Angora

[Heather]

My bunny, Grimlin is about 3 or 4 months old. I’ve had him since around Easter, although he isn’t my first bunny he is my first Angora. His hair truly got away from me I didn’t want to use a slicker brush when I got him because bunny skin is so sensitive but now I have found that seems to be the only way to keep up with his ever thickening coat however I noticed he has some mats under his chin seemingly to be created by food they’re close enough I’m scared to clip them out, I cried when I saw them I feel like the worst Bunny Mom there is. He also had a cold which I took him for the vet and has since cleared up but the runny nose has left it’s evidence in his beard I know you can’t wash a bunny but I wondered if there was any tips to clean this out. If anyone has any tips on grooming or tools to use I would greatly appreciated it. I also wondered if besides feeding pineapple if there was anything I could give to help his digestion I worry about the problems caused by all of his fur.

[Sarita]

I would see if the vet can clip that hair around his mouth. Don’t feel bad either – I have never done well grooming any long hair rabbit either…it’s just quite a task.

Did the vet say he had a cold? Because rabbits don’t get colds like we do.

I would not feed him pineapple at all….that is high in sugar and does not aid in digestion. Feed him lots of grass hay, that is the best aid in digestion for rabbits.

[MoxieMeadows]

Just curious, what type of angora do you have? I have a french angora.

I just use a cat brush I got at walmart, which is a slicker I think. As long as you are gentle and don’t scrape/scratch their skin with it it should be fine.
For the mats around his chin, try and work it out with your fingers/comb if he’ll let you. But if they are too bad/he won’t let you the vets might be willing to do it for you.

As for the pineapple, I know A LOT of people/angora breeders over where I live give their angoras a pineapple chunk a day, although I am not sure it really works like they say it does. I sometimes give my bun pineapple because she LOVES it, although I haven’t noticed any particular help with preventing wool block with it. But keep in mind if you are giving a chunk of pineapple a day to your bun that should be the only fruit/sugary food they consume a day. Although I would make it more occasional like a couple times a week or for special occasions. Too much sugar can cause health problems like diabetes. Good luck! <3

[Heather]

I did take him to the vet he had a case of snuffles, he was treated with antibiotics and is much better. I feed him as much hay as he wants I keep a good handful daily and if he eats it all I do another handful at night. He is an English angora, poor buddy loves to be handled he snuggles with my son even but he doesn’t care to be groomed lol, problem for us both I don’t like to upset him and he doesn’t like to do it lol. As for vet I live in a small town and the small animal Vet isn’t great we are looking for a new one in a town over. Since the mats have food in them could a damp rag help ease them out?

[Sarita]

I would try the damp cloth – he may hate it but give it a go.

[Heather]

Thank you for your responses I’m going to try the wash cloth and get some brushing done, I’ve been doing a little everyday as to try and not stress him out or anger him too much, even through jeans a bunny nip hurts lol

[LBJ10]

English angoras lack guard hairs, making their fur a bit higher maintenance. It has a tendency to mat, so you have to comb through it regularly. I have a Jersey wooly and I use a hairbuster comb. He has guard hairs though, so he doesn’t need to be groomed every day. The concept of working with wool is the same though. I start at the bottom and I lift up the fur so I can comb underneath first. Then I gradually work my way outward and upward.

[Heather]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me if giving Grimlin a “Wally the rabbit” haircut would make him chilly being indoors I live in the south and he is indoors but our ac is running, I have some health problems that sometimes keep me from being able to groom him daily as he would need to keep his hair completely manageable I’m really in awe of people who can. Thanks so much

[Sarita]

Rabbits can tolerate cold better than heat so he should be fine.

[Author]

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