, of course, if the benefits obtained exceed the possible risk to its health (why it is considered that it is impossible to wash - it has already been said).

Did you know? An ordinary average rabbit is able to jump 1 meter in height and 3 meters in length, but only if its physical activity was not limited to a cramped cage for many years.

When can I start swimming?

If we are talking about a decorative animal, then they usually switch to cleansing measures only when the appearance of the animal and the condition of its fur are far from ideal.

This is typical for the following cases:

in case of severe pollution, when it will take a long time for the animal to self-clean or it is very undesirable for its health (for example, if the wool has come into contact with chemical products);
with diarrhea (trying to get rid of stuck together feces, the rabbit may eat up its own excrement, which will not affect its well-being in the best way);
with a strong smell of urine (in this case, it is enough to gently wash only the lower part of the animal's body and legs, if they have come into contact with urine);
after heatstroke as a result of overheating (cold water will help normalize the state of the fluffy).

As you can see, in most cases, only partial cleaning of the fur is sufficient, which will be less stressful for the pet.

Getting ready for water treatments

There are several situations when you need to know how you can wash a decorative breed rabbit at home. In nature and at home, animals carefully monitor their own cleanliness. The coat is completely changed twice a year.
Animals bypass reservoirs and never swim, because with any wetting, a thin layer of fat comes off the skin and hair. Unprotected hairs fade, weaken, fall out. Itching, irritation begins.

What means to wash a rabbit?

Sometimes water alone is enough to wash off the dirt, but if you want to tidy up the stuck rabbit fur, then you have to find an effective detergent.

Human shampoo will not work here, as well as animal shampoo containing sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate (this substance is dangerous to the health of your furry pet).

In modern veterinary pharmacies, you can easily find a shampoo designed specifically for decorative rabbits, so you should not wash your pet with a cat or dog product.

It will also be helpful for you to learn how to catch an escaped rabbit.

A special washing series will make the fur of the eared animal more shiny, facilitate combing and prevent downloading.

In addition to shampoo, in the same pet store or veterinary store, you can buy a special "rabbit" spray, which must be applied to the surface of his body and rubbing the composition well with a cloth, comb the coat.

Such a spray will not be able to replace the shampoo, but at the same time it perfectly fights against skin problems and prevents the appearance of parasites, the main thing is not to get into the eyes of the animal when applied.

As an alternative to standard shampoo, you can use dry matter, which comes in handy when you don't have a standard detergent on hand. All the owner needs is to apply the powder to the coat and, after even distribution over the entire surface of the body, gently comb it out with a comb.

Minor dirt will disappear immediately and your rabbit's fur will be soft and silky.

Important! Whichever product you choose to wash, it is important to use it with utmost care, limiting contact with the eyes, ears and muzzle of the animal. If you find it difficult to cope yourself, you should ask someone for help.

How to properly bathe rabbits at home

If the animal follows its fur well, then there is no point in completely wetting it. In this case, partial cleaning of only the contaminated area is suitable, but, be that as it may, each procedure must be carried out in compliance with a clear order of the actions performed.

Completely

Before proceeding to bathing your rabbit, it is important to prepare everything you need for this procedure:

basin;
special shampoo;
several soft towels;
warm water heated to + 36 ... + 40 ° С.

All windows and doors in the room must be tightly closed, which excludes the possibility of drafts.

Washing itself involves performing the following manipulations:

Gently place your pet in a bowl of water, gradually submerging its entire body in the liquid.
With one hand, gently hold the fuzzy, and with the other, wet all parts of the body except the head.
When the animal is completely wet, gently apply a small amount of shampoo to the coat and gently massage it over the entire surface (except for the head).
Rinse off the shampoo, making sure that no water gets into the ears and muzzle of the animal. It is good if you prepare one more bowl of clean warm water in advance, where you can transplant the eared eeyore after the "bath" with shampoo.
Make sure that all the shampoo is rinsed off, otherwise, during the licking process, chemicals will get inside, causing intoxication of the body.
Wrap the clean baby in a soft towel, and then wipe it with another one: the first will absorb the flowing water, and the second will wipe the wool dry.

Important! You don't need to rub the rabbit hard. This will not only scare him, but it can also hurt. It is best if he just sits wrapped up for a while, and gradually dries up.

