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Forum DIET & CARE Major Grooming Woes – Licorice (Jersey Wooly)

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    • Katscarpena
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        No matter what I do – Licorice just gets more matted. I am at a complete loss. Vet says – groomer. Groomers say “we don’t do rabbits.” I cut, and brush, and try and try – he is now biting – HARD. I have a slicker brush, a comb, the “furminator” (Which he DESPISES and will no longer allow. He attacks it) and  a de-matting tool (hooked looking.

        What the heck am I doing wrong? We kept him mat free about 4 months post neuter. (March – Apr – May- June) When the vet agreed to shave the little bit that was still matted on his back side/haunches. Then July hit – it’s brutal again. I spend no less than an hour a day working on him, but it’s really beginning to stress him out big time.

        D@mn Jersey Wooly! LOL  And to think we found him…

        Thoughts? ideas?


      • Roberta
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          OK… You need to phone around some of the rabbit showers clubs and groups… They are bound to have people in your area who show rabbits and if they show rabbits they are going to have grooming skills… 3 Times a year should do it for good care… unless you want nails done too then it would be 4 times a year. Piglet gets a scissor trim followed by a light shave to even things out.


        • Katscarpena
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            Ok, we are going to the Erie County Fair this weekend. I am thinking about trying to connect with some of the 4-H folks there. They have tons of show animals; including a lot of rabbits. I know there are always at least a few Angoras around. I’d actually never seen a Jersey Wooly before finding our little guy.

            Seriously think of calling a different Vet too. There is one a tad more rural a few people around have recommended – but it’s a decent drive. Might be time to get a second opinion though.


          • LBJ10
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              I can’t effectively use a brush on Wooly. I use a hair buster comb and I can control how much I’m pulling my holding onto the hair while I tease stuff out.

              If Licorice is anything like Wooly, then he has a couple of BIG sheds per year. Wooly’s fur will be pretty low maintenance for months and then he will suddenly start blowing his coat. The loose fur will start sliding down the guard hairs in large chunks. I have to brush him every day during that time, otherwise his fur will mat like crazy. Even when I am on top of it, there will still be mats. If they are too tough to get out, I usually just say forget it and snip them off.


            • Roberta
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                Just looked about a bit and Jersey Woolies are very similar to French Angoras… Not sure what the exact difference is but the colourings and fur look identical….. French Angoras have a really soft thick underfleece that causes the matting.. Before I found my current groomer Piglet had a patch that almost turned to felt… I would spend hours every night with a pair of surgical scissors making little snips a milimeter at a time. I eventually managed to remove a huge portion of his coat… It must have been such a relief for him.


              • LBJ10
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                  The breed was created by crossing Nethies with French angoras. They are supposed to have guard hairs, which prevent matting. I really only have issues when Wooly is shedding because the loose fur will literally slide down the guard hairs in clumps. If it isn’t brushed out, then it builds up and mats. When he isn’t shedding though, he’s fairly low maintenance.


                • Katscarpena
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                    I think that is what it is – when he hits a “shed” point, it’s unmanageable. The rest of the time it’s fine. And Roberta – that is what is happening. He is getting felted down. =(


                  • LBJ10
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                      That’s what it sounds like to me. He just sheds everything at once like Wooly does. The only thing to do is try to keep up with it as best you can. Like I said, I don’t overly stress about it though. If there is a mat, I simply cut it off. You have to be careful though.


                    • Katscarpena
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                        Exactly. Plus, I do cut them off. It suddenly goes from one or two – to his entire back end/haunches very quickly. I believe I am going to have to get his back end shaved – or do it myself. He’s very tolerant of me – not so much at all of my husband. Gave him a nasty wound right on his chin over a grooming session!

                        I’ve found I have to go to him. Where ever he is already at and sleeping/hanging – if he’ll stay with you there, you can send someone for the brush and scissors. Otherwise, you risk a nasty little nip if you try to pick him up and take him else where to be groomed. It’s like he knows. LOL


                      • Eepster
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                          Have you tried gently plucking him by hand when he’s blowing his coat. Not pulling hard enough to yank out the still rooted hair, but just plucking off the loose stuff before it starts sliding.


