Today, rabbits are bred not only for fur and meat, but also as pets, so the question of washing them is far from last. But is it possible to bathe these animals and is it necessary? This will be discussed in this article.

Can rabbits be washed?

There is no unequivocal ban on washing rabbits (this applies to ornamental and ordinary animals), but in any case, this is not a natural procedure for them, which means that severe stress cannot be excluded, which in some cases led to the death of fluffies.

In addition, frequent washing will erase skin moisturizing grease, and this, in turn, threatens hair loss and increased itching.

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

Of course, there are situations when swimming is indispensable. Cleaning is subject to the wool of animals that stained it with toxic substances or fell very heavily in the mud, because in such cases, licking all the pollution out of themselves, they will only harm the body.

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

Do regular, non-decorative rabbits bathe? - probably not, but here it all depends on the situation: sometimes water procedures are simply necessary for the animal to feel good, of course, if the benefits received exceed the possible risk to his health (why it is believed that you should not wash - it was already said).

Did you know? An ordinary average rabbit is able to jump 1 meter high and 3 meters long, but only if its physical activity for many years has not been limited to a tight cage.

When can I start swimming?

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

This is typical for the following cases:

• in case of severe pollution, when it takes a long time for the animal to independently clean itself or if it is very undesirable for its health (for example, if the wool came into contact with chemical products);
• with diarrhea (trying to get rid of sticky feces, the rabbit can eat 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 body of the animal and legs, if they came into contact with urine);
• after heat stroke as a result of overheating (cold water will help normalize the condition of the fluffy).

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

How to wash a rabbit?

Sometimes just one water is enough to wash away the dirt, but if you want to tidy up the clumping rabbit hair, then you have to choose an effective detergent.

Human shampoo will not work here, just like an animal shampoo that contains sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfate (this substance is dangerous for the health of your furry pet).

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

It will also be useful for you to learn how to catch the runaway rabbit.

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

In addition to shampoo, in the same pet store or veterinary pharmacy you can buy a special “rabbit” spray that needs to 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 shampoo, but at the same time it perfectly fights against skin problems and prevents the appearance of parasites, the main thing when applying is not to get the animal in the eye.

As an alternative to standard shampoo, you can use a dry substance, which is useful when there is no standard detergent on hand. All that the owner needs is to put the powder on the coat and after evenly spreading it over the entire surface of the body, comb it gently with a comb.

Small impurities will disappear immediately, and your rabbit's coat will become soft and silky.

Important! Whatever washing product you choose, it is important to use it very carefully, limiting contact with the eyes, ears and face of the animal. If it’s difficult to handle it yourself, you should ask someone for help.

How to bathe rabbits at home

If the animal monitors its hair well, then there is no point in completely wetting it. In this case, partial cleaning of only the contaminated place is suitable, but, be that as it may, each procedure should be performed in compliance with a clear order of the actions performed.

Completely

Before moving on to bathing the 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 eliminates the possibility of drafts.

The washing itself involves the following manipulations:

1. Carefully place your pet in a basin of water, gradually immersing his entire body in a liquid.
2. Gently hold the puffer with one hand, and moisten all parts of the body except the head with the other.
3. When the animal turns out to be completely wet, gently apply a small amount of shampoo to the coat and spread it with a gentle massaging motion over the entire surface (except for the head).
4. Rinse the shampoo, making sure that water does not get into the ears and face of the animal. It’s good if you pre-cook another bowl of clean warm water, where you can transplant the eared after the “bath” with shampoo.
5. Make sure that all the shampoo is washed away, otherwise in the process of licking chemicals will get inside, causing intoxication of the body.
6. Wrap a clean baby in a soft towel, and then wipe with another one: the first will absorb the flowing water, and the second will dry the wool.

Important! No need to rub the rabbit hard. This will not only scare him, but can also hurt him. It is best if he just sits wrapped up for some time, and gradually dries.

Partially

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

However, in this case, assistance in swimming will be even more relevant, because while one person washes the animal, the second should keep it in a suitable position. For water procedures, and in this case, you can use a small basin with warm water (about +36 ° C), placed in a room without drafts.

You will also need several towels and replaceable water, especially if the dirt on the coat is plentiful and clearly visible.

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

1. Put a little shampoo in a bowl of water and stir until completely dissolved.
2. While holding the animal well with one hand, wet the stained part with water, while making sure that the liquid does not get into the ears, nose or eyes (if it is difficult to handle it yourself, let someone else hold the pet while you wash it).
3. Gently rub the dirty area with foam and rinse, and if necessary, replace the water in the basin.
4. Rinse the coat well and rinse the animal again so that there are no soap traces on it.
5. Wash the fur with a towel and release the rabbit on a clean litter.
6. When washing the desired area, try not to wet clean wool next to it: the larger the area will be wet, the longer it will take to dry the animal so that it does not freeze.

Find out what you can’t feed a rabbit at home.

Can a rabbit be dried with a hairdryer?

Using a hair dryer to dry any animal is very undesirable, because the noise coming from the device will scare him even more. There is no need for additional rabbit stress, and this is not to mention the burns that your pet's delicate skin can get (these animals do not respond well to elevated temperatures).

Expert Advice

The opinion of veterinarians about the possibility of washing rabbits today is divided.

While some categorically do not recommend using this method of purification, others allow a similar possibility, but subject to certain rules:

• the room should be warm enough, not lower than +22 ... + 25 ° С, without drafts;
• the rabbit itself must be completely calm, not scratch, not bite, and especially not squeal;
• only special shampoos intended for delicate rabbit skin should be used as detergents;
• hair dryers and other noisy appliances are best avoided so as not to injure the animal;
• It is necessary to wet the animal’s hair gradually, giving it time to get used to the water (in any case, the head should remain dry);
• shampoo should always be thoroughly washed off, otherwise there is a risk that chemicals will enter the fluffy body during self-cleaning;
• After bathing, it is worth wrapping the rabbit well and keeping it until it is completely dry, and only then release it on the bedding;
• bathing a decorative eared pet should be carried out only in extreme cases: when overheating in the heat or with severe pollution, 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 features - a bifurcated uterus.

In general, both decorative and ordinary rabbits can be called clean animals, which perfectly cope with the task of self-cleaning their coat. This means that it’s 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).