My Furminator has scratched my bunny's skin!!!

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 21sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 5 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 06/13/2020 at 7:26 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  Hi, everyone.
  
  I was just grooming my bunny, and noticed that I have accidently scratched her skin with my new FURminator. It started bleeding a little, and I feel bad. You all know the feeling. Binki is underweight, and I think that is due to her sore hocks. She has been eating well, (I even raised her pellet amount), but she is still very underweight. Does anyone know what I can do, like if I should stop grooming her, or something? It’s kind of hard to give up the grooming, though because she’s moulting a LOT this year. I just don’t know WHAT to do!
  
  Also, guys, do bald patches due to excessive grooming grow back, or not? Thankyou, so much all of you.
- 06/13/2020 at 9:49 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  The furminator is a pretty harsh grooming tool, they have all kinds of warnings about not going over the same area twice, etc. The bald patches should grow back but keep an eye on the broken skin to make sure it heals without issues.
  
  I would switch to a different tool. Hand plucking the tufts, rubber mitt type brushes, sticky lint rollers, and the kong groom zoom are all much more gentle and would be safer for her.
  
  Are you consulting with a vet about her weight and sore hocks?
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/13/2020 at 10:45 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  Hay, DanaNM,
  
  Thanks so much for getting back to me! I do hand pluck the tufts, but she is just a year old, so I don’t have to do that much. I’ve even tried my lint roller, but it doesn’t actually groom her the way I want it to. What’s the kong groom zoom? No, I haven’t been consulting a vet about her weight or sore hocks. We live in the Middle East, and so it’s super hard to find a rabbit-savvy vet. I have been treating her hocks myself, (with the epsom salt towel pressure method) but I can’t get any chlorhexidine, yet. I’ve also been feeding her 1\2 a cup of pellets daily, and she gets plenty of fresh grass hay. She still doesn’t seem to be putting on weight fast enough. She isn’t spayed; Is it a risk to get her fixed when she is underweight? Sorry, for all the questions! 😉
- 06/13/2020 at 11:37 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  P.S. Does anyone else have any suggestions? I really appreciate it! 😉
- 06/13/2020 at 12:46 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  The groom zoom is a softish rubber groomer. It makes kind of a mess but seems to work pretty well at loosening undercoat fur. If you google it you will find some pictures. The fur buster comb also works well but you still need to be careful with delicate bunny skin.
  
  How old is she? And how bad are her hocks? Are they red and open or just bald spots? I’m a bit worried about the combination of concerns you have (underweight and sore hocks). The vet will be able to tell you whether they can spay her or not. Since you have these multiple concerns, and you are going to need to find a vet anyway for spaying, it might be good to find one now so they can help you with her hocks and figure out why she is underweight (if she is in fact underweight).
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/13/2020 at 12:46 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17027 posts
  I agree with Dana. Caution should be used if grooming with a furminator brush. Bald patches from over grooming should grow back just fine. Dana gave some good suggestions for brushes. Hopefully you can find something that works.
  
  How bad are her sore hocks? Are they open sores or just calluses that are irritated? I’m doubting her sore hocks are causing her to be underweight. I’m wondering if the weight loss and sore hocks are symptoms of something else.
- 06/13/2020 at 4:24 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  Agreed re: the sore hocks. I am used to seeing it associated with overweight; not underweight. If there is an underlying medical condition, resolving that would be the most effective way to help with the weight. Outside that, supplementing feeding Critical Care would be my suggestion for weight gain.
  
  I actually only hand pluck my rabbits. I find it’s a good way to get a feel for where the shedding has happened day to day. The fur will grow back, no worries.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/14/2020 at 12:43 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  Hay, again bunny lovers!
  
  Binki is almost a year and a 1/2, actually. Her hocks aren’t so bad. They’re just red and inflamed, and I haven’t noticed any scabs are blood, or anything. I’m so sorry, I think I might have made a mistake in my first text. Binki’s sore hocks aren’t caused by being underweight, I meant is being underweight a symptom of sore hocks? I do want to try and order Critical Care, (they don’t sell any in the Middle East), and I’ll try and look up the kong groom zoom, DanaNM. Thanks again!
  