                        • Katscarpena
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                            Ok, so 4-H folks were semi-helpful.

                            Only one guy seemed genuinely on par with rabbits as house pets. The rest seemed to think the problem was that Licorice is inside in a plastic bottom cage, when he should be in an outdoor hutch with a wire bottom. They were saying the reason for the matting is the bedding and environment – which they said is “artificial” and disrupting his natural shed cycle.

                            The helpful guy said we should just shave him down. He said Jersey Woolies are a crossbreed and as a result, some don’t grow the “guard hairs” needed that keep angora’s coats mat free. He said we need to start “pulling” him – which I am assuming is what Eepster means. He showed us on one there. (Who was not amused! lol)

                            I was just very discouraged overall by the attitudes of some people there. I was looking for help with a pet, not a show rabbit or a farm animal. I think their attitude about animals was just different overall than ours is – probably because when you have so many, they lose some of the personalization you get when you only have 3.


                          • Katscarpena
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                              Ok, so 4-H folks were semi-helpful.

                              Only one guy seemed genuinely on par with rabbits as house pets. The rest seemed to think the problem was that Licorice is inside in a plastic bottom cage, when he should be in an outdoor hutch with a wire bottom. They were saying the reason for the matting is the bedding and environment – which they said is “artificial” and disrupting his natural shed cycle.

                              The helpful guy said we should just shave him down. He said Jersey Woolies are a crossbreed and as a result, some don’t grow the “guard hairs” needed that keep angora’s coats mat free. He said we need to start “pulling” him – which I am assuming is what Eepster means. He showed us on one there. (Who was not amused! lol)

                              I was just very discouraged overall by the attitudes of some people there. I was looking for help with a pet, not a show rabbit or a farm animal. I think their attitude about animals was just different overall than ours is – probably because when you have so many, they lose some of the personalization you get when you only have 3.


                            • LBJ10
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                                Do you think Licorice is lacking the guard hairs?

                                I wouldn’t be too bothered by them, it will only upset you and it won’t accomplish anything. Unfortunately, that is just how 4H is (from my experience anyway). At least you were able to get some information. You can pluck, but I do find that they tend to not like it. LOL As Eepster said, you have to make sure you’re just pulling on what is loose and ready to come off. It requires more patience too.


                              • Katscarpena
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                                  LBJ10, I was only bothered by the lady ranting about Rabbit House Society. She was inconsiderate. We know the rural attitude regarding animals – we own property in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, and frankly – they just have a different understanding of husbandry and farm life overall. I can respect that. It was just her snark I didn’t enjoy. LOL I know I’m “city folk” but that doesn’t mean I’m animal stupid.

                                  The guy who was helpful – was genuinely trying to help. I do think Licorice is possibly lacking some of the guard hairs. Right now I’m still trying to gradually and gently pull/snip off the mats. I think I need to go get the clippers form my sister. Her Persian has very fine hair and thin skin – and is even only slightly bigger than Licorice. So I think my sister is experienced enough to help me sheer him.


                                • Eepster
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                                    We once had a cat with a very long under coat, but short guard hairs. He would mat if we tried to comb or brush him, but kept himself fine when left to his own devices, except for his underarms, which we would snip the mats from.


                                  • Katscarpena
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                                      I am starting to think less interference = better in his case. =( Live and learn I suppose!


                                    • LBJ10
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                                        Are you giving up on the grooming?
                                        I hate to say this, but sometimes it’s just best to have them shaved so you can “start over” from scratch.


                                      • Katscarpena
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                                          LBJ10 – yep. Going to shave him this weekend. I think he’ll actually be ok with it. I’m going to give him dried fruit to distract him, should only take a minute. he is a tiny thing. =) My sister will help. She is great with her cat.


                                        • Katscarpena
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                                            LBJ10 – yep. Going to shave him this weekend. I think he’ll actually be ok with it. I’m going to give him dried fruit to distract him, should only take a minute. he is a tiny thing. =) My sister will help. She is great with her cat.

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                                        Forum DIET & CARE Major Grooming Woes – Licorice (Jersey Wooly)