Cornstarch baby powder on matted fur?

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This topic has 5sd replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 10 months ago by lashkay.

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- 07/04/2010 at 9:24 AM
  lashkay
  Participant
  1548 posts
  While I generally subscribe to “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” I’m thinking of something I think it was Dana Krempel sp? said before in conjunction with tending to these obstinate impossible mats Dustor has on his neck and hind end…where she advised using cornstarch baby powder on these burly mats, letting it set a bit, then working the mat apart as the cornstarch baby powder is supposed to act as a non-toxic lubricant on the knotted up hair and makes it easier to work out the tangle. These clumps that Dustor has on his neck are right at his neck with no clear space between knot and skin. I think he knots them up when he scratches there, the fast action of his whirling rear leg just snarls the wispy hair there up. Has anyone ever used the cornstarch baby powder on mats in their pet’s hair? When I just touched the knot, he flinched so I’m not about to take scissors to it. I’d love to hear from those who have followed Dana’s suggestion and used this remedy with success and any tips you can offer. Thanks!
- 07/04/2010 at 10:36 AM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I’ve used cornstarch alone and recommend it. I don’t know about the baby powder though. I am personally allergic to scents, so once I learned about cornstarch, I tried it as a powder for myself and it’s very nice. You can get it in the grocery store in the baking aisle. It comes boxed usually. For bunnies plain is good, though the baby powder kind is probably extra safe as well. I have used cornstarch out of the box on my bunny’s butt, and it is a good way to dry off the fur. I think there is absolutely no harm in sprinkling the clumps to absorb the clusters and work them out. I’d say go ahead and try it.
- 07/04/2010 at 1:49 PM
  lashkay
  Participant
  1548 posts
  As I recall, Dana said either the scented or unscented cornstarch baby powder can be used. I checked both my grocery store and Walgreens and the only kind both carried were scented. All of them said “with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, cornstarch and fragrance and one or two other ingredients I can’t recall. What concerned me is that they all said “keep out of reach of children, if swallowed, call poison control” I just can’t bring myself to sprinkle something considered a poison on my bunny where he could lick the fur and his scratching foot and get it on his tongue. If they sold it in a health food store, I wouldn’t hesitate. But it’s doubtful I’ll find baby powder in a health food store. Would it be possible to ask Dana Krempel (I don’t know if I’ve spelled her name correctly?) about this? I’d ask is it the combination of ingredients that makes it a lubricant on hair or what is the ingredient(s) that makes it a lubricant as opposed to plain cornstarch? Otherwise, I’ll just try the plain cornstarch. Thank you, RabbitPam, you were very helpful.
- 07/04/2010 at 11:07 PM
  lashkay
  Participant
  1548 posts
  By way of following up, RabbitPam… and anyone interested in cornstarch baby powder for lubricating fur mats, I found an organic completely unscented cornstarch baby powder in a vitamin store as I’m leary of the poison warning on those sold in grocery stores. The organic one contains chamomile, calendula, aloe, cornstarch, all vegetarian ingredients. Calendula and aloe are safe for bunnies?
- 07/08/2010 at 3:29 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I don’t know if they are safe, actually.
  since it’s the other end, so to speak, and only going to be ingested when the bunny does some post dry bath self cleaning, I think I’d stick with the simple corn starch. It feels really nice on your own skin, too. Why pay more?
- 07/08/2010 at 4:54 PM
  lashkay
  Participant
  1548 posts
  You’re right, RabbitPam, they’re not safe. At least, aloe isn’t, it was on a list of poisonous plants to bunnies. I’ll stick with the cornstarch. Thanks!
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