Bathing a senior Angora mix?

[RabbitLove2008]

My husband and I are experienced rabbit parents/rescuers, but we currently have a grooming situation we’re not certain how to address.

We have a small angora/lionhead mix rabbit whose estimated age is 9-10 years (she’s a rescue, so we’re not really sure). She’s generally healthy for her age, but in recent months she’s having difficulty cleaning her rear end and hind legs. We have previous experience caring for disabled rabbits with shorter/standard coats (including regular bathing) and one Jersey wooly mix who was very healthy for her age until her natural death at 12 years, but have never bathed a long-haired rabbit. In general, we know bathing long-haired rabbits is not recommended, and this situation definitely requires more than a butt bath.

Our current plan is to clip her fairly closely (her longer coat, which she will soon need for winter, usually only takes 2-3 weeks to regrow) and then bathe her. She doesn’t enjoy clipping, so we would plan to clip her one day and bathe her the next to minimize stress as much as possible.

Of note, we plan to bring her to the vet soon for a routine visit (not yet scheduled) and vet-tech grooming in the genital region, but want to clean her up as well as we can beforehand, and also know if it’s safe to bathe her on a regular schedule as needed. Our previous disabled and senior rabbits (who had shorter/standard coats) didn’t like bathing at first, but soon grew it enjoy it.

[Wick & Fable]

Not personally experienced, but trimming angora fur is indeed recommended and routine for many angora rabbit owners. There are many videos here that can guide you on safe ways to do so: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Angora_and_other_long-haired_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.

[LBJ10]

Bathing a rabbit with a wool coat would definitely be tricky. Rabbit fur, in general, does not dry quickly. Wool would taken even longer. You could need to develop a system to make sure she is completely dry.

For a winter coat, you could leave it a little longer and just have a sanitary shave done on her rear.

[DanaNM]

I wonder if you could trim her and then do a sanitary shave, and then see how she looks? She may not be as bad as you think once she gets trimmed. If there are other areas that are very soiled, maybe you could  work on her coat in sections, perhaps with a spray bottle of warm water and wash cloth, drying and combing each section as you go (rather than a bath)?

. . . 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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