MM,
I don’t know where the other posts are, but I can give you a quick rundown of how I gave Spockie baths. It may be a Rex thing, but anyway:
You want to keep it partial if possible, and never his head and ears.
I used natural fragrance free soap, very mild, but you might want to try the Dr. Bonner baby unscented liquid soap. Just a drop, but it’s pretty natural.
If you can do it in the sink in the bathroom or kitchen that’s better, otherwise, a plastic dishpan thing you wash dishes in is a good size, inside the tub.
Put about an inch of warm water in the sink and gently stand him in it. If it’s just the back end, hold him under his chest, lifting his front end up out of it slightly, so he’s kind of standing with his butt in the water.
Have a moist warm washcloth ready and put a drop of soap in your hand holding his back end. Gently wash with your hand and the washcloth for the tougher parts to get out. Use a little cup to rinse off along with your hand.
When Spockie was disabled I could run a little stream of water from the faucet because he wasn’t squirming so I could rotate his back end under it to rinse. I think it felt good to him. He was glad to be clean.
Have a large towel ready, Maybe set it on the counter next to the sink. Scoop him up out of the water and set him on the towel, then wrap like a burrito.
I would dry him on my lap inside the towel. After the excess water is off (he’ll look like a fluffy head with a spiked body hairdo) you can put him down in the towel, like on the toilet, and turn a low warm hairblower on him, about a foot away.
Many people blow them dry completely, but I was more comfortable not doing too much and putting him back in his house to dry off himself. He’d lick himself a bit to get his fur fluffed, and be dry fairly soon. Keep his room warm and out of drafts.

Guess that’s all. Not necessarily how everyone does it, but this worked for me.

I had to give Bailey daily bunny butt paths for years.   Bailey could really get some caked on poop on her back end and back legs within a 24 hour period.  - like poo glue. 

The soap I used:  Chlorhexiderm (2% is the mild version)  from my vet and that worked very well to get rid of rock like poo and it never irritated her skin.

WASH: In the beginning, I would add a couple of inches of warm water in the bathroom sink, add a little of the soap, and stick Bailey’s back side in there. At first she would kick at the water and try to push herself out, but she had weak back legs so she couldn’t push too hard and once she realized I securely had her front half she relaxed as I washed her back side and legs.  

RINSE: Then I drained ths soapy water and added fresh water to rinse.  (It also helps if you have a sprayer/or can attach one for rinsing) Then I would dry her by also putting her in a towel in my lap while I watched TV.  

ADVANCED WASH/RINSE with CALM bunny: Bailey got so used to it that she relaxed fully and I could hold her with one hand leaning against my side  and steer her back end underneath a gentle stream of water (which really helped with rinsing)

 DRY:  What I found worked best as far as drying  was to first get the excess moisture with a regular towel, but then what really helped  finish drying was:  I’d place Bailey in my lap in the “trance” position, and then soft paper towels worked very well when I gently rubbed the fur back and forth between my  fingers (with the paper towel of course).  Note – I was careful that the fur was just being rubbed/twisted a bit, but that it did not pull her skin.   This sort of “teased” it dry if that makes sense.   Her backside was left a “little” damp as it was impossible to dry it out fully but the paper towel trick did a great job and it was much less stressful and more gentle then a dryer everyday.   (There are animal dryers that can work well and are gentle – I’ve never used them)

Poo glue – that’s funny!

MM, I do butt baths just about daily with any one of my rabbits but I’m not perfect and just manage to do what I can – sometimes it take a few days to totally clean one bunny butt because it’s about all the rabbit can handle (and me too).

I’ve never used shampoo although I do have some from the vet. I use warm water and my hands (yuck) but it works. I just find shampoo can be hard to wash out.

The problem with rexes is that the poo sticks to their skin because their fur is so think in that area – Emmy is always like that and I think maybe that’s the problem with rexes – no fur around the anal area so it just sticks to the skin.

I have to give Hunny Bunny bummy baths at least once or even twice a week. I have bummy bath songs that I sing to her that rhyme. eg, “bummy bum bum tee dum dum”etc. I sometimes use a mild liquid soap or just rinse her bummy off good with warm water then blot her tail area dry. I hold her on her back and let her bum hang over the sink while my arm pretty much supports her. Her little feetsies start to quiver just before the warm water hits her and then she stops. I don’t know if her quivering is a sign of dread, or excitement. Probably dread over having to listen to my silly bummy wash songs.

Main points are

Do not use human shampoo-dog shampoo is fine, but ours is not;

and do not let them bugger off after the bath-keep them warm until they are dry

First get your supplies ready:

1) A partner! It’s best to have someone help you, even if it’s just to pass the shampoo and towel!

