Bunny Bath?

[Phantombun]

 Hello, 

I am a first time bunmom and I was wondering if it is ok to give my bunny a bath. The last time we tried she let out a horrible scream of fear. I was also wondering if there was anything I can do about her smell. She is a stinky girl some days. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. 

[Roberta]

Hi Phantombun.
DO NOT BATH your rabbit….. It can send them into shock and kill them in addition to concerns about shampoo’s and getting chills from being wet.. There are dry cleaning methods that are very good. In extreme circumstances you can butt bath in an inch of warm water to remove any caked matter. If this is an issue then a vet check may be required as poopy bum can be a sign of different medical problems including teeth.
Depending on her age the smell may also be hormonal and that would be rectified by spaying… How old is your bun and is it absolutely 100% definite she is a little girl ?

[Muffinluv]

Hello!

Rabbits naturally do NOT swim, and the only time they interact with water is when they drink. Buns do NOT like baths and should not be given baths, it is very stressful and scary, they pretty much think you are trying to drown them!

If her bum is dirty you may need to give her a butt bath, but this should not need to be done as rabbits wash themselves.

I was just wondering, have you ever cleaned her anal sent glands? When they get a build up the smell can be almost unbearable, as though your bunny is turning into a skunk. That could also be the problem and cleaning the sent glands is a lot LESS stressful than a bath.

Hope this helps!

[Phantombun]

Roberta: Definitely a girl. No testicles on this rabbit. I have some cat spray shampoo that is supposed to also be safe for small animals. I used that and she didn’t mind.

Muffinluv: I had no idea that buns had anal glands. How would you clean them? Phantom hates being on her back unless I have a hand behind her head so I have to do every thing one handed. I gets difficult.

[Muffinluv]

Yeah, cleaning them is both difficult and, *yuck* stinky. Unfortunately you have to put them on their back for this.

Here is a video of how to clean the scent glands, well, someone cleaning them, they can get pretty gunky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vldSCV9qY3c (Hint- Skip to 0:49)

I would strongly suggest having someone help you with it, I’m so scared of hurting muffin, I only pick him up like once a week, and clipping his nails is harder for me than it is for him, I once had a panic attack when I had to put him in a carrier. Sometimes he sits looking at me like “What the heck is your problem.” And he also hates being put on his back.. It is very hard to do, and the first time you do I suggest you should be at a vet so that they can show you how to do it safely, for both you and the rabbit. Makes you more confident!

Once again, Hope this helps!

[Roberta]

Hi PB,
I would be wary of the sprays too.. The best thing for dry bathing is plain cornstarch (its probably a lot cheaper too) you can get it in the baby aisle too as a baby powder but make sure it is 100% pure corn starch. You use it the same way, rub it into the dirty fur then brush out. Being a natural non toxic substance it will not harm her if she ingests it.

[tobyluv]

As others have said, baths are to be avoided for rabbits, but there are occasions when that might be the only solution to a very messy bottomed rabbit. Here are the instructions for a dry bath and a wet bath:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html

If a rabbit does get a messy bottom, it is often due to the diet.  Making sure a rabbit eats plenty of hay is always best.

[Phantombun]

Thank you so much guys!

[PimmsWarren]

 Quick question regarding the scent gland – how frequently should this be cleaned?

 

[tobyluv]

Quick question regarding the scent gland – how frequently should this be cleaned?

There really is no set answer to this. Some rabbit’s scent glands may never need cleaning, as they keep them clean themselves. Others may only need it very infrequently, and some may need it on a frequent, regular basis. There will be a waxy buildup and the bad smell will alert you to the need for cleaning. I read that one person checked the glands each time they clipped their rabbit’s nails.

[Author]

Messages