Bathing Henri?

[angoralvr]

Yesterday I was vaccuuming and realized I needed to change the bag. I took the old one out and stupidly walked away from it for a second to get a new one. In the time that I was gone, Henri decided he was going to attack the vaccuum bag and get dirt all over himself! I brushed him really good and got a lot of it out but he is still really dirty. I am pretty sure I need to give him a bath but I am not sure the best way to go about it. I woudl greatly appreciate any advice that you guys have to offer on giving a rabbit a bath. I am afraid this is going to be an adventure that neither me nor Henri will enjoy.

[MooBunnay]

Hello, as far as I know it is generally recommended NOT to give a rabbit a bath due to the fact that it can frighten them pretty seriously, and then drying them is very difficult because they have extremely sensitive and delicate skin. Rabbits are quite fastidious groomers, so if it was me, I’d probably give my bunny some good grooming sessions for the next couple days to get any big pieces out, and see how much Henri can handle on his own as well. I have not ever given a bath to a bunny before due to being a bit nervous about it (because of the reasons I mentioned above) – so I’m not able to proivde much advice on how to proceed if you decide he really does need a bath!

[angoralvr]

I think I may just end up giving him a haircut if I can’t get all of it out. That way I wouldn’t have to worry about getting him wet and his hair grows back really quick so that shouldn’t bother him.

[MarkBun]

My gf once had to give her bunny a bath because it decided that the warm caramel dipping bowl would make a really cool hat. She used warm/room temperature water in a tub and quickly but gently washed her by filling the bathtub up to about bunny belly height and then "stroking’ the water through the fur. The bun wasn’t happy about it but it had to get done. Then, it was time to make the bunny burrito with a towel and lightly rub her down. When it was done, the bun was still wet but at least the caramel was gone.

If you do wash Henri, PLEASE take a pic. I would love to see what that angora looks like wet.

edit:  I should note that some buns like water.  It is rare but I have seen house rabbits that always hop into the bathtub with their owners.

[JK]

Now that is very funny…attacking the vacuum bag, that is!  I’m sure you couldn’t believe it!  Henri sounds like quite a character.

[angoralvr]

Posted By markusdark on 01/14/2008 9:40 AM

My gf once had to give her bunny a bath because it decided that the warm caramel dipping bowl would make a really cool hat. She used warm/room temperature water in a tub and quickly but gently washed her by filling the bathtub up to about bunny belly height and then "stroking’ the water through the fur. The bun wasn’t happy about it but it had to get done. Then, it was time to make the bunny burrito with a towel and lightly rub her down. When it was done, the bun was still wet but at least the caramel was gone.

If you do wash Henri, PLEASE take a pic. I would love to see what that angora looks like wet.

edit:  I should note that some buns like water.  It is rare but I have seen house rabbits that always hop into the bathtub with their owners.

Lol, if I give him a bath, I will definately take a picture. Actually Henri does not seem to mind water. He constantly plays in the cat’s water bowl. If I do end up giving him a bath. I have a small heater that keeps the bathroom nice and toasty so I could keep him in there until he dries.

[Beka27]

i would agree with MooBunnay’s advice and do some more intensive grooming over the next few days.  maybe wet down a towel and rub him with it, see if that helps.  it wouldn’t be a total water immersion, so he might now mind as much.

[angoralvr]

Posted By knowltons4 on 01/14/2008 9:43 AM

Now that is very funny…attacking the vacuum bag, that is!  I’m sure you couldn’t believe it!  Henri sounds like quite a character.

Haha, he is that for sure. I walked out of the room and I started hearing this loud rustling sound, sure enough, I walked back in the room and Henri is not only digging at the vaccuum bag, he is also biting it and trying to tear it up and of course in the meantime throwing dust everywhere! That’ll teach me to leave stuff on the floor. He also likes to attack the trash bags if I set them down on the floor for a minute.

[Beka27]

have you given him paper grocery bags?  if you haven’t, he’d probably love those, i know Meadow does.  she mostly likes to sit inside since it’s like a little cave… lol.

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[angoralvr]

He kind of likes paper bags but mostly ignores them. I forgot. . . . I have some wipes that are made for the cats. Do you think it would be safe to use them to spot clean Henri?

[babybunsmum]

oi!  that would be a mess!  i had a vacuum bag explode on me once right next to my rabbit’s enclosure, so i have a good idea of what that looks like.  it was a loaner vacuum & i’d never used one with a bag before… kept feeling the top to decide if it was too full.  apparently the dust settles (duh) and it had had quite enough and then POOF dust everywhere… lol. 

i give baby foot occasional baths when she has really bad pee-pee paws.  this is only lately since i disposed of her old litter which had a grated floor, and now i can’t seem to get the hang of litter so she’s not stepping in it all the time  >_< 

she definitely does not like it, but i’m quick & so she tolerates it.  i fill the bathrm sink with luke warm water first & have a towel ready.  then i pick her up, gently lower her back feet only into the water so she’s standing in the sink (while i hold her under her chest) & gently swoosh the water under one paw at a time.  then i lift her out & grab the towel under her feets so i can rub her dry as i’m walking out of the bathrm.  the whole deal takes about a minute so its not too traumatizing.  it’s not a thorough bath but it rinses the worst out by the time she’s patted dry with the towel.  then she usually grooms the wet bits to finish.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Kokanee had a bath last night, her bum was dirty. She doesn’t LIKE baths, but she doesn’t stress from them either…More of a “mom I hate you’ kind of thing.

I think the most important part is keeping them warm after…We actually fell asleep because I had her in a bunny borito to keep her warm and we snuggled (her chewing the towel angrily hehe) in bed after the bath…

Defo need pics of henri wet!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Oh how funny! A REAL dust bunny! LOL O.K. all jokes aside, I don’t think I would bathe him, instead dampen a washcloth and run it over him. I am not sure about the cat wipes, a lot of things that are O.K. for a cat or dog are not O.K. for a bunny.

[masteroffm]

i would definitely say there are situations that warrant giving a rabbit a bath.  like the time Jessica decided it would be a good idea to jump into the toliet at 6 o’clock in the morning.  i bath my rabbits at most semi-annually, but i make sure to dry them with a blow dryer.  here are a couple of pictures of the last time my wife and I gave Marvin a bath.

 

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