Should a Jersey Wooly be sheared?

[Kate79]

it’s starting to get warm here, and I’m trying to find out if a Jersey wooly rabbit should be sheared or trimmed for summer. I’ve looked around online and I’ve been getting mixed results. Some sites say it will help them keep cool, others say a Jersey Wooly should never be sheared because it makes them more likely to get matted fur as it grows back. I brush him a few times a week to keep him from having excess fur. I plan to keep him in the bedroom for the summer, since it’s the only air conditioned room in my apartment, but I want to make sure he’s comfortable when I’m at work and the air isn’t running.

[LBJ10]

I’ve never shaved mine down, so I don’t really have any experience with how the hair would grow back. I brush mine regularly and I pluck any mats out that I see forming. He just had an explosive shed and it seems like his hair isn’t quite as thick now. I guess he was getting ready for spring.

[Tate]

I don’t have a Jersey Wooly, but I would leave it. You can fill up plastic water bottles with water and then freeze them and leave them in his cage/room. Also, give him a box or any place that provides shade. And maybe a few different water bottles/water bowls around in case he gets extra thirsty. If you notice that he does seem bothered by the heat, you could shave him then.
I’d be worried about nicking his skin if you shave him. Their skin is so thin!

[mossling]

no! not only would it be uncomfortable and traumatic for the bun, but the wool won’t grow back the same. rue’s breeder sometimes trims up her angoras and woolies that are prone to matting, but never shaves them. to keep rue cool, i use frozen water bottles, slate tiles (you can freeze them to make them extra cool), and a fan. i placed the fan so it is blowing just above the rabbits’ cages, but not directly on them. it keeps the air moving and helps it stay cool, but doesn’t disturb the buns.

[Kate79]

ok, thanks. That’s what I figured but since i saw some sites that said you should I wanted to be sure. I’ve already got him set up with a fan blowing over the top of his cage and gave him a frozen water bottle. i’m planning to pick up tiles when I can. I’ve read through the tips on here to keep from over heating, but it was the shave or not question i couldn’t find any information about. Thanks everyone!

[Monkeybun]

I wouldn’t, from experience with a cat my mom used to have. Poor guy had to get shaved one summer, he got himself covered in tree sap. He spent the rest of the summer hiding under a couch, until his fur grew back. He was miserable! I wouldn’t shave, or trim, a critter unless it is absolutely necessary.

[Author]

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