2) Animal shampoo-NEVER use your own shampoo or plain old soap. Use a shampoo specifically designed for pets. I prefer the tearless formula just in case!

3) Two old towels

4) A tub or a sink. Whatever works best for your comfort.

5) A hairdryer that has a low setting

6) A rabbit brush

7) A blanket

Fill the bottom with about two inches of very warm water. Rabbits have warmer internal temperatures then we do so they can get chilled fast in a cool bath. The water should be comfortable on your skin and not cause redness-rabbits’ also have very sensitive skin.

Put your rabbit in the tub and get him wet. If there is a lot of material (poop, dirt, etc) on him give him a few minutes to soak. Rub shampoo in and get a nice lather. Rinse completely-remember they lick themselves to groom so you don’t want them ingesting dried shampoo.

Take your bunny out and ‘towel dry’ with the first towel vigously getting as much water out as you can. Then bundle your rabbit up in the second dry towel and if he’ll let you cuddle up under the blanket you put aside. Rabbits get very cold when they’re wet. If you let him just hop off after a bath, you will find him haunched up chattering in a few minutes time.

When almost dry, use the blowdrier on a cool setting and blowdry. Use your fingers in the fur to ensure the temperature is not too warm. If your fingers hurt, turn it down!

Give your bunny a brushing after the bath, especially on longer furred breeds-they’ll be prone to tangles after a bath!

So glad it went well. Apologies for the liquid baby soap info. – I thought it was OK. My bad memory: I just remembered that I had bought a very expensive pet shampoo from my exotics vet for Spockie. Used very little of it, too.

In answer to your question about them jumping: I used the tub when he was young and strong, wearing clothes I didn’t mind getting wet and basically hanging myself over the side to hold him. When he lost use of his leg, I held him in the sink.

As many of the bunnies sited here seem to do, the don’t struggle much once you’re really in charge. I don’t know whether the whole water experience is startling them into “hold still” mode, or whether it just feels good. I suspect the latter. I do know that after they are clean and dry they definitely feel good. When they are infirm, I believe they cooperate more because they know you are helping them and it is soothing attention with pleasant results. They always try to be clean – you’re just helping them groom. No one likes poopy butt.

liquid baby soap info. – I thought it was OK

I hope it wasn’t me who made you think you were wrong!!! I *tihink* baby shampoo is ok, but not sure I know that herbal essense or head n’ shoulders (ex. our reg shampoo’s) and not ok…but baby stuff-maybe

When they are infirm, I believe they cooperate more because they know you are helping them and it is soothing attention with pleasant results. They always try to be clean – you’re just helping them groom. No one likes poopy butt.

Totally right Rupert is great with his bum washes even though it’s not often -once a month or so-as needed. Chuck needs it more often (dang Noot!) and he is upset at first-but as soon as he realizes-he’s fine. He sits in the sink with his bum in the sink and front end out on the counter-he’s so sweet

And as Pam said-if your confident that’s the best!

Yes, K&K, it WAS you that made me doubt myself. So now I’m going to sick Sammy on you. [”Sammy, see that Forum Leader over there? The one with the zoo in her house? Go get her. She has lots of pet food, too. And (ugh) dandruff! Avoid her Head & Shoulders! When you get back you’ll need a bath. I’ll get out the baby shampoo. LOL!!!!! Bwaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaa!!!!]

Posted By Desma on 11/05/2009 08:10 AM
Her little feetsies start to quiver just before the warm water hits her and then she stops. I don’t know if her quivering is a sign of dread, or excitement. Probably dread over having to listen to my silly bummy wash songs.

Bailey would do that as well.  I talked to my vet about it and I wish I could remember the specific detailed explanation, but  my vet said it was not an “emotional” reaction.  It is a physical reaction –  one that some bunnies will have when their feet are not touching the ground, especially if the bunny is on are on its back.   Something to do with their nervous system.  If it doesn’t stop on it’s own, you can get it to stop by placing the palm of your hand gently on their feet.  That would work for Bailey, though many times it would start up again after a bit, – normally when I shifted my weight, (bunny butt washing can be hard on humans backs!) but I just did the palm thing again and it settled those quivering feet. 

Yes, K&K, it WAS you that made me doubt myself. So now I’m going to sick Sammy on you. [”Sammy, see that Forum Leader over there? The one with the zoo in her house? Go get her. She has lots of pet food, too. And (ugh) dandruff! Avoid her Head & Shoulders! When you get back you’ll need a bath. I’ll get out the baby shampoo. LOL!!!!! Bwaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaa!!!!]

OMG I am sorry ARGGGG *struggles against sammy biting my neck* (Is Sammy a vampire?)

heheh :p