Partially

If we are talking about a rabbit, then this option is best suited. In order not to injure the animal once again, only paws, tail area or other contaminated parts of the body can be washed.

However, in this case, assistance in bathing will be even more relevant, because while one person washes the animal, the second must hold it in a suitable position. For water procedures, in this case, you can use a small basin of warm water (about +36 ° C), placed in a draft-free room.

You will also need a few towels and a change of water, especially if the dirt on the coat is heavy and noticeable.

The very process of "partial" bathing takes place according to the following scheme:

Put some shampoo in a bowl of water and stir until completely dissolved.
Holding the animal well with one hand, wet the stained part with water, while making sure that no liquid gets into the ears, nose or eyes (if it is difficult to cope yourself, have someone else hold the pet while you wash it).
Gently rub the dirty area with foam and rinse and replace the water in the basin if necessary.
Rinse the coat well and rinse the animal again so that there are no soap traces on it.
Dry the fur with a towel and release the rabbit onto a clean bedding.
When washing the desired area, try not to wet the clean wool next to it: the larger the area is wet, the longer it will take to dry the animal so that it does not freeze.

Find out what you shouldn't feed your rabbit at home.

Partial wash

Having figured out how to properly bathe a decorative rabbit, you need to understand what to do in case of minor contamination. It should be noted that this method is suitable only when the animal has stained a separate area of its body.

To wash, you need a bowl or tub filled with a little water. Taking the animal in your hands, lower it into the container. Then, thoroughly lather the contaminated area and rinse with plenty of clean warm water. During this time, you can keep the rabbit in weight. At the end of the procedure, blot the pet's fur with a towel and dry it with a hair dryer. After that, you need to carefully comb the animal with a soft brush.

Novice rabbit breeders often wonder if it is okay to bathe a rabbit, and if so, how often. This procedure is optional, but if the owner decided to carry it out, you need to know in advance how to do it: what are the ways to wash rabbits and what means to use at the same time. All this is below in the article. It will also be considered if the decorative rabbit can be washed or if this hygiene procedure is intended only for productive livestock.

Expert advice

Veterinarians are divided over the possibility of washing rabbits today.

While some strongly advise against using this method of cleansing, others allow a similar possibility, but in compliance with certain rules:

the room should be warm enough, not lower than + 22 ... + 25 ° С, without drafts;
the rabbit itself should be completely calm, not scratch, bite, and even less squeal;
only special shampoos designed for delicate rabbit skin should be used as washing agents;
it is better not to use hair dryers and other noisy devices so as not to injure the animal;
it is necessary to wet the fur of the animal gradually, giving it time to get used to the water (in any case, the head should remain dry);
the shampoo must always be thoroughly rinsed off, otherwise there is a risk that chemicals will enter the fluffy's body during the self-cleaning process;
after bathing, it is worthwhile to wrap the rabbit well and hold it until it is completely dry, and only then release it onto the litter;
bathing a decorative eared pet should be performed only in extreme cases: when overheating in the heat or when heavily soiled, which also applies to ordinary domestic rabbits;
partial washing of the animal should always be a priority, of course, if your pet is not completely dirty.

Did you know? Rabbits are unique creatures that can bear two offspring at once, conceived from different males and at different times. The explanation for this phenomenon lies in their physiological feature - a bifurcated uterus.

In general, both decorative and ordinary rabbits can be called clean animals that do an excellent job of self-cleaning their wool cover. This means that it is not worth worrying about their hygiene and bathing can be very rare, even once every six months (be sure to comply with all the above rules).

What to do after washing your pet

It is important that the pet does not remain wet after bathing, so it should be thoroughly dried. Better to do this with a towel, you can take several pieces. Fuzzy should be taken and carefully wrapped in a towel, hold for a few minutes so that it absorbs moisture. It is important to dry your pet carefully so as not to damage its coat.

It is imperative to make sure that the pet is completely dry, as it can get sick. If your rabbit is comfortable with loud and harsh sounds, you can use a hairdryer. It is important to set the temperature not too hot, so as not to burn the animal. The hair dryer is required to be kept away from the pet and from its face.

After bathing is over, it is important to pet your pet. Your rabbit can be offended for a long time due to the stress received, and therefore needs hanging care and attention. But it happens that over time they get used to the water and happily go to wash.