  P.S. I think Binki’s hocks might be caused by her walking on tiled floor her whole life. My bedroom has tiled floor, and she lives with me. I did read that tiled floor isn’t good on a rabbit’s hocks, so I’ll try and get some more area rugs, and maybe some memory foam mats. Maybe that’ll help… 🙂
  
  (So Wick, you just handpluck your bunnies? Not groom them?)
- 06/14/2020 at 12:46 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  I’m so relieved to hear that bald patches grow back. I’ll keep an eye on her patches and skin and keep you guys updated!
- 06/14/2020 at 9:12 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  Yes, I don’t use brushes or combs anymore. I just hand groom both my rabbits.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/14/2020 at 9:14 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  I looked up the Groom Zoom, and it looks like it’ll be a lot softer on her skin. Thanks, Dana. What about the HairBuster, though? Is it softer to use then the FURminator?
- 06/14/2020 at 9:17 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  Wick: I just hand groom both my rabbits.
  
  Wow! I might try that if I don’t find any brushes that work. Thanks, Wick. 😀
- 06/14/2020 at 10:53 AM
  Louiethebunny
  Participant
  604 posts
  I like using the hair buster for those days where Louie is going through a big moult, but it can pull on your buns skin just a tad bit to get that fur out, and sometimes when louie is feeling extra skittish, I just hand pull, he tolerates it more.
- 06/14/2020 at 1:05 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  The fur buster comb is more gentle than the furminator for sure, but it is still a metal comb so you do have to be gentle with it.
  
  And yes memory foam can be really good for sore hocks, as can faux shearling. The other thing that contributes to sore hocks are when the back nails get too long so the rabbit’s weight is unevenly distributed.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/14/2020 at 1:12 PM
  pinkiemarie
  Participant
  425 posts
  Can you get a rug for your floor? Even if that isn’t the cause of the sore hocks most bunnies don’t really like walking on tile and she’ll probably be happier if she has a rug to hang out on.
- 06/15/2020 at 5:13 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  At the moment, Binki is in a 2 x 4 foot store bought cage. I really hate to see her in there, and yes, I do know that store bought cages are never good for a rabbit to live in. I plan to try and get her an X-pen sooner or later. Sure, I’ll have to try and get a big area rug for her to hang out on. I hope that will help her cute little paws get well soon! I never knew that the HairBuster pulls the skin. I guess you can’t find a brush that doesn’t. Binki doesn’t really like hand-grooming, that much, but still whatever will help avoid her from getting hurt, then that’s what I want for her. xx
- 06/15/2020 at 6:13 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  A little update: I let Binki out to run around while I was sleeping. She didn’t soil anything once, and she used her litter box like a very good girl. I’m still scared that she will soil something, though, even after last night. I’ve noticed that she’s been flopping more than she used to, so I’ll try and keep up her sore hock treatment, and get some memory foam mats very soon! We’ve also found a vet Dr. Alexis, (he can get her spayed,) but we have to bring her in for an appointment just to check that everything is fine. I’ve read up about Critical Care too, and it seems to be good for putting on weight. Thank you, everybody for helping me out!
- 06/15/2020 at 7:07 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  Also, sorry for posting this in the wrong forum.
- 06/15/2020 at 9:28 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  If her cage has a wire floor, you should get some mats in there ASAP for her hocks. You can make newspaper mats easily (and cheaply!) and they are pretty comfy for bunny feet. Here’s a tutorial: http://www.bunssb.org/buns-newsletter/september-2013/make-mat/
  
  Glad to hear you found a vet! 🙂
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/15/2020 at 9:57 AM
  Cinnamon Bun
  Participant
  205 posts
  Her cage doesn’t have wire cage flooring. Is plastic still harsh on her hocks? Thanks for the tutorial. I’ll try and check it out.
- 06/15/2020 at 12:38 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  Anything that may lead a rabbit to shift its weight on its feet abnormally may facilitate sore hocks. Navigating on a slippery surface, like plastic, may do that. The HRS has some helpful info that may be informative for you, in terms of next steps and future prevention: https://rabbit.org/treating-sore-hocks/
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/15/2020 at 7:27 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Solid plastic is def better than wire, but any hard flat surface can contribute to them as Wick described. The rabbit foot also evolved to have the nails dig into dirt, and be on uneven surfaces, so having sustained pressure on the same part of the foot all the time contributes.
  
  I realize now you have another thread about her peeing on blankets etc. You might be able to put some puppy pee pads under some pieces of fleece until you can get her spayed. That way she has something soft for her feet but the pee isn’t just sitting on the blankets.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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